I googled this blog today and actually found it! I feel famous! Now, if only someone else with a million close friends will stumble upon it.
Waiting with bated breath to find out if I've won the $355,000,000 lottery. I like my chances. I made a deal with God to give away the first $100,000,000.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Help (NOT) wanted
As the new year begins, I and thousands of other Americans are looking for work. While many thousands have simply given up the search, there are many more like me that keep plugging away every day, hoping to find a job that will allow them to pay the bills, put food on the table and live with a measure of dignity.
Some would have you believe that unemployment insurance only discourages people from seeking work. Those who make this argument haven't tried to live on the $300 or less that recipients receive. While I'm sure there is a small minority who would rather collect a government check than do real work, I don't believe tis is true of most working people.
In March, it will be three full years since I last worked on a full-time basis. Since that time, I have applied for hundreds of jobs in a wide variety of fields. Although at first I focused on jobs in teaching or in print journalism, I long ago abandoned that focus. Although I have four years' experience as a college English instructor, I am not "qualified" to teach high school kids because I don't have state certification. Although I have more than 20 years' experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, the newspaper industry is on life support and not looking for reporters or editors.
I applied for a job editing my small hometown newspaper. This was a position I was amply qualified for, but the job went to a much younger editor. The publisher informed me of his choice and offered me part-time work covering the local high school football team. He was willing to pay $15 per game for coverage. I pointed out that covering a high school football game takes about three hours. At $15 per game, he was offering less than the minimum wage. I declined and suggested he look for a high school student, perhaps the team manager.
I suppose that critics of unemployment insurance would point to this example as proof that it makes people lazy and unwillling to accept work. If that's true, then they're right. But I don't think rejecting a ridiculously low offer makes someone a bum. The minimum wage law was enacted to prevent employers from exploiting workers.
The employment picture is so bad these days that employers routinely receive a hundred applications for every vacant position. This has allowed employers to not only be very selective, but also allows them to lower wages. Many times, the person hired is the one willing to accept the lowest wage. Many employers are taking advantage of this. The salary offers I see on web sites like journalismjobs.com are the same low levels I saw when I first entered journalism 30 years ago.
Today before I begin the 2011 job search, I will go down to the unemployment office to verify what I already suspect - the unemployment extension approved by Congress last month doesn't apply to long-term unemployed such as myself. I suspect I already know the answer, but I want someone in a government office to tell it to my face. Whether or not I'm qualified, the search for a job, any job, will continue.
Some would have you believe that unemployment insurance only discourages people from seeking work. Those who make this argument haven't tried to live on the $300 or less that recipients receive. While I'm sure there is a small minority who would rather collect a government check than do real work, I don't believe tis is true of most working people.
In March, it will be three full years since I last worked on a full-time basis. Since that time, I have applied for hundreds of jobs in a wide variety of fields. Although at first I focused on jobs in teaching or in print journalism, I long ago abandoned that focus. Although I have four years' experience as a college English instructor, I am not "qualified" to teach high school kids because I don't have state certification. Although I have more than 20 years' experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, the newspaper industry is on life support and not looking for reporters or editors.
I applied for a job editing my small hometown newspaper. This was a position I was amply qualified for, but the job went to a much younger editor. The publisher informed me of his choice and offered me part-time work covering the local high school football team. He was willing to pay $15 per game for coverage. I pointed out that covering a high school football game takes about three hours. At $15 per game, he was offering less than the minimum wage. I declined and suggested he look for a high school student, perhaps the team manager.
I suppose that critics of unemployment insurance would point to this example as proof that it makes people lazy and unwillling to accept work. If that's true, then they're right. But I don't think rejecting a ridiculously low offer makes someone a bum. The minimum wage law was enacted to prevent employers from exploiting workers.
The employment picture is so bad these days that employers routinely receive a hundred applications for every vacant position. This has allowed employers to not only be very selective, but also allows them to lower wages. Many times, the person hired is the one willing to accept the lowest wage. Many employers are taking advantage of this. The salary offers I see on web sites like journalismjobs.com are the same low levels I saw when I first entered journalism 30 years ago.
Today before I begin the 2011 job search, I will go down to the unemployment office to verify what I already suspect - the unemployment extension approved by Congress last month doesn't apply to long-term unemployed such as myself. I suspect I already know the answer, but I want someone in a government office to tell it to my face. Whether or not I'm qualified, the search for a job, any job, will continue.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Credit Conundrum
I thought we'd managed to make a deal for Will's new car yesterday, but the deal fell through today thanks to his grandmother.
Will had found a 2004 Volvo wagon for $6900 that looked promising. It had 99,000 miles, but appears to be in good shape. The blue book value was about $13,000 so the dealer was willing to take half price basically. The dealer had reduced it from $7300 last week and we agreed on a price when he came down to $6500. If Will could get $400 for his Odessey and an extra $500 from Granny, it was a done deal.
But when he called her today, Granny said that $6500 was too much to pay for a seven-year-old car with nearly 100,000 miles. She told him to keep looking. So that's what he'll have to do because no one tells Granny Annie what to do.
Granny is no automotive expert. I doubt she's ever paid much below sticker price. I'm sure she doesn't realize that 100,000 miles is not a lot for many modern cars. The Odessey has over 200,000 on it. I'm sure Will could get another 100,000 out of the Volvo, but I'm not about to butt in with Granny Annie.
I pointed out to Will that his granny is and always has been a control freak. She's never given away a dime that didn't come with strings attached. She's been that way all her life and isn't about to change now. That's just the price you pay when you need her help.
I thank God that I've never had to ask for her help. I pray that I never will because for me, the price would be just too damned high.
Maybe she'll change her mind. Maybe the dealer will come down another $500. Who knows?
The Odessey continues....
Will had found a 2004 Volvo wagon for $6900 that looked promising. It had 99,000 miles, but appears to be in good shape. The blue book value was about $13,000 so the dealer was willing to take half price basically. The dealer had reduced it from $7300 last week and we agreed on a price when he came down to $6500. If Will could get $400 for his Odessey and an extra $500 from Granny, it was a done deal.
But when he called her today, Granny said that $6500 was too much to pay for a seven-year-old car with nearly 100,000 miles. She told him to keep looking. So that's what he'll have to do because no one tells Granny Annie what to do.
Granny is no automotive expert. I doubt she's ever paid much below sticker price. I'm sure she doesn't realize that 100,000 miles is not a lot for many modern cars. The Odessey has over 200,000 on it. I'm sure Will could get another 100,000 out of the Volvo, but I'm not about to butt in with Granny Annie.
I pointed out to Will that his granny is and always has been a control freak. She's never given away a dime that didn't come with strings attached. She's been that way all her life and isn't about to change now. That's just the price you pay when you need her help.
I thank God that I've never had to ask for her help. I pray that I never will because for me, the price would be just too damned high.
Maybe she'll change her mind. Maybe the dealer will come down another $500. Who knows?
The Odessey continues....
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Resolutions
By now, I know myself well enough to know that New Years' resolutions are a waste of time. I've made and broken enough resolutions over the years to know that I can't depend on myself to keep all those well-intentioned promises.
Over the years, I've made and broken promises to quit drinking, quit smoking, eat better, exercise more, go to church, stop gambling, be a better person, work harder, work less, get more sleep, eat my vegetables, say my prayers, etc. etc ad infinitum. All these wonderful ideas for making life better, so carefully thought out in December forgotten before Valentine's Day.
And then there were all those resolutions made in the drunken, hungover haze of New Years' morning. How many times did I vow I'd had my last drink before noon on Jan. 1 and forget long before midnight?
In spite of the odds, in spite of my past record, I will try again this year. Maybe by sending my resolutions out to the world I'll feel a greater sense of responsibility. Knowing that some school kid in Hong Kong might stumble across my blog makes me somehow more accountable.
In 2011, I resolve to be a kinder person to everyone. Make that everyone except bill collectors. I know that they really are human beings doing a crummy job for crummy wages, but no kindness for them.
In 2011, I resolve to be more optimistic. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, I will remind myself every day that life is good.
In 2011, I resolve to be grateful for what I have and share my wealth of gratitude with others.
I will also quit smoking, start walking, listen more and talk less.
Wish me luck. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Over the years, I've made and broken promises to quit drinking, quit smoking, eat better, exercise more, go to church, stop gambling, be a better person, work harder, work less, get more sleep, eat my vegetables, say my prayers, etc. etc ad infinitum. All these wonderful ideas for making life better, so carefully thought out in December forgotten before Valentine's Day.
And then there were all those resolutions made in the drunken, hungover haze of New Years' morning. How many times did I vow I'd had my last drink before noon on Jan. 1 and forget long before midnight?
In spite of the odds, in spite of my past record, I will try again this year. Maybe by sending my resolutions out to the world I'll feel a greater sense of responsibility. Knowing that some school kid in Hong Kong might stumble across my blog makes me somehow more accountable.
In 2011, I resolve to be a kinder person to everyone. Make that everyone except bill collectors. I know that they really are human beings doing a crummy job for crummy wages, but no kindness for them.
In 2011, I resolve to be more optimistic. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, I will remind myself every day that life is good.
In 2011, I resolve to be grateful for what I have and share my wealth of gratitude with others.
I will also quit smoking, start walking, listen more and talk less.
Wish me luck. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
Buying A Car
Today I am going out with my son to try to buy a car. I'm going along for the ride to keep my boy from getting his head knocked off by a salesman. Hopefully, my calm presence will prevent him from making a terrible mistake. Hey, there's a first time for everything.
I've tried in the past to assist all my children when the time came to buy a car. For the most part, they've ignored my advice and limited my assistance to providing cash.
I am not a meddlesome father. For the most part, my adult children conduct their lives the way they see fit, with the mixed results you'd expect from amateurs. When it comes to schools, work or the people they marry, I keep my nose out of their business. I stick to what I know and I know how to buy cars. I know how to buy cars because I used to sell cars and I know all the tricks the dealers use to pick your pockets.
Today, we'll start our search at CarMax, the home of "no haggle pricing." Whoever invented the idea of "no haggle pricing" was a marketing genius.
It certainly has a ring to it. "No haggle pricing" sounds so much more appealing than "Just pay what we say and go away." But that's really what they mean by "no haggle pricing."
Many people find haggling over the price of a vehicle distasteful. That's the beauty of the slogan. Car dealers spent decades trying very hard to make the buying process as distasteful as possible. At Carmax and other "no haggle" dealers, they will take the most distasteful part of the process out if you'll just agree to lay down and do what you're told. You'll wind up paying hundreds or thousands more than necessary, but you can avoid the hassel of negotiating with a salesman, his sales manager and the owner.
We're certainly going to test the "no haggle" slogan today. We'll begin by ascertaining how much his beat-up 1996 Honda van is worth. I wouldn't give you $100 for the wreck, but I'm expecting the folks at CarMax to pony up a couple of grand for it. They'll have to if this deal is going to work because he'll need that money for his down payment.
CarMax doesn't sell 15 year old wrecks like Will's Odessey. But that doesn't mean they won't buy it and send it off to auction. They won't make a dime on the sale, but that's really not the point. They'll make their money selling cars, not buying them. Many times, it works both ways for the dealer, but not in this case. They will likely be willing to take a loss on the trade if they'll make enough profit on the sale to justify it.
Today is likely just a test run. I don't expect to buy a car today. I want to do what the dealer does, build excitement and anticipation. But it's the salesman I want to build up, not Will. My job today is to keep him calm and collected so as to avoid a costly mistake.
The salesman wants to close the deal TODAY. He will have other customers to deal with tomorrow. He wants to get you and your dream car off the lot TODAY. Listen to his pitch and you'll hear that word frequently. Tomorrow is out theme today. Tomorrow, the price will be lower. Tomorrow, he'll need to make a sale more than today. Tomorrow, we win. Tomorrow it's going to rain. Tomorrow, no one else will be interested in that car he's trying to sell TODAY.
UPDATE: It turns out Car Max really means it when they say "no haggling" We never got past their $500 offer for Will's Odessey. Financing anything may be difficult for a kid with no credit history. I scouted out a few "Tote the Note" joints, but they don't have much to pick from. A lot of the lots were half-empty.
The Odessey continues...
I've tried in the past to assist all my children when the time came to buy a car. For the most part, they've ignored my advice and limited my assistance to providing cash.
I am not a meddlesome father. For the most part, my adult children conduct their lives the way they see fit, with the mixed results you'd expect from amateurs. When it comes to schools, work or the people they marry, I keep my nose out of their business. I stick to what I know and I know how to buy cars. I know how to buy cars because I used to sell cars and I know all the tricks the dealers use to pick your pockets.
Today, we'll start our search at CarMax, the home of "no haggle pricing." Whoever invented the idea of "no haggle pricing" was a marketing genius.
It certainly has a ring to it. "No haggle pricing" sounds so much more appealing than "Just pay what we say and go away." But that's really what they mean by "no haggle pricing."
Many people find haggling over the price of a vehicle distasteful. That's the beauty of the slogan. Car dealers spent decades trying very hard to make the buying process as distasteful as possible. At Carmax and other "no haggle" dealers, they will take the most distasteful part of the process out if you'll just agree to lay down and do what you're told. You'll wind up paying hundreds or thousands more than necessary, but you can avoid the hassel of negotiating with a salesman, his sales manager and the owner.
We're certainly going to test the "no haggle" slogan today. We'll begin by ascertaining how much his beat-up 1996 Honda van is worth. I wouldn't give you $100 for the wreck, but I'm expecting the folks at CarMax to pony up a couple of grand for it. They'll have to if this deal is going to work because he'll need that money for his down payment.
CarMax doesn't sell 15 year old wrecks like Will's Odessey. But that doesn't mean they won't buy it and send it off to auction. They won't make a dime on the sale, but that's really not the point. They'll make their money selling cars, not buying them. Many times, it works both ways for the dealer, but not in this case. They will likely be willing to take a loss on the trade if they'll make enough profit on the sale to justify it.
Today is likely just a test run. I don't expect to buy a car today. I want to do what the dealer does, build excitement and anticipation. But it's the salesman I want to build up, not Will. My job today is to keep him calm and collected so as to avoid a costly mistake.
The salesman wants to close the deal TODAY. He will have other customers to deal with tomorrow. He wants to get you and your dream car off the lot TODAY. Listen to his pitch and you'll hear that word frequently. Tomorrow is out theme today. Tomorrow, the price will be lower. Tomorrow, he'll need to make a sale more than today. Tomorrow, we win. Tomorrow it's going to rain. Tomorrow, no one else will be interested in that car he's trying to sell TODAY.
UPDATE: It turns out Car Max really means it when they say "no haggling" We never got past their $500 offer for Will's Odessey. Financing anything may be difficult for a kid with no credit history. I scouted out a few "Tote the Note" joints, but they don't have much to pick from. A lot of the lots were half-empty.
The Odessey continues...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Street News has no street cred
Last month, I came across a web site called Memphis Street News that proported to be an online news service geared to Memphis. I noticed that the articles on the web site seemed vaguely familiar. A Google search quickly showed that the "articles" on the Street web site were originally published in The Commercial Appeal, a print publication in the Bluff City. Someone at Street News was simply cutting up the original stories published in the Commercial Appeal and piecing them back together for use on the web site. If the Street News was a college student, this would be known as plagiarism and expulsion would be in order. But in this case, the offender is guilty of copyright infringemnt for the unauthorized use of the Commercial Appeal's intellectual property.
The web site's owner, Tony Falasca, took exception to my criticism and threatened to sue me. This is the sort of bullying tactic I've seen before. Tony isn't the first person to threaten to sue me over words I wrote and published. Fortunately, it's just an empty threat, a bully's best effort to silence criticism of his questionable business practises.
Apparently Tony knows as little about the law as he does about journalism. In order to win a libel case, he will have to prove that I knowingly published false information about him and his web site. Nothing I wrote about his web site was untrue. A quick Google search of his web site and the Commercial Appeal archives will clearly demonstrate that he published stories taken directly from the print publication. No lies, no libel.
But even if the truth weren't on my side, I have yet another defense that Tony and his attorney should consider. I'm flat broke. In the unlikely event that Tony could somehow win a judgement in court, he will never collect damages because there's nothing to collect. I suppose he could win my 15-year-old car, but beyond that, there's precious little to collect.
The web site's owner, Tony Falasca, took exception to my criticism and threatened to sue me. This is the sort of bullying tactic I've seen before. Tony isn't the first person to threaten to sue me over words I wrote and published. Fortunately, it's just an empty threat, a bully's best effort to silence criticism of his questionable business practises.
Apparently Tony knows as little about the law as he does about journalism. In order to win a libel case, he will have to prove that I knowingly published false information about him and his web site. Nothing I wrote about his web site was untrue. A quick Google search of his web site and the Commercial Appeal archives will clearly demonstrate that he published stories taken directly from the print publication. No lies, no libel.
But even if the truth weren't on my side, I have yet another defense that Tony and his attorney should consider. I'm flat broke. In the unlikely event that Tony could somehow win a judgement in court, he will never collect damages because there's nothing to collect. I suppose he could win my 15-year-old car, but beyond that, there's precious little to collect.
Pickler's Pickle
David Pickler is a member of the Shelby County Board of Education. A senior member of the school board, Pickler serves as the chairman of the board. Earlier this year, Pickler proposed that the county school board seek special school district status from the state.
Special school district status would allow the Shelby County school board to impose taxes to fund education and would freeze the current borders of the county school system. Within Shelby County, the city of Memphis operates its own school system. The county-run schools are mostly white, in suburban areas outside Memphis. The Memphis city schools are predominantly black and serve an inner city community plagued by poverty and crime.
In recent years, Memphis has expanded its boundaries through annexation. With each annexation, schools that were built by the county school system were turned over to Memphis officials following annexation.
Pickler argued that the county schools needed special status in order to make long-range plans. He said that special school district status would permanently freeze the current district boundaries, preventing Memphis from annexing county-operated schools.
Both city and county schools are funded, in part, with county property tax revenues. Under the current formula, the much larger city school system receives $3 for every $1 allocated to county schools. In addition to county tax revenues, the city school system also receives funding from city taxpayers. Memphis school officials heave learned that counting on the city's share of funding can be problematic. A few years ago, in order to cut city taxes, Memphis City Council cut the city's funding for schools by millions. Memphis schools filed suit and won in court, but have yet to receive the money that was withheld.
Pickler's plan to create a special school district, with taxing authority, aroused Memphis school officials. If approved, the county schools would have authority to tax residents. Funds generated by the special district tax would not have to be shared with Memphis schools. The result - county taxes would decline while city tax rates would increase substantially.
As a result, Memphis school officials voted to disband the city school system. If approved in a referendum of city residents, the city school system would cease to exist, leaving it the responsibility of the county school system to operate the city schools as well.
Disbanding a large inner city school system seems like an act of surrender to me. But the idea has been gaining traction within the city. Some see consolidating the suburban and city school systems as the last hope for united this divided community. Memphis voters will decide the question some time in February, when the weather is likely to produce a slim turnout. A vocal minority of voters could produce a stunning change in the way kids are educated in Shelby County and Memphis.
This certainly isn't the way Pickler envisioned things when he first proposed setting up a special school district.
Special school district status would allow the Shelby County school board to impose taxes to fund education and would freeze the current borders of the county school system. Within Shelby County, the city of Memphis operates its own school system. The county-run schools are mostly white, in suburban areas outside Memphis. The Memphis city schools are predominantly black and serve an inner city community plagued by poverty and crime.
In recent years, Memphis has expanded its boundaries through annexation. With each annexation, schools that were built by the county school system were turned over to Memphis officials following annexation.
Pickler argued that the county schools needed special status in order to make long-range plans. He said that special school district status would permanently freeze the current district boundaries, preventing Memphis from annexing county-operated schools.
Both city and county schools are funded, in part, with county property tax revenues. Under the current formula, the much larger city school system receives $3 for every $1 allocated to county schools. In addition to county tax revenues, the city school system also receives funding from city taxpayers. Memphis school officials heave learned that counting on the city's share of funding can be problematic. A few years ago, in order to cut city taxes, Memphis City Council cut the city's funding for schools by millions. Memphis schools filed suit and won in court, but have yet to receive the money that was withheld.
Pickler's plan to create a special school district, with taxing authority, aroused Memphis school officials. If approved, the county schools would have authority to tax residents. Funds generated by the special district tax would not have to be shared with Memphis schools. The result - county taxes would decline while city tax rates would increase substantially.
As a result, Memphis school officials voted to disband the city school system. If approved in a referendum of city residents, the city school system would cease to exist, leaving it the responsibility of the county school system to operate the city schools as well.
Disbanding a large inner city school system seems like an act of surrender to me. But the idea has been gaining traction within the city. Some see consolidating the suburban and city school systems as the last hope for united this divided community. Memphis voters will decide the question some time in February, when the weather is likely to produce a slim turnout. A vocal minority of voters could produce a stunning change in the way kids are educated in Shelby County and Memphis.
This certainly isn't the way Pickler envisioned things when he first proposed setting up a special school district.
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