The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Goofyernmost]

It was from Forbes. I can believe the Illinois, we all want out, some for warmth others for a state that can get their act together financially. My wild guess in the aftermath of two jailed governors in a row is it will take the state 20 years to right the ship if they started today.

My kids had friends that went to school in Vermont and apparently housing around the University was nutsville prices and a general lack of any apartment housing available so they dorm'd it for 4 years.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. (No @JenniferS I am not talking about Titanic.) There are no good paying jobs available for the youth. They cannot keep them in the state. Those that remain are either low income service personnel living in substandard (hidden away) housing or retired folk with sheltered income and not paying much in the line of taxes comparatively. If things don't change in Vermont in the near future it will become a bankrupt state with beautiful scenery and no one to look at it.

 

[Gabe1]

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. (No @JenniferS I am not talking about Titanic.) There are no good paying jobs available for the youth. They cannot keep them in the state. Those that remain are either low income service personnel living in substandard (hidden away) housing or retired folk with sheltered income and not paying much in the line of taxes comparatively. If things don't change in Vermont in the near future it will become a bankrupt state with beautiful scenery and no one to look at it.

I just looked at the top 100+ companies with growth since the recession. Some are pretty darn good but the stumbling block still seems to be the same, housing. If we go bankrupt here it will be by the hands of our politicians.

 

[Gabe1]

In weird news from last week, Liam Neeson said his films Taken has put off Americans traveling to Europe.

“Just the other day I got a letter from a school teacher in Texas who had tried to take 60 students to Europe and the families of 40 of them got the kids out of it because they had seen Taken 2.

“And then this year she wanted to take 20 of them and the parents all said, ‘No because we’ve seen that movie!’,” Neeson told The Graham Norton Show.

And then I added a funny clip.

It is hard to wrap your brain around parenting until you are a parent. My School board wrestled in the fall of 9/11 if we were going to still send our 6th and 7th graders for their trip to WDC for a week, plus they traveled by air. It had only been a month, travel still wasn't back to normal and then the Anthrax mailings started including WDC and we had to make a decision.

Ultimately to the dismay (understatement) of many parents we opted to allow the registration for the Spring trip to move forward. We put in a caveat that we reserved the right to pull the trip right up to departure. The trip was optional, parent funded and staff volunteered (with stipend payed) and parent chaperons volunteered payed for themselves. So many volunteered that many were turned away. We still had about the same number of students as previous years by deposit time in November but so many hate emails and letters to the board from very scared parents. A few years later when it was time for my DD to go to WDC I registered her but I too made it clear if the World changed I reserved the right to not send her if I thought that to be the best decision.

Due to circumstances in Springfield, our capital I registered both of my kids for that overnight trip and called both of them in sick the morning of departure and just ate the fee. As a parent I didn't want them on that trip but didn't want to have that conversation with staff and board.

 

[MinnieM123]

The last time we rented a car was when my entire family hit WDW for Christmas and my DD was small and my Sis was pregnant, Dad need a new Hip. Used to report, to MCO half way through to deposit parents and back ourselves 10 days after that to MCO.

Town Cars or DME after that. Tourists scare me, seen too many right hand turns from left hand turn lane.

And, it's not only the tourists getting lost and making unsafe decisions on the road at the last minute, but there's another issue. A few years ago, one of the town car drivers told me that it really gets crazy with some of the foreign drivers, who don't understand the rules of the road in Florida. Yup, my car rental days down there are over and done with.

 

[MinnieM123]

I picked Pluto and the Pup.

I also almost picked Pluto & pup (really, really cute picture), but for some reason, I loved the photo with Stitch, and I don't even like Stitch!

 

[Gabe1]

Loosing my faith in humanity reading these discipline reports. I wonder if they'd throw stones at me if I said 1/2 of these are not worthy of a suspension, hard pressed to believe even a detention. Sometimes kids need to just work it out for themselves.

Time to read on......

Advil please.

 

[MinnieM123]

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. (No @JenniferS I am not talking about Titanic.) There are no good paying jobs available for the youth. They cannot keep them in the state. Those that remain are either low income service personnel living in substandard (hidden away) housing or retired folk with sheltered income and not paying much in the line of taxes comparatively. If things don't change in Vermont in the near future it will become a bankrupt state with beautiful scenery and no one to look at it.

Some years ago, I heard that it was the "family" farming industry in Vermont that was really falling on very hard times. I wonder if that also played a role in the state's financial situation now.

One of the most beautiful areas of Vermont is up in the Northeast Kingdom; and yet, I read that was one of the poorest sections of the state. It may have been about 10 years ago, while driving through the Northeast Kingdom up to Jay Peak in the fall, that we'd see some run-down old farmhouses and barns. Some people had painted signs to the effect of, "Save Family Farms". I recall one old farmhouse, in particular, that was missing a few of its glass windows, and they only had plastic over those window frames. Sad.

 

[MinnieM123]

So, my fun 4-day weekend is over. It's back to reality starting tonight. After New Year's delicious Chinese food, and also my roast beef dinner from the other day, tonight it's frozen fish sticks and salad. What a letdown.

Oh, on a happier note, if any of you are planning to include more fruit each day, may I suggest Ghiradelli blueberries covered in dark chocolate. I bought a bag of those at Target, and man, are they yummy! Plus, I don't feel guilty eating them, because blueberries have antioxidants and are health food.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Some years ago, I heard that it was the "family" farming industry in Vermont that was really falling on very hard times. I wonder if that also played a role in the state's financial situation now.

One of the most beautiful areas of Vermont is up in the Northeast Kingdom; and yet, I read that was one of the poorest sections of the state. It may have been about 10 years ago, while driving through the Northeast Kingdom up to Jay Peak in the fall, that we'd see some run-down old farmhouses and barns. Some people had painted signs to the effect of, "Save Family Farms". I recall one old farmhouse, in particular, that was missing a few of its glass windows, and they only had plastic over those window frames. Sad.

Someplace along the line, all of us have to learn how to balance environmental issues with human needs. Resources are useless if you cannot use them. They are then a work of art. You don't feed your family with a work of art. (famous artists excluded) Some areas, like the Northeast Kingdom died when it was announced that asbestos was a bad thing. It was the major industry up that way, other then family farms. It was a major health hazard and therefore couldn't be allowed to continue, but, that cut the livelihood away from a large number of people. Most of the miners, and this is not a putdown, were uneducated or undereducated. They had no place to go. And most of the family farms were mainly just to feed themselves and hopefully sell a few items to let them get things that couldn't be bartered. The rest of the state got so tree hugging crazy that no industry other then a few, somewhat, clean ones like IBM could do business there. Even that has been driven away because of the high cost of doing business in the state between expenditures to maintain the "green" and the general cost of living along with a small base for taxes which put the burden on them.

 

[MinnieM123]

Someplace along the line, all of us have to learn how to balance environmental issues with human needs. Resources are useless if you cannot use them. They are then a work of art. You don't feed your family with a work of art. (famous artists excluded) Some areas, like the Northeast Kingdom died when it was announced that asbestos was a bad thing. It was the major industry up that way, other then family farms. It was a major health hazard and therefore couldn't be allowed to continue, but, that cut the livelihood away from a large number of people. Most of the minors, and this is not a putdown, were uneducated or undereducated. They had no place to go. And most of the family farms were mainly just to feed themselves and hopefully sell a few items to let them get things that couldn't be bartered. The rest of the state got so tree hugging crazy that no industry other then a few, somewhat, clean ones like IBM could do business there. Even that has been driven away because of the high cost of doing business in the state between expenditures to maintain the "green" and the general cost of living along with a small base for taxes which put the burden on them.

Asbestos--now that's something I didn't know about. Yikes. Now I understand the additional reasons why that's an economically depressed area up there.

As a completely side note here, (and this goes back to the early 80s), bank lenders in Vermont were considered extremely conservative. I always found it interesting that after the 1980 fire that destroyed the main Trapp Family Lodge, the family had some difficulty getting a loan to rebuild. They had a very successful tourist lodging business, and I was surprised that the banks were so conservative about lending money. Turned out that they had to go to New York to get a loan, and Citibank lent them 11.8 million to rebuild. (Note: the newly built main lodge reopened in 1983.)

 

[seahawk7]

I picked Pluto and the Pup.

Me too that one and the one with Merida.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Asbestos--now that's something I didn't know about. Yikes. Now I understand the additional reasons why that's an economically depressed area up there.

As a completely side note here, (and this goes back to the early 80s), bank lenders in Vermont were considered extremely conservative. I always found it interesting that after the 1980 fire that destroyed the main Trapp Family Lodge, the family had some difficulty getting a loan to rebuild. They had a very successful tourist lodging business, and I was surprised that the banks were so conservative about lending money. Turned out that they had to go to New York to get a loan, and Citibank lent them 11.8 million to rebuild. (Note: the newly built main lodge reopened in 1983.)

As a side note of my own... I once met Maria von Trapp in a business type setup. Believe me when I tell you the whiskers on kittens may be one of her favorite things, but, people where not high on her list. There are many pictures of her smiling. I didn't personally experience it. She made my grumpy disposition seem, comparatively, as light as a feather. I know, that sounded a little harsh, but, just using Julie Andrews to play her in the movie was a giant leap in artistic license. I suppose having had the Nazi's after you, would make one a little less then cheery.

 

[Gabe1]

Someplace along the line, all of us have to learn how to balance environmental issues with human needs. Resources are useless if you cannot use them. They are then a work of art. You don't feed your family with a work of art. (famous artists excluded) Some areas, like the Northeast Kingdom died when it was announced that asbestos was a bad thing. It was the major industry up that way, other then family farms. It was a major health hazard and therefore couldn't be allowed to continue, but, that cut the livelihood away from a large number of people. Most of the miners, and this is not a putdown, were uneducated or undereducated. They had no place to go. And most of the family farms were mainly just to feed themselves and hopefully sell a few items to let them get things that couldn't be bartered. The rest of the state got so tree hugging crazy that no industry other then a few, somewhat, clean ones like IBM could do business there. Even that has been driven away because of the high cost of doing business in the state between expenditures to maintain the "green" and the general cost of living along with a small base for taxes which put the burden on them.

I remember all that from stories my Dad told me. My Dad was an Insulation Union Contractor. He spent his early life putting in insulation, a chunk of it asbestos and then a chunk of his business was removing asbestos. When he sold his company and retired he became an OSHA inspector for proper removal of asbestos. I remember him saying that when they pulled the two mining plants in Cali and Vermont that was the end of that. It wasn't long before new business sprung in the removal. It would have cost very little to convert those mines to where they were dustless but likely the powers to be knew the trend was to pretty much ban the use of the stuff, they sold the company to the minors which did keep them going for a while. That would have been the time for those unfortunate folk to have as you politely tip toed, broaden their education in some other field. That area up there is kinda dicey now because there are piles of raw for the most part abandoned up there. Time will tell how they ultimately deal with it. Right now what is removed, they achieve it and bury it as when it goes airborne is the issue. How you safely bury all those piles and it not leach out wow I don't know. My Dads contention was always leave it alone where installed and don't mess with it and it won't go airborne. He wasn't a personal believer in removing it believing that was when it became dangerous. But that is and was big business and was fear generated laws over many real experts being listened to. Now there is money in mold removal and lead paint rehab. Spending most of his adult life around asbestos my Dad is 86 and show no signs of lung disease from it. Dads theory was is was their smoking that damaged their lungs not the asbestos killing them. Just his opinion but he is still kick'n.

 

[Gabe1]

So, my fun 4-day weekend is over. It's back to reality starting tonight. After New Year's delicious Chinese food, and also my roast beef dinner from the other day, tonight it's frozen fish sticks and salad. What a letdown.

Oh, on a happier note, if any of you are planning to include more fruit each day, may I suggest Ghiradelli blueberries covered in dark chocolate. I bought a bag of those at Target, and man, are they yummy! Plus, I don't feel guilty eating them, because blueberries have antioxidants and are health food.

You should be good and strong going back to work eating all those blueberries. Sorry it is over and sorry you had to eat those fish sticks.

 

[Gabe1]

As a side note of my own... I once met Maria von Trapp in a business type setup. Believe me when I tell you the whiskers on kittens may be one of her favorite things, but, people where not high on her list. There are many pictures of her smiling. I didn't personally experience it. She made my grumpy disposition seem, comparatively, as light as a feather. I know, that sounded a little harsh, but, just using Julie Andrews to play her in the movie was a giant leap in artistic license. I suppose having had the Nazi's after you, would make one a little less then cheery.

Wow. What a cool story! I worked for a Germany company, I have to say none of them were smiley folk. Smart people, very professional, good business skills, but lacked social skills, even the higher ups. There was a big culture gap.

 

[Spectro shire]

A few food and chemicals that are bad for you.

1. Palm oil
2. Sugar and Salt
3. PCB’s (common in fish oil pills)
4. rbST (article growth hormone)
5. High fructose corn syrup
6. Soy
7. Coffee (bad for the environment)
8. Bisphenol A (canned food)
9. GMO
10.Bluefin Tuna
11.Microwave Popcorn
12.Nonorganic Fruit/Potatoes/Veggies
13.Farmed Salmon
14.Processed Meats
15.Red Meats
16.Margarine
17.Veggie Oil (coconut oil is the best)
18.Aspartame (diet soda/diet anything)
19.Food Dye...I know Velveeta Mac and Cheese replaced their yellow food dye with a natural one.
20.Non stick cookware
21.Plastic

There most likely a lot more. Most of these chemicals are banned around the world. And obviously you can't get away from everything (plastic/bed sheets unless you go organic), furniture (I never heard of organic furniture before).

 

[Gabe1]

A few food and chemicals that are bad for you.

1. Palm oil
2. Sugar and Salt
3. PCB’s (common in fish oil pills)
4. rbST (article growth hormone)
5. High fructose corn syrup
6. Soy
7. Coffee (bad for the environment)
8. Bisphenol A (canned food)
9. GMO
10.Bluefin Tuna
11.Microwave Popcorn
12.Nonorganic Fruit/Potatoes/Veggies
13.Farmed Salmon
14.Processed Meats
15.Red Meats
16.Margarine
17.Veggie Oil (coconut oil is the best)
18.Aspartame (diet soda/diet anything)
19.Food Dye...I know Velveeta Mac and Cheese replaced their yellow food dye with a natural one.
20.Non stick cookware
21.Plastic

There most likely a lot more. Most of these chemicals are banned around the world. And obviously you can't get away from everything (plastic/bed sheets unless you go organic), furniture (I never heard of organic furniture before).

Yep, something is going to get us all sooner or later.

 

[Gabe1]

Me too that one and the one with Merida.

Yes Merida is cute too. Some of those pix of pup the pup didn't look smiley. More caution/on guard.

 

[Goofyernmost]

A few food and chemicals that are bad for you.

1. Palm oil
2. Sugar and Salt
3. PCB’s (common in fish oil pills)
4. rbST (article growth hormone)
5. High fructose corn syrup
6. Soy
7. Coffee (bad for the environment)
8. Bisphenol A (canned food)
9. GMO
10.Bluefin Tuna
11.Microwave Popcorn
12.Nonorganic Fruit/Potatoes/Veggies
13.Farmed Salmon
14.Processed Meats
15.Red Meats
16.Margarine
17.Veggie Oil (coconut oil is the best)
18.Aspartame (diet soda/diet anything)
19.Food Dye...I know Velveeta Mac and Cheese replaced their yellow food dye with a natural one.
20.Non stick cookware
21.Plastic

There most likely a lot more. Most of these chemicals are banned around the world. And obviously you can't get away from everything (plastic/bed sheets unless you go organic), furniture (I never heard of organic furniture before).

Damm, at least now we know why people keep dying. It's living that is killing us. Wait a minute though, didn't I read someplace that people died before any of that chemical stuff existed and absolutely everything was organic? And weren't they a lot younger then we have made it too? I guess that there is just no way to get out of this life alive.

 

[Gabe1]