The Worst Run Business

If you or I were in business and we ran our business the way oil companies run theirs, we would soon be out of business.

Every year, in the spring and early summer, the price of gasoline rises. The oil companies say it is because people are driving more as the weather gets nicer and vacations get underway, so the supply goes down and the price goes up. Imagine that. It happens every year, yet every year they(the oil companies) seem to be caught off guard, so the price goes up.

Every year, in the fall and early winter, the price of heating oil goes up. The oil companies say it is because the weather is getting colder and people are using more heating oil. Wow. Imagine that. It gets colder in the winter. Happens every year. But again, the oil companies always seem to be unprepared, and the price goes up.

Over the past few weeks the price of gasoline dropped a bit. There was an "unexpected" rise in inventory of gasoline. Duh! You jack up the price high enough and at least some people...the ones with some common sense, cut back on their unnecessary usage. However, just this past Friday I read that crude went over $70/barrel because of a report that inventories were down. So I'll be that gas prices will soon be back over $3/gallon, if they aren't already, just in time for the holiday.

It seems that any other company could anticipate these seasonal fluctuations in demand and plan ahead for them so as not to anger their customers with sudden price changes. But not the oil companies. They don't care. They don't have too. The only thing keeping them in business is the lack of alternatives. In other words, they are the only show in town. They are a monopoly. And a monopoly can do whatever it wants. And it usually wants to screw the customer.


So Sayeth The Shack

Teach Your Kids About Money

I am nearly 50 years old, have a college degree, have worked for the same company for 27 years in the field my degree is in. I am married and have two teenagers.

Sounds like I should be in reasonably decent shape financially, right?

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

I am broke. I have spent every penny that I have ever had. I do not own a home or property; no savings, stocks, bonds or anything like that. Both of our cars are financed. Essentially I have nothing except for some clothes and shoddy old furniture. I am living paycheck to paycheck and many months not making it so actually my wife and daughter are chipping in to help meet expenses. I will likely not be able to put one cent toward my children's college education.

So what happened?

I could spread the blame around like saying my employer doesn't pay enough and other things, but truth is, most of the blame lies with me. I have always been a very impulsive person and have made many stupid decisions that caused my family to go backwards financially rather than forwards. I guess I do blame one party for my situation: my parents. Don't get me wrong; I love my parents and they are great, but they really did not teach me about money. And they were not in financial ruin. They did not go to college, but they both worked and there always seemed to be enough money. In fact it seems like they had more money then than I do now. They were not in debt (that I know of). They were able to pay for a large part of my college education so that I had no student loan debt upon graduation. We had what we needed and for the most part what we wanted. Of course they did not have some of the expenses that many people have these days: no cable bills, internet, cell phones or computers that always seem to need to be upgraded. (I think the cell phone and computer industry is all a big conspiracy to relieve us of our money).

So I would consider my parents financially successful. Not rich by any means, but certainly well able to provide. But they did not pass their know-how on to me. They did not teach me about saving for purchases versus buying on credit; waiting patiently until I had enough money rather than "whipping out the plastic"; they did not teach how do distinguish wants from needs and to act accordingly. And so instead of being a financial success, I consider myself a financial failure.

So what about my children? My oldest will be a senior in high school this coming school year. She has a job and is saving her money well as she looks forward to college. Her younger brother is more like me. He spends eveything he gets and so at any given time has virtually nothing.

So here is some advice for parents to teach their kids about money. (Do as I say and not as I have done!)

1: If possible, give them an allowance and set up a savings account for them. If you can join a credit union, do it at a credit union rather than a regular bank because they generally pay better interest. make the allowance contingent on doing certain chores around the house. If the chores are undone or not done up to standards, withhold part or all of the allowance.

2: encourage them to get a job; a part-time job in high school makes most kids more responsible and many actually do better with their schoolwork than those without jobs.

3: have them pay with some of their allowance or job money certain household expenses that pertain to them, such as cell phone bills or internet costs, and car insurance, gasoline and maintainance if they are driving.

4: if they need/want more money than they have, lend them some if you can, but charge them interest and be sure they pay you back; otherwise, withhold the allowance. Make sure to help them distinguish wants from needs when borrowing. If they can do without it, it is unadvisable to borrow for it. It is also a bad idea to borrow for something that will be outdated before they get done paying for it.

5: let them in on the famly budget and decision-making process. Have a "family budget meeting" once in a while so they can see how things work in real life.

Don' let your kids end up like me because it really sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So Sayeth The Shack

Something To Be Thankful For

As one of the world's biggest cynics, I rarely feel thankful for anything, but I think I have finally found something...

With all the pollen that has been in the air for the past few weeks, I'm really thankful that I'm not allergic to the stuff. Otherwise I'd be miserable (or at least more miserable than I already otherwise would be).

So OK; THANK YOU FOR NOT GIVING ME ALLERGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So Sayeth The Shack

Ding Dong The Bitch Is Gone!!!

So Rosie is leaving "The View"! That's the best news I've heard in years!

While she's at it, maybe she can leave the planet..or even the universe!!!
She is a big fat ugly frickin' a-hole.

But...she has the right to say anything she wants...just like Imus, right?
(At least Imus is better looking!)


So Sayeth The Shack

It Could Have Been Me

Whenever something like the Columbine shootings or the latest incident at Virginia Tech happens, I think to myself, it could be me doing that.

Generally, the perpetrators of such deeds have been loners, outcasts, generally shunned by society. I too am somewhat of an outcast and a loner...even though I have a family and a decent job.

In grade school I was the one who was always picked on and bullied. It wasn't so much physical bullying as it was phsycological and verbal. Being called names and left out of things because I was fat (a lot less common back in those days than it is now) and awkward. I was always picked last when teams were formed in gym class or at recess because I was lousy at sports. Having no siblings, I had not learned how to get along with and react to other children my own age. So I reacted in peculiar ways and therefore was teased and tormented. I did not have any friends.

In high school most of the teasing and tormenting had ended. But I was still an outcast. There were many cliques in high school. There were the jocks...obviously I was not one of those. There were the brains...not quite; I wasn't that smart. There were the band kids, the drama club kids and the shop kids (auto mechanics etc.). Nowhere did I fit in. I still had no friends.

The first part of college was a little better. I attended a small branch campus of a large university. There I finally had a small group of friends, at least for a while. But I have not heard from any of them since; so were they really friends? The second part of college went downhill. I was at the main campus of the large university. I found that the other kids in the dorms were a bunch of inconsiderate assholes...blasting stereos at all hours, setting off firecrackers in the hallways, etc. I had 1 friend. He is still pretty much my friend now. At least we still communicate from time to time, even though we live nowhere near each other.

Since college I have worked for a company, gotten married and raised 2 kids to high school age. But people still pretty much ignore me. In a social or party situation, no one sits with me/us unless it is the only place left; then they still ignore us. I still have no other friends. The town where I live is filled with inconsiderate generally drunk assholes....still blasting stereos, setting off firecrackers and yelling at the top of their lungs for no reason at all. College students that never grew up I guess. I am a quiet, shy, soft-spoken person and I am frightened by loud obnoxious people and unexpected loud noises.

I have done many things over the years to try to "fit in" somewhere. I became a volunteer first responder/firefighter for a time, but could not break into the clique so did not fit in there. I joined a different church than the one I was raised in, but then discovered that I was unable to live up to their expectations, so I don't fit in there either. Prettty much the only women who were ever interested in me were either fat, ugly, stupid or some combination of the 3. I have grown tired and unhappy with my career and wish I had gone into something else. My financial situation is bleak as I have spent all my money trying to make myself happy but to no avail. I cannot see any improvement in the future. Rarely a week goes by that I do not consider killing myself. Sometimes I think about it every day for a period of time but then my mood lightens and it is back to once a week for a while. I guess I am too chicken. Maybe it will hurt too much. Maybe I will fail at it like I have failed at most everything else in life. At least if I ever do do it, I will probably only kill myself and not take a bunch of other people with me.

So Sayeth The Shack

Finally Cutting Back?

I took a trip to Ohio this past weekend to see my Mom for her 83rd birthday. With gas prices already at or above $3/gallon, I noticed less non-commercial traffic on the road that on most other times that I have made the trip over the past few years. Could it be that people are finally wising up and curtailing their travels?

No matter what anyone says, I fully believe that gas will hit $4/gallon this summer. All will take is one hurricane, or someone's camel sneezing in Saudi Arabia.

The only thing that will bring the price down, if there is indeed anything that will, is people lowering their usage by cutting down on unnecessary travel. You can complain all you want, but it won't do any good unless you speak with your wallet instead of your mouth.


So Sayeth The Shack

No More Sperm Donations!

The other article in today's paper that I found interesting was one where a sperm donor was required to pay child support for his progeny. According to the article, this man helped a lesbian couple conceive two children. After the couple split up, he was required to pay child support! Wow! if that won't cut down on sperm bank donations I don't know what will!

So what will they think of next? I suppose if I donate blood which saves someone's life, I might be found liable to pay their taxes? Helping people is a dangerous thing in this day and age.


So Sayeth The Shack

Mind Your Own Business, Government!

There were two articles in the paper today that I felt compelled to comment on.

The first has to do with gas prices and the government saying they are too low!!. Apparently a service station in Merrill, Wisconsin has been offering a 2 cent per gallon discount for senior citizens and a discount card that lets youth sports boosters pay 3 cents per gallon less. Now given the outrageous price of gas these days, 2 or 3 cents isn't much, but the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (they're protecting consumers from low prices?) claims that it is a violation of the state's "Unfair Sales Act" which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 cents above the wholesale price.

How is it that government, be it state, federal or local, has the right to tell businesses how much to charge for their products? No wonder there is no competition! There must be a law like that around here too because all the gas stations have the same price and whenever one goes up they pretty much all do at the same time. I remember when I was a kid there used to be "gas wars" with stations competing against each other for the lowest price. But not anymore, thanks to the government I guess.


So Sayeth The Shack

Another Stupid Lawsuit

OK this is even stupider than the woman who sued McDonald's because their coffee was hot (duh!) and she was so clumsy she spilled it on herself.

Apparently someone is suing a dry cleaning business for $65 million over a missing pair of pants!!!

WOW! $65 million for a pair of pants...are they made of gold or something?

I hope that no judge or jury is stupid enough to award this lawsuit.

The original cost of the pants and maybe a little extra for the trouble is all that the dry cleaner should be liable for.

If it's really that easy to make $65 million, I should just start suing people. Oh, wait, I can't afford a lawyer in the first place.


So Sayeth The Shack

Getting To the Cause

In the wake of the recent massacre of over three dozen innocent people at Virginia Tech, there will be the usual calls for beefing up security at schools and other institutions as well as for more stringent gun laws. However, no amount of security nor the strictest gun law will solve the actual underlying problem. To do that, we must answer the question: what is the cause of such an action? What kind of hate or rage drives someone to go out and gun down a bunch of innocent fellow human beings?

I believe that all of us have a "breaking point", a "last straw", so to speak, that can send us over the edge. Very few people ever reach it and most of us never even get close. But at any given time, there may be a handful of people out there, somewhere, who have "had it up to here and can no longer cope". Some will say that such people need mental help. Maybe so, but most do not get the help they need. So they are out there, one spark away from an explosion. Who knows whether or not an action on my part or your part is that "last spark"? Maybe the person I tailgated and honked at for going too slow on the way to work this morning is that person, or maybe they will pass that frustration and inconsiderate action on to someone else, and so on down the line, until it reaches someone that is at that breaking point. That person then "goes berserk" and kills or injures one or more people, perhaps including themselves, or blows something up, or whatever. No amount of gun control will stop this. If one of the innocent victims had had a gun, he or she might have been able to injure or disarm the shooter before things got as far as they did. If not a gun, some other weapon will be used. Perhaps fewer people would be killed, but even one innocent life lost is too many. Security will not stop this; no one knows who will be the next person to "lose it". What will stop it? Perhaps if we all treated each other better, people would not be reaching that "breaking point". If we all treated each other the way we would like to be treated it might go a long way to preventing these kinds of tragedies. And unlike other options it wouldn't cost a penny.


So Sayeth The Shack

In Defense Of Imus

OK it is not good to call anyone names, not matter what your race or nationality or their race or nationality.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As long as Black people can call other Black people nigger, ho, or whatever (see rap music, etc) then White people should not be punished for doing the same thing. Certainly Imus does not deserve the punishment he has received and certainly does not deserve to be fired.

As far as I'm concerned, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are just as much racists (in the opposite direction) as any white supremist Nazi skinhead!

Seems to me that some people, especially some Blacks, need to get a thicker skin.



So Sayeth The Shack

No More Boundaries!

Iran's recent reaction to the "trespassing" on its waters by some British sailors reminds me of some old mountain man (my apologies to Jeni) shooting at people that wander onto his property either by mistake or on purpose. This whole concept of "my land" or "my water" or "my property" must be done away with. This earth belongs to all of us. We are all the same, each and every one of us. There may be some minor variation in skin color, place of origin, what we believe in terms of religion, and whether or not we posess certain sexual organs. But basically we are all the same. We are all human. We all have certain basic needs and, I believe, certain basic rights. Instead of differentiating ourselves along national, religious or racial lines, and hating those who do not "belong", we should understand who much the same we are. We are all in the same boat, and that boat is called Earth. We need to start getting along, sharing our resources and loving each other rather than killing each other. The people in Iran are acting like a bunch of 3-year-olds who have not learned how to share.

So Sayeth The Shack

Food or Fuel?

Within the past couple of years there has been a big push for the use of ethanol and other biofuels, partly to reduce our dependance on imported oil. This is a good thing, right? Maybe not.

The diversion of part of the corn and soybean crop for the production of these fuels is already causing an increase in food prices. Part of the crop is being used for the production of fuel and so the supply goes down and the price goes up. The latest news is that the price of milk may rise nearly 10 per cent, partly because of the increase in cost of feed (mostly corn) for the cattle. Meanwhile, the price of regular fuel oil continues to rise. So we are being hit by price increases both at the grocery store and at the gas pump. Some of us may have to decide between feeding our families and putting gas in the car so we can go to work. And get this....as I understand it, it takes some amount of energy to covert the corn into ethanol, so in terms of actual energy, are we really getting much value out of it?

Furthermore, you think the price of oil is volatile? (News Flash: the price of gas rose $0.30/gal today after a camel crapped in Iran). Just wait until a hailstorm destroys a cornfield in Iowa or a drought hits part of the corn belt. Heck even the forecast of a drought will bring huge price increases...and remember these increases will be for both fuel and food. We are treading down a dangerous path here. I think is a bad idea to be converting some of our food supply into fuel.

Instead of biofuels we should be looking at solar and nuclear power as well as geothermal energy and wind power. Solar power, wind power and geothermal energy are totally sustainable. They use essentially no resources and produce essentially no pollution.

So Sayeth The Shack

What Goes Around Comes Around

From this morning's paper, in an article titled "Economy May Be In For A Rough Ride" by Kevin G. Hall: "Higher lending rates in China matter to average Americans. Most large American corporations either manufacture there or purchase from contract Chinese manufacturers. Higher lending rates in China would slow economic activity there and raise the cost of doing business. The cost could be passed back to Americans as pricier imported goods."

So let me get this straight here. The companies that used to employ Americans and pay them good wages to produce products for other Americans but in the last few decades have moved overseas to take advantage of lower labor costs are now going to raise the prices they charge their former (American) employees for their products because their costs are going up? So they screw us by outsourcing our jobs and then screw us again by raising the prices on the products we used to make over here that we can no longer afford to buy because all of the good jobs are gone .

We are consumers. We shall be screwed. Resistance is futile!!!!

So Sayeth The Shack

What To Do With Anne Nicole's Body

Wow! Even long after she is dead, it seems everyone still wants Anne Nicole's body! (Now that just sounds wrong, doesn't it?

Well here is the (obvious) solution: Cremate her and divide up the ashes. That way everybody who wants can have a piece of her (sounding wrong again!)


So Sayeth The Shack

Mormons ARE Christians

Mitt Romney's recent announcement that he will run for president has created quite a bit of controversy about his religion. Some of the remarks that were made by other politicians and so-called Christians are absurd. It is sad how little people know about this large and still-growing faith, especially since there are missionaries in almost every country teaching about it.

First and foremost, Mormons ARE Christians. The full name of their church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". They believe in Jesus Christ just like all other Christians. They believe that he is the son of God and that he died and was resurrected. They also believe in both the old and new testaments of the Bible. The Book of Mormon is believed to be a scripture supplementing the Bible and dealing with people living on the American continent before, during the after the time of Jesus. This includes a visit by Jesus to the people of this continent after his resurrection. This makes a lot of sense. Why would Jesus only visit one place on earth when there were people living elsewhere and there was no means of communication between them?

Mormons believe that God again speaks to His people through a prophet (the head of the church). This prophet directs the church and receives revelation just like the old testament prophets. I don't know about you but this makes perfect sense to me. Why would God no longer give revelation to his people, especially now when we seem to need it more than ever.

The practice of polygamy by the true Mormon church ended long ago. There are "splinter groups" that may practice it but they are not true Mormons. Once of the teachings of the church is that people are to obey the law of the land, and if that law prohibits polygamy, then polygamy shall not be practiced. I doubt that Mr Romney will try to change that law and besides I don't think that polygamy is any worse than the idea of same-sex marriage. (I'd rather have 2 wives than a husband, but I can barely afford one wife!)

Yes there are some secret ceremonies in this religion. These are conducted in the temples and are open only to highly worthy church members. But other societies also have secret ceremonies. What about the Masons? What about the Knights of Columbus?

My aim here was to educate the readers a little about the Mormon church and take away a little mystery. Do not discount Mitt Romney because he is Mormon anymore than you should have discounted Kennedy because he was Catholic.

So Sayeth The Shack

DST About Money, Not Energy

This year, daylight savings time will begin a few weeks earlier and end a few weeks later than in the past, plunging early risers back into darkness and offering some extra light to the night owls.

The government claims that this is an energy-saving measure but I fail to see how any energy is saved. If it is dark for an extra hour in the morning we will use lights in the morning rather than in the evening. So where is the savings? Plus school kids will be heading to school or to bus stops in the dark for a time. I remember back in the 70s where we had year-round daylight savings time for a year. It was pitch dark going to school in the winter. Not exactly the safest thing.

I really think this is all about money. I think merchants and restaurant owners want the extra daylight in the evening so that people are more inclined to go shopping or out to eat after work, thereby spending money and increasing their business. I think these people have secretly lobbied congress to extend daylight savings time for several weeks. Energy has nothing to do with it.

So Sayeth The Shack

Poor Anne Nicole

So some real rich and famous person died a few days ago. Wow! Big deal! As far as I know, Every person who has ever lived on this earth, who is currently living, or who has yet to live, either has died or will die. It is pretty much inevitable. So why make such a big deal about it? Oh Yeah...she was rich, famous, a big celebrity. Wow! I think her death has gotten more coverage than that of former president Ford (which I also thought was excessive). Should I lower my flag to half staff? Maybe I should lower my underwear to half staff.

Don't get me wrong...it's sad that she died, especially at such a young age, but does there really need to be so much hoopla about it? I'm sure that when I die, no more than 3 people will know about it...a bit shy of the entire planet.

Oh and the big thing...she was depressed? Maybe on drugs? Wow! I think if I had as much money as she did, I would be able to keep from being depressed. They say money doesn't buy happiness, and she is a prime example. Nevertheless I think I would be just a bit happier if I weren't always running out of paycheck before I ran out of month.

So Sayeth The Shack

A Super Yawn

Wow! I haven't had a more boring Sunday evening in a long time! Of course I'm talking about the Super Bowl. The game itself was unexciting. After the first few posessions by the Bears, it was pretty much dullsville. The commercials were not all that great, either. And could they have found a worse halftime performer? I could not understand a word he (and I use that term loosely....more like an it...one of the ugliest things I've ever seen on stage) sang, or shouted or screamed or whatever he was doing. It was more like a bunch of noise. He gets paid for that? I could get up on stage and make a bunch of racket too. At least they had someone decent for the National Anthem so it didn't get murdered like it usually does. And it was pouring the whole game, so where were the wet cheerleaders? Come on guys! At least next Sunday it'll be back to Desperate Housewives.

So Sayeth The Shack

Global Warming Thoughts

In the light of yesterday's report on global warming (coincidentally released on the same day Punxatawney Phil predicted an early spring and just prior to one of the worst cold snaps in years), I would like to add my thoughts.

OK the planet is getting warmer. There is data that supports this and I will not question it.
We (people) are the cause of it. Well, maybe we are hurrying it along, but who is to say that it would not be occurring anyway? To determine that, we would have to remove all the people, turn back time, and see what would happen.

Our planet, at various times, has been both warmer and colder than it is now. There is fossil evidence and other data that indicates this. These warm and cold spells (ice ages) have occurred without the presence of humans on the planet, or at least before we were burning fossil fuels. These are natural cycles that the planet goes through over long periods of time.
Humans are not the only things that have impacted the climate and wrought changes in the weather. Volcanos have often thrown so much material high into the atmosphere so as to dim the sun and cool the earth for years afterwards. In addition, large meteors and asteriods have had similar effects.

My conclusion is what we are calling "global warming" is at least partly a natural cycle of the earth, climate and weather. Perhaps human activity is making it go faster than it would otherwise but I do not believe that we are completely responsible. That does not mean that we should not work on cutting back on our emissions and burning of fossil fuels. There are other compelling reasons to do this besides the global warming issue, such as availability and cost of these fuels (The fact that a small group of mostly unfriendly countries controls most the world supply). Just as importantly, if not more so, we need work on our adaptability if we are to survive as a species. As the earth warms, certain areas may become uninhabitable or unsuitable for growing food while other areas become better suited for living or growing crops. So we need to look for new areas to grow food and also consider the possibility of having to shift population from one area to another. This will require cooperation between nations, something that we, as humans, have not always been good at. But it is something that we will have to do if we are to continue to inhabit this planet.

So Sayeth The Shack

Still Getting Screwed

Over the weekend I spotted an article in my local hometown newspaper complaining that the gas prices there were the highest in that particular state. Mind you, they are nearly 20 cents per gallon lower than they are locally. This means that prices across the Buckeye State are mostly under $2.00/gallon. That's far lower than they are around here. So why are we still getting screwed by the oil companies. Prices of crude have dropped precipitously. Yet the price at the pump, locally, has only gone down 4 cents. Someone should take a car bomb to one of the oil companies and blow it sky high!

Better yet...I should just get a tanker truck, drive it to Ohio and fill it with gasoline, drive it back up here and sell the gas for $2.20/gallon. I could undercut the local prices and still make a profit. Maybe even enough to ditch my real job.

So Sayeth The Shack

Taxes, Taxes

Saw this on the discussion boards of the local newspaper. Origin and author unknown.

> *Tax his land,
> Tax his bed,
> Tax the table
> At which he's fed.
>
> Tax his tractor,
> Tax his mule,
> Teach him taxes
> Are the rule.
>
> Tax his cow,
> Tax his goat,
> Tax his pants,
> Tax his coat.
>
> Tax his ties,
> Tax his shirt,
> Tax his work,
> Tax his dirt.
>
> Tax his tobacco,
> Tax his drink,
> Tax him if he
> Tries to think.
>
> Tax his cigars,
> Tax his beers,
> If he cries, then
> Tax his tears.
>
> Tax his car,
> Tax his gas,
> Find other ways
> To tax his a$$.
>
> Tax all he has
> Then let him know
> That you won't be done
> Till he has no dough.
>
> When he screams and hollers,
> Then tax him some more,
> Tax him till
> He's good and sore.
>
> Then tax his coffin,
> Tax his grave,
> Tax the sod in
> Which he's laid.
>
> Put these words
> upon his tomb,
> "Taxes drove me
> to my doom..."
>
> When he's gone,
> Do not relax,
> Its time to apply
> The inheritance tax.
> *
> *Accounts Receivable Tax
> **Building Permit Tax
> **CDL license Tax
> **Cigarette Tax
> **Corporate Income Tax
> **Dog License Tax
> **Federal Income Tax
> **Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
> **Fishing License Tax
> **Food License Tax,
> **Fuel permit tax
> **Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
> **Hunting License Tax
> **Inheritance Tax
> **Interest expense
> **Inventory tax
> **IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
> **Liquor Tax
> **Luxury Taxes
> **Marriage License Tax
> **Medicare Tax
> **Property Tax
> **Real Estate Tax
> **Service charge taxes
> **Social Security Tax
> **Road usage taxes
> **Sales Tax
> **Recreational Vehicle Tax
> **School Tax
> **State Income Tax
> ** Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
> **Telephone federal excise tax
> **Telephone federal universal service fee tax
> **Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
> **Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
> **Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
> **Telephone state and local tax
> **Telephone usage charge tax
> **Utility Taxes
> **Vehicle License Registration Tax
> **Vehicle Sales Tax
> **Watercraft registration Tax
> **Well Permit Tax
> **Workers Compensation Tax
> **
> **Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
> We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world.

So Sayeth The Shack

More Crap I Don't Care About

So there's a lot of "news" lately concerning some fighting between Donald Trump and Rosie Odonald or whoever she is. Who the frick cares? Just a bunch of worthless rich bitches thinking they are important because they have some money. What have they ever done for anyone? They can all die as far as I'm concenered. Same with this Beckham soccer dude. Is he worth that much money? NO!!! No one who has ever lived or ever will live is worth that kind of money. And this stuff is not news as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't belong in the newspaper, on TV news or anywhere else.

The Great And Powerful Shack Hath Spoken!

Work From Home Scams

Ever see the ads on TV for working from home? There is one particular ad that is on quite frequently, but every time it is on, the web site being advertised is different. Usually it is something like 21income.com or 32gain.com or whatever; almost always a number followed by a word that has something to do with money. The one lady in the ad always says "this is the one web site you must vist". If that is true, then why is it a different web site every time she says it? I don't know about you but it sounds like a scam to me. I've never visited any of the sites to see what it is all about but it just all looks very fishy.

So Sayeth The Shack

We Didn't Spend Enough

I'm hearing that many retailers are griping about a so-so holiday shopping season. You know what that means, fellow consumers...we didn't spend enough!!

Well EXCUSE ME but I just don't have any money left! Maybe some of you readers can help the retailers out by picking up the slack and spending a little extra, but getting more money from me is like trying to get water out of a rock. I get my paycheck, pay my bills...and there's nothing left. All of my expenses are higher than they used to be but my paycheck isn't, or at least not by the same amount. I think most of you know what I mean. Any increase in income is more than eaten up by increases in expenses. And they wonder why people have so little savings and are in so much debt.

So Sayeth The Shack

Ripped Off Again!!

I have been hearing a lot lately about how the price of oil is coming down, partly due to the mild weather. However, the price of gasoline has not budged at the local gas stations. So the oil companies are ripping us off again. As soon as the price of oil goes up, the price of gasoline goes up instantaneously if not sooner, but when the price of oil goes down, the oil companies rake in the profits for weeks at a time before lowering the price of gasoline. And these oil companies are getting government subsidies financed by my tax dollars!! So I am getting double ripped off. Supposedly the government is looking toward ending these subidies. They could not so it soon enough. The oil companies don't deserve a penny!!

So Sayeth The Shack

I'm A Global Warming Whimp

Definition: Global Warming Whimp: Someone who, when the temperature actually gets down to "normal" thinks that is is darn cold.

Ok I'll admit, I have become a "Global Warming Whimp". I was outside walking this morning when the temperature was in the 30s and the wind was blowing. I had on a moderately heavy coat and a hat. Darn it felt cold!! The temperature was at or above average, but it felt nasty. The cold never used to bother me, but now since it doesn't get cold anymore, that is a different story. Is global warming making a whimp out of you too?

Or maybe it's just that we're getting older?

Holiday Thoughts From The Shack

The Shack Family (The Shack, ShackWife, LittleShack1 and LittleShack2) wish all of you the best at this holiday season, regardless of what holiday you may celebrate, or even if you don't celebrate any holiday.

Remember you can make every day of the year like Christmas. Focus on the giving, not the getting. Keep that spirit of giving year-round. And not necessarily material things. Instead, give love, friendship, patience, foregiveness, a helping hand where possible.

And every day can be like New Year's, too. A new beginning. A clean slate. The problems and wrongs of yesterday in the past. If necessary, make amends and ask for foregiveness for things you may have done wrong and remember to forgive others as well. Then start anew.

So Sayeth The Shack

I Wouldn't Take This Drug

I was reading a magazine the other day and came upon one of those 2-3 page advertisement and information layouts for a prescription drug. I usually page right past these, but something caught my eye. The drug is called Abilify and supposedly treats bipolar disorder. Here is a quote directly from the ad: "How ABILIFY is thought to work:.... the exact way any medicine for bipolar disorder works is unknown"

That's just great. They have now idea how the stuff works but they want people to buy it. I think I'll just wait until they figure it out. Not that I have bipolar, but it seems to me they should know how a drug works before marketing it.

So Sayeth The Shack

Watch How You Spelll That

I was typing something the other day and interchanged a couple of letters within a word. This ended up turning "santa" into "satan". Wonder if it is just a coincidence that the two words are so similar?

So Sayeth The Shack

Protecting Us From Ourselves

Here are some of the latest examples of how our government is protecting is from ourselves, since they seem to have nothing better to do.

1) As mentioned in a recent post here, New York City is banning trans fat because it is bad for our health,

2) In Ohio, it is apparently illegal for a truck driver to smoke in the cab of his or her truck, because it is a "workplace" and the ban on smoking in the workplace apparently extends to the cab of the truck, even though no one else is being affected.

3) This one really takes the cake. Virginia either has or is considering passing legislation making it illegal for churches and other charitable organizations to prepare and feed meals to the poor unless they go through the time and expense of being licensed and inspected like a regular restaurant. Jeez you can't even do something nice for somebody else without the government getting in the way!

So Sayeth The Shack

Big Apple Bans Trans Fat

So the latest news out of New York City is that they are enacting a ban on trans fat. Really now. Just what kind of country are we living in here? It is perfectly OK to kill your (unborn) child, but you can't have trans fat because it's hazardous to your health!! Seems a bit hippocritical to me. So what will happen now? They'll have bootleg trans fat coming in from Boston and Philadelphia. Seriously though. If I want to eat something that isn't good for me, I should be free to do so. I'm not hurting anyone but myself.

So Sayeth The Shack

Things I'm Sick Of Hearing

We are all used to hearing the disclaimers at the end of advertisements. Things like "batteries not included", "shipping and handling extra" and "side-effects include....". One of these that I've really gotten sick of hearing lately is "well-qualified buyers". This phrase usually is part of an ad for a car. Judging by the numbers of ads for cars that are on TV these days (every other ad seems to be a car ad), there must be millions of cars out there waiting to be sold. But they only seem to want "well-qualified buyers". Just what is a "well qualified buyer"? Probably someone who doesn't really need the perks they are offering like zero percent financing forever or incredibly low lease payments or no money down. A "well qualified buyer" is one who is well enough off financially to be able to make a downpayment or pay a little interest. But they don't have to. What about the rest of us who aren't "well qualified"? We have to pay the interest, make a down payment or whatever. This is just another example of how the well-off in our society are catered to at the expense of the rest of us. So don't expect me to be buying a new car anytime soon, because I'm not "well qualified" So screw you, car companies.

So Sayeth The Shack

Now Here's a Really Bad Idea

Originally written Nov 22

In today's local newspaper was a story titled "slot parlors can serve unlimited free drinks". A bill recenly passed by the Pennsylvania State Senate would allow slot machine parlors to serve unlimited free drinks to gamblers. It says this measure is necessary to allow Pennsylvania gambling places to compete with those in other states where "around-the-clock free drinks are customary".

Does anyone besides me see a problem here? In this age of DUI crackdowns and drunk drivers causing accidents and tragic deaths and injuries, they want to give away unlimited free alcoholic drinks? Like that won't contribute to the drunk driving problem? Come on, senate, this is a pretty stupid idea if you ask me. I hope the house votes it down and/or Rendell vetoes it, which is unlikely since he is so pro-gambling anyway.

So Sayeth The Shack

Playstation Mayhem

Originally written Nov 20, 2006

It's the middle of November. There are lines of people camped out outside of Best Buy and other stores that sell electronic gizmos. It can only mean one thing...the latest gaming console is about to be released. It happens every two or three years, usually a little before Christmas. Of course the companies that make these things never make enough of them, at least initially, to satisfy the demand. So if you really want to get one, you have to camp out in line for days, even longer, outside your favorite store just to have a chance to get one. Or pay double to get one on e-bay. So a lot of people who want one for Christmas end up disappointed. Just what are these companies trying to put over on us anyway? Getting people to stand in line for days for the "opportunity" to spend hundreds of dollars on something that will be obsolete in two or three years anyway. Actually it isn't the companies fault, it is the fault of the people that are willing to stand in line and spend the money. Anyone who wastes several days of their lives waiting to spend hundreds of dollars on something they do not need and will be obsolete in a couple of years anyway has some seriously misplaced priorities. You will NEVER catch me standing in line for hours or days to buy anything, no matter what it is.

So Sayeth The Shack

TomKat--Who Cares???

Originally written Nov 20, 2006

Every day for at least the past week, I have opened my local newspaper to see an article about Tom Cruise and whoever it is he is marrying...Kate somebody or other I think.Well WHO THE FRICK CARES about these people and their stupid wedding??? I SURE THE FRICK DON'T. I would think they could find some real news to put in the newspaper rather than this irrelevent garbage. It's bad enough that it's in there one day, but it has been in there day after day after day for days and days and days. GET OVER IT FOLKS!! What makes it such a big deal? They're just two people getting married so just leave them alone and put some real news in the paper.

So Sayeth The Shack

Too Early for Christmas

Originally written Nov 12, 2006

Every year it gets earlier. This year it's right after Halloween; the ads are on TV, the decorations are out in the stores and the sales are on. Yep, its Christmas already!!

Don't get me wrong. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the music. I love the decorations. I love the food. I love giving presents. So I don't have a problem with extending the "season". But instead of it starting earlier, why can't we extend it later? Come January 2nd or even before that, it's all over. The music is gone, the decorations are down, and there are two to three months of dark, cold, boring and depressing midwinter nothingness to endure. So instead of starting early, let's extend the season later...into January, maybe even February. Let's wait until after Thanksgiving to start the Christmas stuff, but then then keep it going, maybe til Groundhog Day or so.

So Sayeth The Shack

Post-Election Rant

Originally written Nov 8, 2006

None of the people that I voted for won. So what's the point of voting? It's sort of like rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On a more positive note, the new touch-screen voting machines were so easy to use, A CAVE MAN COULD DO IT!!!! (Sorry, Geico, no copywright violation intended...and my apologies to any actual cave men who might be reading this; no offense was intended!)

So Sayeth The Shack

Which One Is Lying?

Last night I saw back-to-back ads on TV for Santorum and Casey. The ad for Santorum said Casey voted for amnesty for illegal aliens. The ad for Casey said Santorum voted for amnesty for illegal aliens. Is one of them lying? OK, maybe they both voted for amnesty, but what point are they trying to make if that is the case? Which liar should I vote for?

In another campaign, the ad says "we need someone who will reform Harrisburg...Not Lynn Swan" There are 2 problems with this one. First of all, if not Lynn Swan, then who? (the ad didn't specifically say). The second problem is that the ad states that Harrisburg (still) needs to be reformed. So that means Eddy hasn't accomplished anything in his first term (even though it was Eddy's ad saying this).

So here is Shack's method of voting:
Eeny-meeny-miny-moe
Catch a liar by the toe
If he lies too much tell him to go
Might as well vote for just any old Joe.

Bad Timing

So gas prices are going down. Just my luck that they always seem to take the next drop immediately after I fill up my tank. Just like when they are going up, they always go up right before I get to the gas station. Such is the story of my life.

So Sayeth The Shack

Ironic Islamic

Concerning the recent Islamic reacion to remakrs, made by Pope Benedict, I overheard the following comment from a parent at a soccer game last week. "Isn't it ironic that the Muslims claim they are not violent, yet when someone says that they are, they threaten to kill them".

So Sayeth The Shack

New Orleans--What About The Regular Folks?

So football is coming back to New Orleans. The Superdome has been reconstructed, well ahead of schedule according to the news reports. This coming weekend, two teams of greatly overpaid professional athletes will be there. Some highly overpaid entertainers will be there. And some fans that can afford to dish out hundreds of dollars to pay the overpaid athletes and entertainers and to watch the spectacle will be there.

Not far away will be homes that were wrecked by Katrina over a year ago and have not even started to be rebuilt. Not far away will be people with little or no money living in FEMA trailers, or worse, waiting for their homes to be rebuilt. And farther away will be people who left the city and have still not been able to return to a home and may never be able to do so. What about all of these people? It would have been nice to have their homes rebuilt, maybe even ahead of schedule. But no. They are not celebrities. They are not professional atheletes. They don't have money. So they just don't count.

Another example of the misplaced priorities in our society.

So Sayeth The Shack

Higher Gas Taxes--Bad Idea

The recent drop in gasoline prices has many of us feeling a little better about things, if only temporarily. However, in an editorial column in this morning's newspaper, Steve Yetiv, a Political Science professor at Old Dominion University, advocates raising taxes on gasoline to take the price at the pump to around $4.00/gallon. He claims that this price would "seriously challenge our oil-guzzling culture". He is likely correct about that. We have already seen some of these effects as automakers have suddenly ended up with a lot of unsold pickups and SUV's and have started developing more hybrid vehicles. There is also a rise in the use and availability of alternative fuels. He also acknowledges that the tax would "disproportionally hurt poor people". I assume he is referring to those who cannot afford to trade in their old clunkers for a new fuel-efficient vehicle or who, because of the cost of housing, must live a large distance from where they work. However, he claims that these affects could be mitigated by a corresponding lowering of other taxes. First of all let me say "yeah, right"; I'll believe other taxes being lowered when I see it. Beyond that, however, there is one aspect of the concept of increased gasoline taxes that Mr. Yetiv does not address, and that is the domino effect caused by higher energy prices. Whether higher energy prices are because of taxes or because of the world price of crude, the average consumer ends up paying twice for it, first at the pump, and then in the cost of virtually everything else as the higher cost of energy is "passed on to the consumer" by the manufacturer who makes the product and the trucking company that transports it to the local marketplace. The consumer is at the bottom of the pile when it comes to this situation. There is no one left to pass on the increased costs to, and so these increased costs must be absorbed. (Most of us do not get automatic raises when the price of gas goes up). This gives the consumer less money to spend on other things. Since consumer spending is what drives the American economy, the entire economy ultimately suffers from higher energy costs. This is why I feel that Professor Yetiv's gasoline tax is a bad idea.

So Sayeth The Shack

911 Overload

Anyone besides me think we are overdoing this 911 memorial stuff? OK sure I feel bad for the victims, their families and all that, and we need to remember what happened and try to keep it from happening again, but do we really need all this? I think it just puts us right back at square one with the recovery and grieving process...sort of like replaying the death of a loved one years later. I don't want to relive the funeral of my dad or my grandmother or anyone else I have lost. I can remember them just as well without that.


So Sayeth The Shack

MACS AND PC'S

So now they have Macintosh computers that will run Windows operating systems. That's sort of like putting a Ford engine into a Chevy Truck; you're ruining a perfectly good product.

So Sayeth The Shack

Dear Doctor Z

(Please read this with a German accent)

Dear Doctor Z,

I vant to shoot you. I am so sick of your commercials on myTV. You are on there every 5 minutes. You are so annoying. I vill never buy one of your cars. And I have put you on my "feces list" because you are so annoying.


So Sayeth The Shack

Atlantic City: A Sad Place

I recently took a vacation to Atlantic City, NJ with my family. It was the second time I had been there, the first being about 23 years ago, and the first time for the rest of the family. We stayed at one of the many hotel/casinos that line the shore and act as a "wall" separating the beach and boardwalk from the rest of the city. While we enjoyed the trip and the vacation. I could not help but notice the stark contrast between the big, fancy hotel/casinos filled with gamblers from out of town, the boardwalk and beach filled with tourists and vacationers, and "the rest of the city", which is pretty much a dump. Just inland from the hotel/casinos is a scummy, grimy city filled with poor people and crime. We were warned not to venture inland after dark; it "wasn't safe". Obviously we heeded the warnings, but how did things get like this? Was it always this way? I suspect not, but maybe I am wrong. Even along and near the boardwalk, and during the day, there were beggars asking for a handout. It strikes me that Atlantic City is a microcosm of our entire society, or at least where our society seems to be headed. In Atlantic City, there are the "haves" (the owners of the hotels and casinos, those who go there to gamble, and the rest of the tourists that come for the boardwalk and beach), and the "have-nots" (the regular residents that live in the city...many of whom probably work for the "haves" at low wages.) In society in general, there are the "haves" (owners and ceo's of large companies -- especially oil companies -- career politicians, celebreties, professional athletes, doctors and lawyers, and others) and the "have-nots" (the rest of us, who, while we may be employed --at low-paying service jobs rather than manufacturing --, are barely making enough to pay the bills as it is and who continue to fall behind as the price of energy, health care and other necessities skyrockets much faster than our paychecks grow.) The "middle class", once a large part of the American economic, social and political scene, is quickly shrinking. Most are dropping out into the "lower class" as their expenses rapidly exceed their income. A few lucky ones are somehow joining the "upper class", but these are very few. Soon the entire country will be one big Atantic City. There will be a tiny minority of very rich people; the rest of the country will be filled with poor people, crime and blight.

By the way this is not intended to discourage anyone from visiting Atlantic City. Go, have a good time. But be mindful of those who are less fortunate; if you win some money, be generous...buy a beggar lunch. And be careful; if you lose too much money, you might end up being one of the beggars yourself!

So Sayeth The Shack

Gas Price Fixing

You cannot tell me that gas prices in the State College area are not fixed at an artificially high level. On a trip to the Jersey Shore and back, prices dropped as soon as I went over Seven Mountains and continued dropping the farther away from State College I got. Prices from Lewistown to Harrisburg and beyond were 5 to 10 cents per gallon lower than around here. And there was actually competition between the stations with prices varying by a few cents from one station to another; not the same at every station like around here. So we are definitely being ripped off.

So Sayeth The Shack

Nudity on TV

Last night I watched a new show on TNT Network called "Saved". One scene in the show consisted of a man running around in a hospital gown with his rear end completely exposed. I'm not complaining because I don't really care; I'm not as uptight about sex and nudity as some people in this country are, but I wonder when they are going to start showing womens bare rear-ends (or other parts)....maybe next week?


So Sayeth The Shack

Teen Neanderthals

My teen-age son (LittleShack2) seems to have taken to speaking like a neanderthal, or cave-man (my apologies to the Geico commercial cave-men). By this, I mean he makes unintelligible grunting sounds rather than speaking plain English words. Example: I say "hi son!" and he replies "ugh" or some such thing. "How are you today?" I ask. "Ugh", he replies. "How was school?". "Ugh" he says. Some of his male friends sound pretty much the same. Must be a teen thing. Or maybe they're teaching Neandertalese as a new foreign language.


So Sayeth The Shack

Regular Driver Testing Needed

" Accused driver legally blind" screamed the headline in the local newspaper on June 10, 2006. The driver referred to had struck and killed a cyclist earlier this year. He had, according to the article, been declared legally blind some two decades ago, yet he was still driving! How does this happen? All too easily. Here in Pennsylvania, all vehicles must pass a yearly safety inspection. The same is not true of their operators. Once someone obtains a driver's license, usually at the age of 16 or 17, he or she essentially has that license for the rest of their life, so long as they stop in every five years to get a new picture taken. No regard is given as to whether or not these people remain physically or mentally fit to be operating a vehicle. No tests are administered, no questions asked. Just a new picture and a new card. Yet every year, they are required to spend tens or sometimes hundreds of dollars to be sure that the vehicle being driven is in safe condition. Unfortunately, no matter how safe a vehicle is, if the driver cannot see well enough, or cannot react quickly enough to a situation, it is an accident waiting to happen. The time has come, in fact it is long past, for regular testing of our drivers. Instead of just a new picture and new card every five years, tests of eyesight, hearing, reaction time and even the rules of the road should be administered. Those who cannot pass these tests should no longer be behind the wheel. Just as in the case of DUI, one death or injury caused by a driver who can no longer see or otherwise safely operate a vehicle is one death or injury too many. So Sayeth The Shack

Our President, the Fisherman

<>....

<<"I would say the best moment was when I caught a 7 1/2-pound largemouth bass on my lake," he said eventually>>

Read the full story here

So what does fishing have to do with being the president? Guess he just couldn't come up with anything great that he has done for the nation! Or, guess you could say that he has us all reeled in!



So Sayeth The Shack

Hunting Dems

Cheney: " I think I hear a democrat over there in the bushes!"

BANG!! BANG!!

Cheney: "Got him!!"


So Sayeth The Shack

Alarm Clock Saves My Life

I was having a dream last night. I was at a gas station. There was a gas tanker truck there and a woman was loading gasoline from the tanker truck into the station's underground storage tanks. While she was doing this, she took out a cigarette lighter and lit it, then dropped it into the underground storage tank. Just before the whole place blew up and we all died, the alarm clock went off. Wonder what would have happened if the alarm had not sounded at that very moment?


So Sayeth The Shack

Our Christmas Presents

One full day...to set up the new computer; a few hours of which were spent on the phone to tech support.

Several hours...to read the instruction manual, about the same length as the Bible, that came with the new digital camera

Getting a present with no cords, cables, batteries, memory chips or any other kinds of gizmos.....PRICELESS!!!!!!!


NOTE: The above is most fictional and is just intended to make a point.



So Sayeth The Shack

Should Rigoberto Alpizar Have Been Shot?

For those not following the news, Rigoberto Alpizar is the man who was shot and killed by air marshalls in Miami yesterday after claiming he had a bomb aboard an airplane. Turns out there was no bomb, he was unarmed, and he actually suffered from mental illness and had not taken his medication. His death is an unfortunate byproduct of the "war on terror". I am sure there will be a big outcry aabout this. Unfortunately, given the exact circumstances, there likely could have been no other outcome. The air marshalls could not tell whether or not the man was bluffing about the bomb. They had no idea about his mental illness. They had no other way of subdoing him without shooting. Perhaps the air marshalls should have some other means of rendering someone unconcious without having to kill them. Shack's opinion: In this particular case, there appeared to be no other choice, especially since he started reaching into the bag that contained the supposed bomb. Nevertheless, it was unfortunate.

More Dangerous Than Iraq?

I received the following via e-mail. It is not my own work and I do not know who to credit it to, but thought it was worth sharing.

Thought for the day:

If you consider that there have been an average of 160,000 troops in
the Iraq theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of
2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000.

The rate in Washington D.C. (among others) is 80.6 per 100,000. That
means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in our
Nation's Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in
the nation, than you are in Iraq.

Conclusion: We should immediately pull out of Washington D.C

Honor Our Veterans

Friday November 11 is Veterans' Day. While many of us do not agree with our nation's foreign policy or with the military operations of the past 4 or 5 decades as well as current military operations, the soldiers and veterans deserve our honor and respect. They have made and continue to make huge sacrifices. In the past they have fought for our freedom and the freedom of other people around the world. More recently, many of us do not know what they are fighting for. While we may disagree with the reasons that they are in battle, they still deserve our support, honor and respect. Our disagreement with policy and military operation should be directed at our political leaders and not at our veterans and current soldiers. It is sad that this day will be no different than any other day of the majority of people in this country. Some government and bank employees will have the day off; the rest will go to work our school as usual and probably think nothing of it. So let's all do something special on Friday. If you know a veteran, thinak him or her for the sacrifices that he or she has made. If you know a family of a currently deployed soldier, do something special for them. And if you disagree with out current military operations, send some letters to out political leaders expressing your displeasure.

Where Are The Grownups?

In the two weeks since a recent football game, there have been letters to the editor in the local newspaper, articles in the same paper, and a thread on the newspaper discussion board, all bemoaning the conduct of the fans both inside and outside of the stadium. Virtually all of the letters and posts indicate that the problem is coming from "not just the college students", but from alumni and other adults as well. The phrase "not just the college students" is itself problematic, because it implies that the majority of the college students spend most of their time drunk off their asses. While this may not be true, it certainly seems as though it is, especially if one spends many evenings downtown. But that is not the subject I wish to address. I instead wish to address that the problem extends to people who should know better. People in their 20s, 30s, even 40s, who are supposed to be responsible, example-setting adults instead acting like overgrown and overage teenagers. This is a trend that I have noticed ever since I came to this town many years ago. Perhaps I had a sheltered childhood, but I recall that when I was a child, children acted like children, and adults were mature, considerate and responsible. Sure they had a good time now and then, but not at the expense of the rights of others. When I came to the university, I was astonished at how the other students acted; vandalizing dorms and apartments, partying noisily with no regard for neighbors, and getting drunk off their asses. After graduation, I noticed that the other "adults" in the area acted pretty much like the students. People who were perhaps students once, then graduated, but never really grew up. So we have a town where a lot of "adults" still act like teenagers. In fact, I think that my own teenagers are more mature and responsible than a lot of adults. I am sure that this is true not only locally, but throughout our nation. We are a "society of immaturity", and today's children have no one to look to for an example because their parents are still children. A week from now, we will see the ultimate display of this adult childishness...Halloween. Once a holiday for children to dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating, it has now become a holiday for adults to dress up in stupid costumes and go out and get drunk off their asses, violating the law as well as other people's rights. Halloween now rivals New Year's as the top drinking holiday; a potentially highly dangerous situation...children trick-or-treating sharing the road with drunk "adult" drivers out partying. Please bring back the grownups. Our society needs some mature leadership.

Capitalists Everywhere

As Hurricane Rita headed toward Texas and hundreds of thousands of evacuees jammed the freeways, A few people on foot plied the freeways filled with nearly-stationary vehicles. They were apparently selling drinks to the motorists stuck in the traffic in the 90-degree weather. I'll bet they were charging a pretty penny for those drinks too, like maybe 10 bucks each? I wonder....
There's always someone around to take advantage of a bad situation and to profit from it.

A Letter To Mom

Dear Mom,

There has been something that I have wanted to tell you for a while now, but have not been able to find the right time or manner in which to do it. On the phone? No. By e-mail? No. Even in person… Well, not with the wife or the kids present. So, this is the best way I can figure out to do it; a good old-fashioned letter. What is it that I want to say? I want to say:

I'M SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!

I'’m sorry for everything that I have done that has upset, disappointed and otherwise annoyed you. I know that you have not approved of some of my decisions and actions in life and that some of them have totally upset you to this very day. Please understand that I have never intended to upset or disappoint you. Most of the things that I have done, including joining the (mormon) church, were my attempts to find my place in life. I know maybe you don't understand this, because you have always had a lot of friends and such, but I have never felt that I fit in anywhere. I have had very few friends throughout my life and I have no close friends at the current time. Mostly, people have either ignored me or seemingly downright hated me (going all the way back to grade school). I never did anything to anyone so I don't know why I was treated the way I was. I finally realized after having some nephews and a son of my own that some of the problem was the way I responded to them, (the other boys my age) but I didn'’t know any better at the time. But even now, in any kind of social situation, people, even those that I know, don'’t usually bother associating with me other than a quick "“hi, how ya doin'’?" I even feel like you would rather spend time with your old cousins and such than with you son and grandchildren (not saying this to make you feel bad or anything; just trying to express my feelings).

I joined the mormon church in an attempt to find a place where I would fit in. Turns out I don'’t fit in there either, but it'’s fine with me if the wife and the kids go. Our daughter, in particular, is active and happy in the youth program and seems to have several good friends. Our son seems to be not so keen on church stuff but at least has a few friends, mostly from school.

I became a meteorologist because it is something that I really enjoy doing. It is certainly not the best paying career one could have after getting a college education, but I think I am better off doing something I enjoy than having more money and doing something that I dislike. Sometimes I feel happier when I am at work than at any other time.

As far as my selection of a mate is concerned; I know that this has been another disappointment from your perspective. It seems that the only girls/women that were ever interested in me were either fat, ugly, stupid, lazy or some combination of these. No pretty, smart girl was ever interested in me to this very day. My first fiancee was smart but not all that good looking, and was more interested in her career and how much money she could make than in our relationship. My wife is neither pretty nor exceptionally smart but she does love me very much.

So I have ended up with a job that I enjoy and a wife and kids that love me. That is what I wanted out of life . Am I happy? Sometimes. Other times I get very depressed and feel like everything I have ever done and every decision I have ever made was wrong. In fact, you almost lost me a few months ago. I was so depressed in early June that if I had had a revolver in the house I might very well have blown my brains out. Instead I drank three-quarters of a bottle of whiskey and pretty much passed out. (Again, there are no intentions here to make you feel bad; this is no fault of yours!!) Note: I am not an alcoholic; I hardly ever drink. My wife keeps urging me to see a psych, but I don'’t have a very high opinion of those guys and I don't want to depend on drugs or some kind of weird therapy to make me feel good. I am much happier again now, especially since we have moved to a place where there are more opportunities for me in the way of physical activity and where I don'’t have to do much driving. (I hate driving). Had to break a lease to do it, but I don'’t think I could have survived another year where we were.

I think that I have written everything that was on my mind that I wanted to tell you. Again, I'’m sorry that I have upset you or been a disappointment; that was not my intention. I love you very much and appreciate everything you have done for me and for us.

Love, Your Son

Great Gas Mileage!!

One of my co-workers rides a bike to work.

He gets great gas mileage: 6 miles to the fart!!

If I Were Single

Today is the seventeenth anniversary of my wedding. Some married men wonder what things would be like if they had remained single. I can tell you, almost definitely, that if I had remained single, I would either be in prison or dead. Why? Because I have always harbored a great deal of hate and rage within me, as you might be able to tell by reading some earlier posts in this blog. Being married and especially being a parent has blunted some of the hate and rage, but make no mistake, it is still in there. If it were not for being married, the hate and rage would probably have led to me kill one or more people, or to commit some other horrible crime, for which I would likely be in prison...or perhaps I would have been killed by one of my intended victims. So, thinks to my wife (luv ya, honey) and kids (luv ya too), and the responsibility that I feel toward them, I am not in prison, and I am still alive.

Who Stole The Ruby Slippers?

It has been noted that Dorothy's (Wizard of Oz) ruby slippers were recently stolen from a museum. I'll bet the Wicked Witch of the West's cousin took them. This sould be investigated immediately!!

What A Bargain

Wow! Gas is down to $2.99/gallon!! What a bargain!

Something I'd never thought I'd say about that price just a couple of weeks ago... :)

It Doesn't Affect THEM

Despite the incredible rise in gas prices over the past week and the shortages in various parts of the country...

...plenty of people still drove their gas-sucking RV's to the local my local university to attend the football game at the local university. These are rich alumni and the like with an endless supply of money. I am sure the same thing happened at the other football games over the weekend. These are some of the THEM...the rich people who are not affected by the price of gas.

...Nascar races went on. Another incredible waste of fuel, not only for the cars participating, but also for the spectators traveling to get there.

What will it take for us as a country to change our wasteful ways when it comes to oil? Ten dollar per gallon gas? Twenty dollar per gallon gas?? Or maybe just no gas at all, period. What happened this past week is just a preview of what will eventually happen when the world does run out of oil or when a large-scale war breaks out in the Middle East or with the Arab nations. Let's not wait until it happens. Let's start changing our habits and making preparations now. It is a difficult path, but one that must be taken if we are to survive in the long term. And we need leaders who are courageous enough to help us and guide us along that path.

Send The Refugees To.....

Here are ideas for what we can do with some of the refugees from Hurricane Katrina:

1) Send them to D.C. They could stay at the White House with the First Family and share in some of the niceties.

2) Send them to Crawford, Texas. I hear there is a ranch there with plenty of room!!

Mother Nature-Terrorist

Hurricane Katrina has caused more death, destruction, misery and economic impact in this country than any terrorist attack. I doubt if the terrorists themselves have the means to duplicate such a mess. Nevertheless I am sure that some radical Islamists and Al Quieda people have been laughing and dancing gleefully for the past week.

So Sayeth The Shack

Sounds Like Something I'd Do

From "News of the Weird" in the local newspaper this past Friday...

"...And David Owen Rye, 48, was arrested...for allegedly firing at least 3 bullets into a Toyota Camry in an apartment-house parking lot because its car alarm wouldn't shut off."

Yup...sounds like something I'd do...shoot a car for making too much noise.

Of course, I'd rather shoot a Ford than a Toyota, but....

The Fabric of Humanity

A phrase that I heard a couple of times on the CBS News tonight, in regards to the aftermath of Katrina and the lack of services, was "the fabric of humanity is beginning to fray". Does this mean that the only things that make us "human" is our modern conveniences and services? That without running water and sanitation and the ability to procure food and shelter we become something less than human? That we somehow turn back into animals willing to do anything to ensure our own survival?

I ask myself...how would I act if I were ever in that situation? Would I go to any means, including looting or perhaps even murder, to ensure my own survival or that of my family? I cannot truthfully answer that question as I sit here in the comfort of my living room. I would hope that I would continue to act as a civilized human being, but unless I were to actually experience the situation, I cannot say for sure.

By the way I am not putting down anyone who has acted rashly in the wake of this hurricane to ensure their own survival. Just wondering, really, what I would do, and pointing out how dependent we as a society have become on the modern conviences of electricity, transportation and ease of shopping for food and other supplies.

Life is Bad For Us

I am afraid that some of the things that I eat and some of the things that I do increase the chance that I will die at the end of my life.

The Quandry of the Moral Pharmacist

In the Sunday, April 24 issue of my local newpaper appeared a column by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald titled "A moral objection does not give you license to shun job duties". Mr. Pitts starts off giving an example of someone who joins the Army and then refuses, on moral grounds, to kill enemy troops. He then likens this to a pharmacist, on moral grounds, refusing to dispense various forms of birth-control pills. This has been in the news recently. Apparently, the governor of Illinois issued an emergency decaration requiring pharmacies to fill prescriptions for the "morning after pill" after a pharmacist in that state refused to fill such a prescription. I both agree and disagree with various aspects of this situation. First of all, I commend and respect anyone who is willing enough to stand up for their beliefs and values to refuse to kill someone (in the case of the soldier), refuse to perform an abortion, or refuse to dispense birth control pills, including the morning-after pill, or even refusing to work on their sabbath. That being said, I feel that once someone has accepted a job working for someone else, knowing in advance all that that job entails and all that they will be called upon to do, they have given up their right to be selective concerning these sorts of moral issues. This means that anyone who is self-employed, whether as a doctor, pharmacist or whatever, can do whatever they want (within the law). If a pharmacist who owns their own independent drug store does not want to dispense certain medications based on moral grounds, that is OK. If they are closed on the owner's sabbath day, that is OK too. On the other hand, I feel that a pharmacist who works for WalMart, or Eckerd or any other chain must abide by the rules of the company they work for. The rules that they know of when they began their employment. They must fill whatever prescriptions are brought in. The government (as in the case of Illinois) should not need to get involved.

Some Catholics are Hypocritical

	1497.1
	With the recent passing of Pope John Paul II, many are wondering what the next Pope will be like. Many are hoping the that next Pope will have less conservative and traditional views on things like birth control, abortion, female priests, homosexualism, etc. I see a basic problem with this kind of thinking. Maybe the next Pope will be more liberal and thus will make some changes in these aspects of church law. But is it God's will for such changes to be made at this time, or is it the will of the people? Excuse me, but I was under the impression that the Pope was God's mouthpiece on earth, and not some kind of political leader that has to be popular with his subjects. I talk about hypocritical Catholics because I hear so many say, "I'm Catholic, but I disagree with this, that and the other thing". Or, "I"m Catholic, but I believe in birth control, or abortion, or whatever". I have said this before and will say it again, I do not think the Catholic Church (or any church, really), is supposed to be a democracy. A church...a real church anyway, is supposed to be run by God or His Spokesman (the Pope...or in the case of the LDS Church, the president and prophet of the church). It is run from the top down, not the bottom up. God commands us, not the other way around. He has not said, to my knowledge, that abortion, or same-sex marraige, or any of these other pressing issues of our time are anymore OK now than they were hundreds or thousands of years ago. To those who say "I'm Catholic, but I disagree with or don't believe whatever", I say would say, "you need to go to confession and then be more willing to follow your church leaders". Now I don't profess to be perfect or anything like that...far from it...I just feel that if someone professes to be a member of a church, that they should be willing to follow its teachings.

Murder, God's Will, or something else?

Terri Schiavo died on Thursday, March 31. Some will say that she was murdered, starved to death deliberately by the removal of her feeding tube. Others will say it was "God's will" that she died at this time. Others will say that it was her time to go and that she would have died than anyway, no matter what. We will never really know...

As far as "God's will" is concerned, I have a lot of problems with that. If God is so great, powerful, loving and just, how can it be his will that so many of his "children" live in such misery, abject poverty, etc while others have everything they need and want. Some are killed violently and at a premature age while others live their whole life. If I were as powerful as God supposedly is, I would make sure that all of my "children" always had everything they needed and were well cared for.

My opinion is that Terri was murdered; starved to death by the removal of her feeding tube. With no food and water, there was no other possible result than death. It is not the same as taking someone off a respirator. Some people on respirators live quite some time after being disconnected.

This is not to say that Terri had much of a "life". Certainly I would not want to live that way and I would not want my family to be going through that. If you feel the same way, make sure that your wishes are made known to your family and that you have a living will.

We Are Being Distracted From What Really Matters

Who in this country decides what is going to be news? How does something like the John Peterson case become a national news story when there are numerous murders on a daily basis in most of our big cities, and none of them make the national news? I'll bet if you or I were murdered, the story and subsequent investigation and trial would not be on "World News Tonight". What about Terri Schiavo? I am sure there are other people on various types of life support around the country that get their "plugs pulled" and we don't hear about them. One evening this week, the Terri Schiavo story took nearly 15 minutes of ABC news. For one person!! What about Michael Jackson or O.J. or the baseball steroid thing? Again, way too much information about things that have little relevance in the overall scheme of things. How about stories that really do matter? On the same night that ABC news spent 15 minutes on Terri Schiavo, they spent no more than one or two minutes on Iraq and what had happened there that day...how many had been killed. What about the situation in Darfour, Sudan? We almost never hear anything about that. What about plans for Iran and North Korea? How many people know that plans have been approved for oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Yet most people, at least in the office where I work can tell you what happened on "American Idol" or Survivor" or any of the other stupid reality shows or in the Michael Jackson trial or the stupid basketball playoffs. All things that have no importance in the overall scheme of things. Are we afraid to think about or discuss the important things? Are the TV networks afraid to air these things? (maybe their ratings will go down...that's something to really be afraid of!!). We are spending too much time, energy and money on things of little or no importance and not enough where it really counts.

The Oil Price Conspiracy

There are plenty of people getting rich on this oil situation (and I'm not one of them). They are doing it at the expense of the rest of us and driving us into poverty and bankruptcy (not very Christian of them, is it?) Think of this..the stations raise their prices, even when they haven't gotten a new delivery of gasoline. So they are taking gas that they bought at the old lower price and selling it the new higher price, thereby making that much more profit. Also it seems awfully fishy that the price goes up everywhere by the same amount on the same day, as if a decree is issued by some supreme dictator somewhere. Also, notice that the price always goes up they day after a news report about how something is going to cause the price to go up. It is all a conspiracy. There is no competition amount the stations and companies. They know very well that thay have us over a barrel (no pun intended) and are taking us on a wild ride. That refinery blast down in Texas (my condolences to the families of those killed) is probably somewhow part of a conspiracy to drive the prices even higher. The vast majority of us have no choice but to continue to drive (at least back and forth to work and basic grocery shopping) and to pay the higher prices. But that money has to come from somewhere. It will first come from things that we spend money on that are not necessary (what is and isn't necessary differs for each of us). So the overall economy will suffer because of it.

Terri--A Bad Case of Micromanagement

The President and congress have no business getting involved in Terri's situation. They are supposed to be running the country as a whole, not trying to control the life of each and every person. That is the job of lower branches of government. They will never get anything done if they try to control each and every person.

My other problem with all of this is...why are so many people so concerned about this one life, but not about all of the defenseless unborn babies that we kill each year??

Save Oil, Ban Motorsports

In the past week or so, the price of gas has gone up 10 to 15 cents per gallon. The people on TV tell us that the price increases are due to extremely tight supply and, of course, the volatility in the Middle East. If the supplies are really that tight, then I say that it is time to get rid of motorsports. Nascar, Indy cars, monster trucks, etc, right on down to the local dirt or asphalt tracks that run races on Friday and Saturday nights during the warmer months. All of these racing vehicles must use up huge quantities of fuel. Yes, it is a big industry and it makes someone a lot of money, but at the same time, there are a lot of people who can barely afford to drive to work and must cut other things out of teir budgets (maybe even food) to be able to pay the skyrocketing price of gas. While the deeper issue is our dependency on foreign oil, there are things that can be done now to cut down on how much of it we use. One of those things, I believe, is the complete elimination of motor sports.

So Sayeth The Shack

New Years--Bah Humbug!!

What is the big deal about New Year's? Why does everyone make such a big fuss about it? It is just another day, no different than any other. Just an arbitrary day marking the end of one calendar year and the start of another. What is there to celebrate? Thinks aren't going to be any different just because it is a different year. The world will still be the same god-awful mess it was before. Our lives will be the same as before...likely no better, hopefully no worse...so what's the big deal.? To me, this is the stupidest, most worthless holiday ever created. For most, it's just another excuse to go out and party and get wasted...as if people need an excuse. In my opinion, it all boils down to four letters...SSDN, which stands for "same shit, different number" Pooey on it all!!

So Sayeth The Shack
www.sosayeththeshack.com
www.gresiakfamily.com

Happy....whatever!

To everyone, whatever you may celebrate....

Happy Hannakuh

Merry Christmas

Happy Kwanzaa

Happy Boxing Day

Happy New Year

And if you don't celebrate anything, Have a happy day!!

(Please forgive me if I didn't mention your holiday!)

So Sayeth The Shack
www.sosayeththeshack.com
www.gresiakfamily.com

On "The End"

http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/20666/

Maybe this also exlpains why so many people are living so deep in debt and at the edge of bankruptcy. They believe that they may never have to pay it off.