Loss & Living

I am currently morning the loss of two wonderful and caring people. A co-worker that I worked with for 17 years died in her sleep at age 61. And my sister in law's mom that passed at age 85.  They have touched the lives of many because they cared about friends, family, and community.  At the end of the day when most people went home and relaxed by shutting out the world; these fine ladies would be checking on friends.. either by visiting or by phone.  They loved their children & grandchildren and were always there when needed. 

Shirley and Deby, we will miss you both.  My world is a better place from having known you.  I hope I can live by your examples. 

One of my favorite quotes:

Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.

John F. Kennedy

Education - my suggestion to help fix a broken system

We are pushing our kids through school to be able to take test.  We teach them basic reading, writing, and math.  They are graduating (in fewer numbers each year) with no trade or social skills. 

I would like to do away with summer vacation, with a year round schedule.  A 3 month gap is way too long for kids to remember what they learned. If you are worried about those who work during summer vacation, maybe just do away with them for k-9.

We need more real like options offered like the new Career Technical institute in Salem, Oregon.  Bring trades back to high school. auto shop, welding, and wood shop, were all offered when I was in HS. We had a graduation rate of nearly 90% because kids saw real life applications of the math, science, and engineering they learned.     

A team in each school to follow up with chronic absenteeism and poor grades.  We need to break the cycle. A small team that is proactive in keeping kids in school and helping them succeed us a great investment.

End the draconian zero tolerance rules that cause many to drop out.  I can understand kicking a kid out for criminal acts (those that will land them in jail). But for bringing a bottle of OTC cold meds or getting into an argument (1st offence)?  Yes, chronic bullies need to be dealt with by anger management classes and separation until they can control their anger issues.  No tossing out on the street like yesterdays trash.

Expect more from students on IEPs and find ways to help them succeed.  Most of these kids are extremely intelligent, they just think and see the world differently. Instead of thinking outside the box they don't even see the silly box.  These are the Einsteins, the Ben Franklins, the Nikola Teslas and are our future. Help them succeed at all costs.

Stop teaching just to pass standardized test. Find was to engage the students, teach with passion and enthusiasm. 

Morning Rant - Smoking

I can't understand why anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence still smokes. The fact is, smoking is bad for your health. 

Life expectancy for smokers is at least 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States. More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. This causes everyone's medical costs and insurance to be higher. This bad habit is costing taxpayers billions each year. 

If my taxes and insurance were not higher because of smokers, I wouldn't have an issue.. as long as they didn't smoke around me or my family... or children.. or..
Over 80% of our country's medical expenses are covered by the government (taxpayers - aka you and me) and insurance private insurance rates are high because they cover smoking related diseases.

One side of me feels that if someone wants to act in an irresponsible way, they should pay for the consequences. Its called personal responsibility. Yet I have too much respect for human life to let someone die because of their mistakes, so I they need to be covered by insurance. I will continue to whine and complain hoping more people will see the light and quit smoking. I also hope they examine their diets and start eating healthier (sugar is a bad as cigarettes).

I am far from a health nut. I have just lost too many friends and family to preventable diseases. 

Debt – Time to end the cycle and take back our lives.

Think of how much debt you pay. 

Mortgages, credit card payments, student loans, car loans. home improvement loans, .. the lists goes on. Interest people pay from 4% thru 27%. 

Write down how much interest you are paying toward debt each month. What would your life if you didn't have to make those payments? Could you afford that vacation, that classic Mustang you always wanted, or a vacation home?  Could you afford those house repairs you have been putting off?  Why are you paying your hard earned money as interest to some bank that has you under their thumb?

What can we do?

GET OUT OF DEBT AS FAST AS YOU CAN! 

The  process is really simple and can be done by anyone.  But it takes hard work and most people keep digging their hole with temptations of easy credit.  

1. Find out where you are. Get a clear picture of all loan details, including balances, lender information, min payments & dates, interest rates. Write down all living expenses. If you need assistance I would recommend the app/program, You Need a Budget. https://www.youneedabudget.com/
   
2. Join your local credit union and transfer as much of your debt as possible over to them. Take advantage of any special offers or introductory rates. Credit unions often offer higher interest rates on checking and savings than banks.
   
3. Consult a financial adviser:  It is well worth the investment to get even short term financial advice from a professional.
   
4. Make a conscious decision to stop borrowing money.
   
5. CREATE A BUDGET! - Budget 5-10% of your income to spend on yourself. (Haircut, cloths, an occasional overpriced coffee or beer, fast food, lottery ticket, etc)- Spend EVERY penny in your budget on paper before you get paid.- If you overspend in any area during the budget period, adjust other budget areas to make up the difference to avoid overdraft fees and amassing new debt.
   
6. Start an emergency fund, DO THIS FIRST before paying extra on your debt. It will help in preventing new debt.- Aim to have $1,000 in interest baring saving within one month from today! (budget for it, sell stuff, work extra jobs)- Aim to have 3 months living experience as an emergency fund within one year. Once debt is under control, increase to have 6 months.- Once you have a short term emergency account set up. USE IT for emergencies only. (Car breaks down, medial expenses, home repair, vet bills) and replenish it as quickly as possible.
   
7. Lay out all of your debt, highest interest to lowest.- Pay the minimum payment + 10% on all debt.- Then pay as much as you can on highest interest debt.- Repeat each month.
   
8. Learn how to invest.

If you have more debt than you have income:

1. Make more money! Work more hours, get a second job, sell things, and cut expenses.  It takes effort, hard work, and sacrifice but is well worth the time and effort.
   
2. Renegotiate terms with your creditors.
   
3. Seek help from family and friends.
   
4. Get a home equity loan (be careful not to go into negative equity)
   
5. Consult a Consumer Credit Counseling Service, but check with your state regulators and Better Business Bureau before picking one. Some are dishonest and will hurt more than help. Using a consumer credit service has a negative impact on your credit score in most cases.
   
6. Steal from your nest egg (this is the next to last resort, only for end of rope)
   
7. As a last resort, file bankruptcy

AVOID PAYDAY and TITLE LOANS AT ALL COSTS! They are crooks and will charge you upwards to 27% interest. (they used to charge 300% before regulators stepped in)

Some Recommend Reads:  These are just my favorites. 

• Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. http://amzn.com/1595555277
• Suze Orman's 9 Steps to financial freedom.   http://amzn.com/030734584X 
• Lynnette Khalfani-Cox.  Zero Debt:The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom: http://amzn.com/1932450807
• James Scurlock's Maxed Out: Hard Times in the Age of Easy Credit: http://amzn.com/B001PO64WI   

Time to start sharing my ramblings: If anyone reads this I will be amazed.  I am a social conservative with some libertarian view, I am bound to offend you at some point.

My first topic: Gun Control

I support the right for people to own firearms.  Every person has the right, has the responsibility for their own safety.  

That said: With all rights come responsibility, those irresponsible can lose those rights (I will expand on this below)  

1. Licensing

I believe in licensing:

Firearms are deadly. I believe that ALL gun owners should be trained at least every 5 years.

* The only method I know to insure training is as part of a licensing program.

* This would put the costs and responsibility of background checks on the buyer.

* This would allow sellers to quickly check if a license number is valid or revoked.

A license would be suspended if (suspended would just not allow a person to buy a gun, but they could still own one)

* A restraining order is filed against them.

* If they are under investigation for a violent or property invasion crime.

I license would be revoked if:

* A person is convinced of a violent crime or a crime that involves a firearm.

* Suspected of terrorism.

* Certain mental condition. (this would be revoked by a licensed psychiatrist, and would be fully protected by HIPAA)

Gun collectors exemption:

* If the only firearms a person owns are manufactured before 1900; no license should be required.

2 . Registration

I do not feel strongly on firearm registration. I lean in favor of, but it would be way too complicated considering we have 3 million new firearms sold in our country each year.

3. Fees and Penalties:

* The licensing fees and requirements should be kept at a min. $25 for background check & $25 for a basic safety class (maybe even have the safety class online for $15). I don't want this to be a financial burden on people or cause problems with those who have limited mobility; but the program should pay for itself.

* If a person if found to own a firearm and is not licensed, make the fine similar to a traffic violation. Not a criminal offense. Maybe have the fine waved if they get licensed.

* If a person had their license revoked and are found with a firearm. Then it should be a criminal offense.

4. Why not license baseball bats, spoons, knives, etc..

* Firearms are made for one thing, to kill efficiently and effectively. There are a limited few exemption to this truth – like some weapons designed for target shooting.

* If someone was wanting to kill effectively, they would choose a firearm first. Just as if you were to cut your front lawn, you would choose a lawnmower over a pair of scissors. You could cut your lawn with scissors, but it just wouldn't be very effective.

* More fatal accidents happen from firearms than any other item.

* Gun regulations have existed in the United States for about 150 years, evolving many times since then to cover machine guns, assault rifles, Saturday Night Specials and undetectable firearms. And you can still carry an AR-15 around with a .45 in your back pocket.

If you think gun regulations are some Nazi like leftest move:

In 1938, under Nazi rule, gun laws became significantly more relaxed. Rifle and shotgun possession were deregulated, and gun access for hunters, Nazi Party members, and government officials was expanded. The legal age to own a gun was lowered. Jews and Gypsies, however, were prohibited from owning firearms and other dangerous weapons.

Get out of the way for....

I can't help it if I am named after a popular 1800's song written by slaves.  I am glad to say I made it to the old part.

I am not sure if I have much in common with the Dan Tucker in the song.  As a  masculine boasting song of the time, Dan is an animalistic character, driven by sex, violence, and strong drink. I quit drinking hard liquor years ago, am no longer a smoker (after years of chain smoking), limit sex to one partner, and really dislike violence, unless Bruce Willis in inflicting it on the big screen.

Happily married for 25+ years, married a home town girl.  Have an awesome teenage son, who is also autistic. We also always have pets around us as part of our family.

About 30 years ago I wrecked my motorcycle and busted me up pretty good.  I still feel the effects today, but we all have scars and pains from the past that we live with.  I lost my faith in God many years ago.  I live so I can look my self in the mirror the next morning.. not so I can get some reward after I die.

I am deeply in debt and scrape by paying the bills each month.

Education is extremely important.  That said, I sadly never finished college. .  .But as Tom Bodet is quoted "In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” 

Politically, you can say I am a conservative liberal.  Everyone should have a chance for success without a select few holding the majority of the cards. Everyone should contribute to society.. unless they are considered brain dead.

I have an abundant mentality.. there is enough to go around.  I also believe in sustainability. In order for us to grow as a culture, we need to reinvest into that culture.

I have tried starting my own business twice.  Selling Commodore computers in the 80s (they really had something with the Amiga) and a yard care business in the 90s.  I also put in my 4 years in the Army and 2 years reserve. I have worked for the State Government for the past 15 years.

There is my short ramblings about me.  I hope to update this blog as time goes on.  I am not 100% set in my ways and am willing to listen to logic and reason.