So today I read about an effort in the Senate to hold up unemployment benefits for jobless Americans. I don't usually write to Congress people. Mostly I figure that the email will be read, notated by a junior staffer, and discarded with the flood of stuff they must get daily. One Senator that is blocking the bill is Massachussetts Senator Scott Brown. I decided to write and express my view nonetheless; Here is the letter:
Hi Scott,
While I am not a voter in your district, I ask that you and all of your fellow Republican representatives, please consider the people of Michigan when you are considering unemployment benefits.
Neither my wife nor myself are workers employed in the auto industry. Yet we are seeing the results of this economic downturn in our family. While I have been able to hold on to my position, my wife was involved in a downsizing one year ago. Without these important safety nets (unemployment), our family will contribute in a very real way to the financial crisis seen in America.
My wife and I were both involved in non profits, both of us exchanging monetary security for the opportunity to do good in the world. So when my wife's non-profit had a bad year last year they had to lay off five people. With cuts to the budget we are doing okay.
But when the benefits run out, here is the cascading effect. First, we prioritize, cutting credit bills, phone service and utilities in favor of keeping our house and giving food to our two children. This will contribute further to the slide in the financial industries (albeit, in our own small way). Then the banks will crush the credit rating which we so carefully cultivated for over five years together. Our interest rates all go to over 29% on the small but cumbersome debt we hold. We are not able to dig out for seven years, or we go the route of bancruptcy. Just another America family who is try to make it.
Mulitply this by the millions of Americans who are hanging on by their fingernails. This not about willingness to work or Republican ideals of smaller government. Make no mistake, this is a crisis of enourmous magnitude that will affect America for years to come. I agree that government debt is onerous. But, in this case you are holding good voting Americans hostage with your ideals. a thorny problem, but I for one tend to come down on the side of the American people.
With Hope for the best,
James Taylor
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Let's be done with the bickering
I read today about how the Republicans in Washington are stalling committee meetings in retaliation for the Democrats passing health care in a tricky way. I don't know the Roberts rules of order, but to this fairly middle of the road American, it looks like High school antics. I know the stuff we are facing is considerable and deserves the finest minds in the nation working on it, but I don't vote for people who won't work it out. I vote for people who are willing to stand on their ideals and do what is right.
On health care, I don't know what is right, but the situation right now is that ordinary people have a hard time going up against big faceless bureaucracies. So some level of oversight is needed. I believe some of the Replican ideas about smaller, more efficient government, but the system needs to protect those who can not easily negotiate their own outcomes. How this relates to the actual bill of legislation for health care reform, I think most don't know because we don't have the time to read all of it. Most Americans must trust the legislator that we sent to work on it. But is that trust justified with what has been spoken about the health bill and extensive pork that inhabits its pages?
What is advertised about the current Republican outlook, is that it is every man for himself. In the Republican model free markets reign and people are able to suceed or fail spectaculerly according to their own choices. What a great idea for a small growing nation of rugged individualists. But does the model still work for a crowded teaming nation run by large multi-national corporations?
LET ME BE CLEAR, this does not make me a socialist, do not mistake my words... I want to be free enough to determine my own destiny, but things need to be fair. If I work like a dog, there should be a larger reward than for someone who does not put in the time that I do... But if I am a Detroit autoworker who has been told that the company would take care of me for my whole life, while this seems to many to be a silly assumption, I think this "contract" should be honored.
We live in the real world, and every political act has it's consequences. the Republicans have a point in saying that the changes that are made by the health care bill will have unintended consequences. But it does not absolve them or the Democrats from the responsibility of coming together and working it out. Everyone involved has shown a willingness to use "tricks" to make a point or advance a political cause, this will have repurcussions for everyone in the next election. But above all, every elected official was sent to office with a job to do. And I do not feel that the job is to be the obstruction in the river that holds back the waters of change.
It is time to deal with the issues of today. Let's be done with the bickering.
I read today about how the Republicans in Washington are stalling committee meetings in retaliation for the Democrats passing health care in a tricky way. I don't know the Roberts rules of order, but to this fairly middle of the road American, it looks like High school antics. I know the stuff we are facing is considerable and deserves the finest minds in the nation working on it, but I don't vote for people who won't work it out. I vote for people who are willing to stand on their ideals and do what is right.
On health care, I don't know what is right, but the situation right now is that ordinary people have a hard time going up against big faceless bureaucracies. So some level of oversight is needed. I believe some of the Replican ideas about smaller, more efficient government, but the system needs to protect those who can not easily negotiate their own outcomes. How this relates to the actual bill of legislation for health care reform, I think most don't know because we don't have the time to read all of it. Most Americans must trust the legislator that we sent to work on it. But is that trust justified with what has been spoken about the health bill and extensive pork that inhabits its pages?
What is advertised about the current Republican outlook, is that it is every man for himself. In the Republican model free markets reign and people are able to suceed or fail spectaculerly according to their own choices. What a great idea for a small growing nation of rugged individualists. But does the model still work for a crowded teaming nation run by large multi-national corporations?
LET ME BE CLEAR, this does not make me a socialist, do not mistake my words... I want to be free enough to determine my own destiny, but things need to be fair. If I work like a dog, there should be a larger reward than for someone who does not put in the time that I do... But if I am a Detroit autoworker who has been told that the company would take care of me for my whole life, while this seems to many to be a silly assumption, I think this "contract" should be honored.
We live in the real world, and every political act has it's consequences. the Republicans have a point in saying that the changes that are made by the health care bill will have unintended consequences. But it does not absolve them or the Democrats from the responsibility of coming together and working it out. Everyone involved has shown a willingness to use "tricks" to make a point or advance a political cause, this will have repurcussions for everyone in the next election. But above all, every elected official was sent to office with a job to do. And I do not feel that the job is to be the obstruction in the river that holds back the waters of change.
It is time to deal with the issues of today. Let's be done with the bickering.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Further new year...
I am sitting here knowing that this is not the year for big new things in my life. But if I won the lotto, here is a randon list of the things I would go out and get just to be ready to work with the occasional band...
5 SM58 wireless mics.
1 Yamaha M7cl digital soundboard
1 Yamaha LS digital board for monitors
4 stacks of high end speakers, or if I won the BIG lotto
16 QSC Wideline line array speakers
4-8 dual 18" subs
lots of amps
1 Allen and HEath 32 or 40 channel 8 buss soundboard
2 Ashley Protea system EQ's
1 System processor (not even sure what the majic one is right now)...
I have most evrything else needed to rock. I'm looking for the right venue to make a mark on this year or next...
Price tag (Hmm LEt's see)
$5,000
$12,000
$8,000
$5,000
$30,000
$14,000
$6,000
$2,500
$2,500
$2,000
.... ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT $5,000 TO ABOUT $90,000
Note to my wife- OK don't faint I am not considering this right now, just dreaming about the fun I could have with a few bucks...
Soundguy dreams are not cheap as you can see above. Cheers to all of my brothers making it work out in the world these days!
I am sitting here knowing that this is not the year for big new things in my life. But if I won the lotto, here is a randon list of the things I would go out and get just to be ready to work with the occasional band...
5 SM58 wireless mics.
1 Yamaha M7cl digital soundboard
1 Yamaha LS digital board for monitors
4 stacks of high end speakers, or if I won the BIG lotto
16 QSC Wideline line array speakers
4-8 dual 18" subs
lots of amps
1 Allen and HEath 32 or 40 channel 8 buss soundboard
2 Ashley Protea system EQ's
1 System processor (not even sure what the majic one is right now)...
I have most evrything else needed to rock. I'm looking for the right venue to make a mark on this year or next...
Price tag (Hmm LEt's see)
$5,000
$12,000
$8,000
$5,000
$30,000
$14,000
$6,000
$2,500
$2,500
$2,000
.... ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT $5,000 TO ABOUT $90,000
Note to my wife- OK don't faint I am not considering this right now, just dreaming about the fun I could have with a few bucks...
Soundguy dreams are not cheap as you can see above. Cheers to all of my brothers making it work out in the world these days!
** For those few who might happen upon this blog once in awhile. Forgive the nature of the last blog. I was typing fast and loose and being a little more open than I normally would. I don't think I have outed anything personal in my life, but I did open the door to sloppy writing criticism and mopeyness charges.
As of two days later, I am much more caught up with work, and working on my class demands. Money is never easy these days, and even more complicated are the choices of how to live our lives. There is a side of me that wishes I had the big tribute house in Cascade, but my better side is overwhelmed that I have two healthy, complicated, critical thinking children, and a lovely wife who tries to keep me on the right path, that the rest just fades away.
Green goblin of envy begone, my life is great without you coloring the lenses of my eyes!
(Ahh what BS, I still want the nice house, new car and cottage in the summer ;)
As of two days later, I am much more caught up with work, and working on my class demands. Money is never easy these days, and even more complicated are the choices of how to live our lives. There is a side of me that wishes I had the big tribute house in Cascade, but my better side is overwhelmed that I have two healthy, complicated, critical thinking children, and a lovely wife who tries to keep me on the right path, that the rest just fades away.
Green goblin of envy begone, my life is great without you coloring the lenses of my eyes!
(Ahh what BS, I still want the nice house, new car and cottage in the summer ;)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A Little fuzzy
My head is a little more full thn it shoud be these days. I am trying to do a really good job at work, as well as be a leader in my organization, while finishing up on my master degree program part time, andtrying to be a good modern enlightened dad to two lovely children who are very demanding right now.
I seriously don't know how people do it. I work my ass off to make ends meet, and much of the timethey don't. I live small in a house that actually should fit within the budget presented to me.My wife and I go out to dinner somehwat more often than we should, but are always careful with the places we go and budget. I see lots of folks either living in houses Ican't imagine, or losing houses to financial disaster. I am clueless an how to get ahead.
When did we diecide to get ahead anyway?My parents were glad to have a house, and for the most part never considered trading up until the kids were in their mid teens.We did not have nintendo, or Wii, or playstations, or DVD's,or ten computers in a house. When did this become necessary. My wife and I can'tpass the computer without checking Fargung Facebook. Something I have noticed: My life and others didnot getmore compelling whenFacebook came out. I think it will slowly go the way of other fads as more folks realize the computer just adds to the noise between you ears. I'm putting down my text books and turning this thing off to go pick up my guitar. That is a place I can find some stress release...
My head is a little more full thn it shoud be these days. I am trying to do a really good job at work, as well as be a leader in my organization, while finishing up on my master degree program part time, andtrying to be a good modern enlightened dad to two lovely children who are very demanding right now.
I seriously don't know how people do it. I work my ass off to make ends meet, and much of the timethey don't. I live small in a house that actually should fit within the budget presented to me.My wife and I go out to dinner somehwat more often than we should, but are always careful with the places we go and budget. I see lots of folks either living in houses Ican't imagine, or losing houses to financial disaster. I am clueless an how to get ahead.
When did we diecide to get ahead anyway?My parents were glad to have a house, and for the most part never considered trading up until the kids were in their mid teens.We did not have nintendo, or Wii, or playstations, or DVD's,or ten computers in a house. When did this become necessary. My wife and I can'tpass the computer without checking Fargung Facebook. Something I have noticed: My life and others didnot getmore compelling whenFacebook came out. I think it will slowly go the way of other fads as more folks realize the computer just adds to the noise between you ears. I'm putting down my text books and turning this thing off to go pick up my guitar. That is a place I can find some stress release...
Friday, January 08, 2010
People-centric New Years post
I saw a headline from the Grand Rapids Press last week which has been sitting on my floor. The headline read "Store Return Policies Tightening". While this does not surprise me, it does make me want to think about the implications. Whie I was thinking about how I felt, I also surfed across a Yahoo article about new airline screening technolgies like MIND READING which are being developed t insure "safe travel".
It seems like instead of working together to make a better world, we are more concerned with hoarding our way of life or catching and punishing "bad people". I will admit this, I am no terrorist, but I have probably brought back a kids toy to Meijers which was received at Christmas, but not originally bought at Meijer. These things seems very different, but are closely connected.
How many millions of people go through the Detroit airport per year? But we are really worried that one person might get through with evil intentions. So soon we will all submit to a brain scan or underwear search to weed out anyone who might try and fail to light his underwear on fire. Folks, there are well funded people using your fears to control you. Yes, if we are not careful the terrorists might blow up an airplane. Why are we not trying to bring these people to realize how horrific this is? Why do these people think that lighting their underwear on fire and blowing up a plane is honorable? We don't need better security, we need better understanding.
Now can I connect it back??? Meijer and other retailers will tell you that returns need to be controlled to control theft in stores. The theory is that people steal stuff and return it for cash...
-Probably true as there are many less people working as cashiers to stop theft these days (later I will write about how annoying self checkouts are for me). But in truth a big store with a good prevention process in place only loses 2% per year at most from admin errors, shrinkage, internal theft and all the other categories. I will say that 2% of 35 million is significant, but the stores are set up to be big and automated and this system is how it is... (For history, I was a home improvement store manager in one of my other job lives).
So here it is, the real deal, stores are tightening up returns, because they just don't want to deal with you.... WHAT .. REALLY?
Yes, here it is, the single biggest controllable expense for a store manager is labor. Looser return policies mean that more are people needed to deal with what you bring back. The truth is, if there is a mountain of returns, it takes staff time to inspect them and return them to shelves, or get credit from the manufacturer or ship them back, or write them off and destroy them.
The biggest bummer is that as we dedicate ourselves to cheaper imports, we will see more returns needed, more service for defects, and less ability from stores to take items back. Over Christmas my laptop power supply went bad. I Googled the item number and found an online retailer to replace it. The part showed up with a power cord which did not fit the power supply. For two weeks I have been battling with a service person with little or no Engrish skills to just get the cord switched. Six months ago, I swore to hell online I would never ever visit a Best Buy again after my wifes Canon Camera needed service 17 after purchase, and Best Buy would do nothing for me and treated me like dirt. ( For the record, Canon stepped in and fixed it, Best Buy never satisfied me at all).
We pay for convenience, we pay for cheap imports, we pay for convenient fast travel... Meijers, Best Buy, the Uxcell online retailer, and Al Queda all know this. For every rule there is a way to take advantage. Since 9/11, we have lost our innocence. We did not realize ( and still don't) how good we had it in the 50's, through the 1990's. And there is whole class of people who exist only to get themselves re-elected and give their buddies free turns at the feeding trough. My gut tells me that rather than trying to preserve our hallowed traditions, we should be working to see how we can lead the way toward a better tomorrow, because right now people don't see how they will get the positive future that they desire. We would be better off tripling the peace corp, and laying off airline security. Let's show the world how we can just be good people, not cynical self serving a-holes all the time.
-My rant for New Years
P.S. My vows for a New Year are as follows:
1. Do more good than evil
2. Love more fully and chill out with my family
3. Do at least five concerts, soundguy three for Dave, and produce at least three by year-end.
4. Get further out of debt and closer to being okay with my finances. (they aren't bad, but I can't afford a layoff certainly)...
5. Finish the master degree and devote more time to my family (see #2 above).
6. Did I say more love, and less stress???
-Peace to the world
I saw a headline from the Grand Rapids Press last week which has been sitting on my floor. The headline read "Store Return Policies Tightening". While this does not surprise me, it does make me want to think about the implications. Whie I was thinking about how I felt, I also surfed across a Yahoo article about new airline screening technolgies like MIND READING which are being developed t insure "safe travel".
It seems like instead of working together to make a better world, we are more concerned with hoarding our way of life or catching and punishing "bad people". I will admit this, I am no terrorist, but I have probably brought back a kids toy to Meijers which was received at Christmas, but not originally bought at Meijer. These things seems very different, but are closely connected.
How many millions of people go through the Detroit airport per year? But we are really worried that one person might get through with evil intentions. So soon we will all submit to a brain scan or underwear search to weed out anyone who might try and fail to light his underwear on fire. Folks, there are well funded people using your fears to control you. Yes, if we are not careful the terrorists might blow up an airplane. Why are we not trying to bring these people to realize how horrific this is? Why do these people think that lighting their underwear on fire and blowing up a plane is honorable? We don't need better security, we need better understanding.
Now can I connect it back??? Meijer and other retailers will tell you that returns need to be controlled to control theft in stores. The theory is that people steal stuff and return it for cash...
-Probably true as there are many less people working as cashiers to stop theft these days (later I will write about how annoying self checkouts are for me). But in truth a big store with a good prevention process in place only loses 2% per year at most from admin errors, shrinkage, internal theft and all the other categories. I will say that 2% of 35 million is significant, but the stores are set up to be big and automated and this system is how it is... (For history, I was a home improvement store manager in one of my other job lives).
So here it is, the real deal, stores are tightening up returns, because they just don't want to deal with you.... WHAT .. REALLY?
Yes, here it is, the single biggest controllable expense for a store manager is labor. Looser return policies mean that more are people needed to deal with what you bring back. The truth is, if there is a mountain of returns, it takes staff time to inspect them and return them to shelves, or get credit from the manufacturer or ship them back, or write them off and destroy them.
The biggest bummer is that as we dedicate ourselves to cheaper imports, we will see more returns needed, more service for defects, and less ability from stores to take items back. Over Christmas my laptop power supply went bad. I Googled the item number and found an online retailer to replace it. The part showed up with a power cord which did not fit the power supply. For two weeks I have been battling with a service person with little or no Engrish skills to just get the cord switched. Six months ago, I swore to hell online I would never ever visit a Best Buy again after my wifes Canon Camera needed service 17 after purchase, and Best Buy would do nothing for me and treated me like dirt. ( For the record, Canon stepped in and fixed it, Best Buy never satisfied me at all).
We pay for convenience, we pay for cheap imports, we pay for convenient fast travel... Meijers, Best Buy, the Uxcell online retailer, and Al Queda all know this. For every rule there is a way to take advantage. Since 9/11, we have lost our innocence. We did not realize ( and still don't) how good we had it in the 50's, through the 1990's. And there is whole class of people who exist only to get themselves re-elected and give their buddies free turns at the feeding trough. My gut tells me that rather than trying to preserve our hallowed traditions, we should be working to see how we can lead the way toward a better tomorrow, because right now people don't see how they will get the positive future that they desire. We would be better off tripling the peace corp, and laying off airline security. Let's show the world how we can just be good people, not cynical self serving a-holes all the time.
-My rant for New Years
P.S. My vows for a New Year are as follows:
1. Do more good than evil
2. Love more fully and chill out with my family
3. Do at least five concerts, soundguy three for Dave, and produce at least three by year-end.
4. Get further out of debt and closer to being okay with my finances. (they aren't bad, but I can't afford a layoff certainly)...
5. Finish the master degree and devote more time to my family (see #2 above).
6. Did I say more love, and less stress???
-Peace to the world
The Concert
Well I have not written since we did the benefit (imagine that). I want to publicly thank all of my friends and Mrs. Sinki's friends who came out and supported the show. It was a small crowd, but those who ventured out got to see some fantastic sets by local music heroes. Not much more to say, except that indications are that we will be back again next year. I also had some coversations recently with a local promoter, and there is some interest in having this sound guy do some further shows in the area. Keep you posted...
Well I have not written since we did the benefit (imagine that). I want to publicly thank all of my friends and Mrs. Sinki's friends who came out and supported the show. It was a small crowd, but those who ventured out got to see some fantastic sets by local music heroes. Not much more to say, except that indications are that we will be back again next year. I also had some coversations recently with a local promoter, and there is some interest in having this sound guy do some further shows in the area. Keep you posted...
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