Extended Warranties. You know those things you asked to purchase every time you purchase an appliance, electronic equipment, or even a car. Ever wonder why? The fact is the retailer gets as much as 50% of the price you pay. ALL PROFIT. Do you really need it. Most likely not. The manufacturer’s warranty usually covers less time than they figure the item will last. If something goes wrong it is generally during the manufacturer’s warranty period. I usually divide the expected life of the purchase by the price I give. I find, unless I do something stupid and break it, my extended warranty goes unused. My first experience with extended warranties came many years ago, (when they were something new). I purchased a VCR from a well known outlet store. They talked me into purchasing the EW, (extended warranty). After 1 month it broke. The manufacturer’s warranty was still in force. Of Course. But here is the kicker. The store would not replace it. Give me a loaner, or anything. The extended warranty did not entitle me to anything. It was another 3 months before I got my VCR back. I had to make the payments for 3 months, without having the product. A contract is a contract. I live up to mine. My second encounter was when I purchased my first Big Screen TV, about 11 years ago. I still have that TV everything works fine. Knock on wood. The warranty went unused. Another TV I purchased 16 years ago is still running just fine. I did not purchase a warranty on this one. It is up to you whether you purchase the extended warranty. As for me I don’t have the money to donate. That Is How I See It. Views: 227
Month: March 2011
Tattoos
Tattoos . I just don’t get it. I realize lot of you have tattoos. I also realize there is a long history of tattoos. Usually tattoos are a ritual of certain tribes. There is also the story of sailors getting tattoos when they cross the prime meridian. This one I get. Tattoos are permanent. (Not so much now as it once was). I know people who get them when they are young and regret them when they are older. They try to have them altered, because they are not relative to their adult lives. I know people who have actually had them removed. (I don’t know which is more painful. Getting a Tattoo or having it removed. I am told both are painful). According to the United States Food and Drug Administration. The inks and pigments used in tattoos can cause allergic reactions, infections and scarring. A friend of mine had an “8” tattooed on his bicep, to honor Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was really worried when Jr. left the 8 car. Luckily Jr. was able to get 88, and he was just able to add an 8. What happens if Jr. ends up in, lets say 57 at some time in his career. Now what. Another friend had his girlfriends name on his forearm. One day she tried to kill him. He was in the hospital quite a long time. She went to jail. He never saw her again. But when he started dating again. The name on his forearm kept girls away. (He eventually had it removed at, for him was a huge expense). But now he is happily married, and we never mention his tattoo. No he would not put his wife’s name on his body. Women…. I know you think they are an adornment. But as you age…well it is a wait and see. I see what would be very attractive women, if not for the alteration of their skin. To me that is just a big turn off. I’m not talking about a little butterfly on your ankle or somewhere. I can handle that. What I am talking about is the large tattoos, or many tattoos. Tattoos can also lead to you not getting a job, or at least a job you would prefer. A prospective employer may look at you and see the tattoo, not the real you. People who do not have tattoos tend to not trust anyone with a tattoo. Well like I have stated before, this is a place for me to put my opinions. I respect your right to do with your bodies what you want. But to me TATTOOS are TABOO. That Is How I See It. Views: 90
Driving Lessons Anyone
I’m not sure if it is just in the Midwest, or all over the United States, but there is a lot of people driving that need to learn to drive. Especially those driving GM products. After many years driving all over the Midwest, I have come to fear people driving GMs. Don’t get me wrong there are some who drive Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, etc. that do the same things. Just seems more prone to GM drivers. I am so wary of them I pay real close attention to them, and take extra precautions. Things I have noticed. 1. I sit behind them at stop lights, because they refuse to advance to the middle of the intersection so they can proceed when it clears. Sometimes they just sit through a turn light. 2, When approaching a 4 way stop they tend to either not stop, or my favorite, follow the car ahead of them through. 3. I usually travel about 4-5 miles over the speed limit, but they pass me like I’m going in reverse. Then, as with all makes you are going to have the pokeys that run about 10 mph below the speed limit, then speed up if you try to pass, or come to a passing zone. 4. Parking lots. They take up at least 2 spaces, sometimes more. I have a friend who drove Chrysler products. He usually put about 60,00 miles a year on his car. A pretty good driver. Last year, for some reason he bought a Chevrolet. Now I am afraid to ride with him. He hugs the dividing line, and YES he now takes up 2 spots in parking lots. COINCIDENCE???? I’m not saying this true with all GM drivers, just the majority I see in the Midwest. That Is How I see It. It just seems like GM people (in the Midwest) do not think the rules of the road apply to them. Views: 141
Will the Real Mitch Daniels Please Stand Up
Indiana’s Governor Mitch Daniels is considering a run for President of the United States. This is the same Mitch Daniels, if memory serves me right during his time in our nations capital, was told the levees in Louisiana needed repair. Said no they are OK. (I could be wrong, but that is what I heard on a news cast). The great mind who thought Indiana which was originally in the Central Time Zone, should observe Atlantic Time during the summer, thus putting Indiana 2 hours ahead of the sun. So I have put 2 pictures up here for you to compare. One was born in 1952. The other in 1949. Both are 5 foot 7 inches tall. One is MITCHELL DANIELS. of Indiana. he other VLADIMIR PUTIN of Russia. Separated despite the age difference “At Birth”? (So to speak) Maybe later in life. Will the real Vladimir Putin stand up. That Is How I See It. Views: 389
High School Sports Pay To Play
Want to play sports in Middle, or High School? Cough up the DOUGH! It seems schools are trying to eliminate sports from the learning process. they have found a new avenue to this means. MONEY. Pay to play. With unemployment so high, gas prices out of sight, and the economy in general, the states have less tax money so cuts must be made. What to cut? Schools are in the business of book learning. Te academics in charge of schools feel sports is not a learning experience. If it isn’t in the books WE approve, it is not worth learning. Most of you know sports teach the things we need to work with others, and get along. Things you can’t learn in a book. Team mates are not only mates on the field, court, or track. Real team mates are also mates in academics, and in many cases this is a lifelong friendship. I know some of the people on teams are just a member of the sports team. But if you are a REAL TEAM MATE, you will help your other members. A team mate is having trouble in English, some one on the team will tutor him, work with her. A team mate is having social, mental, or emotional problem, A real team mate will be there to help them in any way they can. Can you learn this in a book? Now in some school districts the Academics, have decided to impose a fee on sports. One district I know of has chosen to impose a fee of $170.oo per sport, per student. Pretty much eliminating the economically depressed students. Imagine you have, say one boy and one girl. Your son plays basketball, and baseball. That is $340.oo plus the other expenses such as, sales, and meals, to earn money to support the particular sport. Your expense to get him to and from practice, (even if he drives himself you are probably paying the expense or some of the expense for that car). Your expense to follow his games, and eating out before or after the game. Concessions at the game. Your daughter plays tennis, and soccer? That is another $340.oo plus all of the other above mentioned expenses. We all know if you are a real stand out athlete some one will cover you expenses. But how many of our children are a LeBron James, or Peyton Manning. How many potentially great athletes or leaders will be left behind because their families can’t afford that $170.oo. Why not charge our students, for each class they take, or a fee for school clubs, etc? That Is How I See It. Views: 791
Time for National Anthem Change?
In light of all the criticism of how the ‘STAR SPANGLED BANNER” has been performed and questioning if it is appropriate for sporting events. I think it is time to consider a change. The “STAR SPANGLED BANNER ” is a war inspired song. A poem set to the tune of an old ENGLISH drinking song. Very hard to sing. (I suppose if you were in an English Pub and had been putting down a few pints. It would not matter). Besides the “STAR SPANGLED BANNER”, only pertains to a single battle, long ago in our history. My preferred replacement song would be ” GOD BLESS AMERICA”. This is often sang at sporting events in lieu of the “STAR SPANGLED BANNER” and I think it better fits the thoughts of our founding fathers as they created this great country. I know you have the minority atheists who would complain because they want to kick GOD out of America. But it still fits our roots much better, and doesn’t sound so war like. I don’t think the U.S.A. really wants to sound like we are a warring nation. My SECOND choice is “MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE” Which served as our unofficial National Anthem prior to the adoption of “STAR SPANGLED BANNER”. I, for one do not like change. I like tradition. But in my search I found that of many years as a Nation, “THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER’ has only been our National Anthem since March 3, 1931. By Congressional Resolution. A short span in our history. How do you feel? Is it time to get a more appropriate National Anthem? One that better reflects the Ideals of the United States of America. That Is How I See It. Views: 228
State Looks to Raise Gas Tax
Our state. like most states, is looking for more money. With our unemployment above 9%. Where do you go. The solution they think of is raising GAS TAX. Earlier our Government was telling us to combat high prices drive less. Then we had the clunker thing. (All that accomplished was taking many a vehicle the lower income people could afford to buy and do necessary travel), out of service. Now Our State Servants, have an attitude of: if we need money add taxes, or increase taxes, or somehow get the people pay for it. An Aside here. I just looked and our Servants in the state capital make in excess of $30,000 a year for about 2 months of service. Not bad for a part time job. Any way now with less gas sales due to the economy, and as I see it Price Gouging by the greedy oil companies. Price in our state is now, as I write, is $3.55 9/10 a gallon for regular. We pay sales tax on gas at the rate of 7% (supposedly pre-tax STATE and Federal), we don’t know for sure as it is figured in at the pump. We presently pay 18% a gallon State tax. With 18.4% Federal tax. I’m not a mathematician so I won’t TAX my brain to figure out what the untaxed price of gasoline is. Just guessing total tax Federal what 65 cents, a gal. and about the same for State. That takes the price to what about $2.25 per gal. which would make us paying about 15 cents per gallon sales tax. Hmmm. Looks to me like the Government is making more per gallon than the dealer. So right now it appears that our State government is making about 80 cents a gallon from taxes. That with no expenses. I say no expenses but the dealer gets maybe a penny or two for collecting the sales tax. Will our state be satisfied making $1.00 a gallon. That would be about a 20 cent hike in taxes. Like I said our state likes taxes. You pay tax on everything you buy, rent, use, sell, earn, we even pay sales tax on every game we bowl. Use less gas. Pay more taxes per gallon. Combat greedy oil companies use less gas, they raise their price so they can live the high life at our expense. To me we taxpayers are in a no win situation. Government and Oil Companies are going to maintain their profits plus, regardless of the hardship it brings the people. Perhaps the hardest people hit by this is the people out of work and the retired person who has lost his savings due to the economy. For these people it is like locking them in their homes. Limited income will only stretch so far. When gas prices rise, so do prices of food, and about everything else. The increased cost of production and transportation has to be absorbed somewhere, (we the consumers). Oh and a bonus for the STATE increased price means more sales tax money. That Is How I See It. Views: 144
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day. A day we celebrate with parades, shamrocks, and green beer. But who was St. Patrick, and why do we celebrate a day with his name. St. Patrick a, Christian leader, is revered by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion. Patrick, the only name I could find, was born in the year 385 at Banna Venta Berniae. of Roman Britain, and died March 17, 461 age 75 or 76 depending on month of birth. (There are some who believe his death was in 493.) The son of a high ranking Roman family. Around his 16th year he was captured by marauders, and sold into slavery as a shepherd for an Irish Chief, from Antrim, (a country in N.E Ireland). While tending these flocks he would pray to God as many as one hundred times a day. It was in those six years young Patrick learned the Celtic language . His master ,Milchu, was also a high druid. Thus Patrick learned of the primeval Irish religions. He fled to Tours (a city in Western France). While at Tours, Patrick became a missionary and later was dispatched to Britain to combat wrongful teachings of Pelagius, (an English monk whose teachings opposed those of St Augustine). Although St. Patrick is accredited with ridding Ireland of snakes, evidence supports the theory after the Ice Age, Ireland never had snakes. It is suggested the “snakes” referred the serpent symbolism of the Druids. The shamrock, you see in so many St. Patricks Day was used by him while explaining the Holy Trinity. St Patricks Day parades was started by the American-Irish who celebrated the saint’s feast day by marching through the streets of New York in 1792. Although Chicago is host to the most famous St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Kiss me I’m Irish. Some enterprising person came up with this idea, because of the Blarney Stone of Irish legend. Supposedly kissing the Blarney Stone, (A stone built into the Blarney Castle; which one has to lean out on a ledge look up and kiss), brings one the gift of gab. The thinking was….If you can’t kiss the stone, then kiss an Irishman. When drinking your “green beer” say “slainte! (Pronounced slancha). Irish version of “cheers.” Slainte means health. Again, we have here a holiday no self respecting atheist can celebrate without being a hypocrite. Too Bad. Happy St Patrick’s Day!! That Is How I See It. Views: 278
Vick Given Second Chance
Remember Michael Vick the Outstanding young Quarterback who was drafted out of Virginia Tech as the Number One pick. by the Atlanta Falcons. Vick led the Falcons the playoffs twice during his six years in Atlanta. He was making BIG BUCKS. Living high. In 2007 he was implicated in an illegal dog fighting interstate ring. August 2007 he pled guilty to federal felony charges and served 21 months in prison, with two months on home detention. He lost practically everything, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I think I read where he was working construction, during his down time from the NFL. Earning about $20,000.oo a year with his construction job, was a drastic drop from his NFL earnings. His second chance came in 2009 when he signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for a non-guaranteed $1.6 million. The in 2010 he received $5million. The 2011 season, (if played), Vick will receive between $16 and $17 million, I’m hoping Vick has truly learned has learned his lessons. 1. Public Image. 2. Fans made him. 3. He needs to give back to FANS not only on the field but off. AND. 4. The money won’t always be there. Live a little lower, and Invest wisely. Heck I could live very comfortably on what he makes for only one half of a quarter. That Is How I See It. Views: 132
Wisconsin Vs Unions Legal Vs Moral
Many of us have been watching the unfolding saga pitting GOVERNMENT AGAINST UNION. While the outcome is a loss for Unions/Working People. My question is: Where do you draw the line at LEGAL and Moral Ethics. Some of the people’s representatives left the State as a way of fighting for the rights of workers. Others stayed behind and plotted a sneaky way to push their agenda forward. My questions is who took the more ethical way to fight. We cannot deny the dissenters brought the government’s UNION ASSASSINATION PLOT, to light. Was there any other avenues for them to take. I don’t know of any, but there may have been. We know there was plenty of input from the residents against the passage of this bill. If you haven’t been keeping up on the situation. The Governor and 18 Republicans were acting in the best interest of Big Business. (Few small businesses deal with unions). To get this bit of business passed those 18 Republicans (One Republican dissented); conspired to strip out any item that would force them to have the required quorum of 20 members to pass the bill. Thus allowing them to pass it with only 18 of the 33 total voting members. I’m sure the vote was probably LEGAL. But was it MORALl? Did they show the ETHICS expected by the people of the state. I have always loved the state of WISCONSIN, But if the actions of the Governor and the Republicans, is a reflection of the people’s ETHICS then I am so very glad to not be a WISCONSIN CITIZEN. Where do you draw the line between Moral ethics and legalit? This a Question Wisconsin Voters must ask themselves when they visit the voting booth again. That Is How I See It. Views: 152
