Jimbo's Journal

Woke up yesterday about 6am and felt like crap.  My hip was bothering me and I had the beginnings of a headache that got worse throughout the day.  I called in sick, went back to sleep until about 9, got up for a bit then slept again til noon.   I felt like crap all day and didn't accomplish any of the things I had wanted to by staying home (yes, I was capable of going to work but for the use-em-or-lose-em sick days).   I still have a sinus-y headache and feel somewhat lightheaded, and my hip hurts, though less than yesterday.

Free pizza day at work today.

Got our ESOP statement with paychecks today.  I have a total of under $6,000 (split between cash and stock).  After SEVEN F@¢£ing years, that's all I have, $6,000 ?!?!?!?   When I left my previous job after 7yrs-8mo I had over $23,000 in my 401K.  Jeebus! this place sucks!

We just got a bonus at work.  This is from "last year" as our fiscal year goes from April through March.  The way this year is going so far I can't see how we'll have any chance of increasing business or even staying even.  Hopefully that stimulus money works its way through the system pretty quickly and can salvage the year. 

...... Anyway - BONUS!!

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Correction: Apparently April and May have been pretty good (much to my surprise) from carry-over jobs from last year.

I was watching a bit of Morning Joe on MSNBC this morning.  Right before I had to leave, Jim Cramer came on and started whining (Limbaughing?) about how the Obama administration was being mean to him or singling him out or some shit.  Jim Cramer is the ass who screams and hollers and gesticulates on tv.  He's the one who famously insisted that "Bear Stearns is fine!  Bear Stearns is not in trouble.  Do not move your money from Bear"  only FIVE days before Bear Stearns crashed hard.

Now I see this article which claims that Jim Cramer manipulates the market by making claims (promoting or trashing) about certain stocks and makes huge profits by naked short selling those stocks.  Isn't there some sort of regulation about politicians not being allowed to know which stocks/funds their money is invested in due to their unusual power and influence?  Methinks that these jackasses with financial tv shows should be the same.

I recorded this a couple weeks ago but just got around to watching it over the weekend.  I was fairly disappointed in that it didn't really give me much information that I didn't know already.  It had some man-on-the-street interviews asking people what the deficit is, what the debt is, what a trade deficit is, etc.  I know these things.  Most of the interviewees didn't.  As if that isn't depressing enough, there's the fact that all of these have been steadily increasing almost exponentially in the last 20-30 years.  I knew this also, but the movie does give it some perspective.  CNN broadcast this with Ali Velshi (sp?) and  woman whose name escapes me as "moderators" while they had an in studio panel of Bill Bradley, David Walker (former Controller General of U.S.) and Peter G Peterson (former SecCommerce and former CEO of Lehman).   I found these panel discussions much more interesting than the actual movie, though not nearly in-depth enough.  All expressed how dire the current situation is if we don't get things turned around.

One thing that I don't hear much about (a political third rail?) is how with this current recession/depression, the government NEEDS to spend, spend, spend (they all agreed on this), yet this only increases the national debt which has become a black hole.  Basically the ONLY way out is to cut spending dramatically AND increase taxes.  Not something which people want to hear.

And on the current recession/depression, I found this interesting.  I saw an onscreen reference to this site on The Rachel Maddow Show and she made mention to some of these figures.  The "Bang for the Buck" that federal spending puts back into the economy:

Tax cuts actually cost more than they inject into the economy, while "entitlements" like extending unemployment and increasing food stamps pump in MUCH more than they cost.

No sooner had I posted that Karma would deal me a blow, when my door buzzer .... buzzed.  "Hello."   "Yes, this is the police."  I buzz him up.  He tells me that someone had hit my car.  Apparently while at the bank, someone slid on the ice and hit my car.  I'm not completely clear what happened, but he had all the incident reports filled out with the other guy's info and mine (except he needed my phone# and ins#).  Unfortunately, the other guy doesn't have insurance.  Oy vey!  Fortunately, the damage is very minimal, so I'll contact my insco and see what needs to be done.

I was starting to get annoyed.  I contacted my bank (holder of my mortgage) last month to find out about my 5-YR ARM adjusting.  She told me that it was scheduled to adjust Feb. 1, 2009 and that I should get a letter informing me of the new rate 45 days before the adjustment.  At the time that was only a few days away.  Weeks went buy, and when I still hadn't gotten a letter last Monday, I called to find out what was going on.  She told me that she would call to find out the status of the letter.  So today I went into the bank in person to find out what the problem was.  I was slightly annoyed, knowing that (and she confirmed) even though the bank hadn't been punctual, I would be held to a February 1 adjustment date.  So she called to talk to someone at HQ while I waited.

Shock.  My interest rate, which is already significantly lower than the current rate of a 30-year fixed rate has actually gone DOWN.  And it hasn't gone down only a few points.  It has gone down a LOT.

WooHoo!!!

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(Of course my karma dictates that this probably means something else will go to my detriment.)

Last Wednesday, my dad went and applied to begin receiving Social Security payments.  I was a bit surprised.  I knew he'd discussed it, but I was hoping that he would hold out for a while longer so that he'd get more money.  I'm sure he's thought this through and knows the specifics (more than I do), but I'm still a bit disappointed -   I know that sounds awful, and I feel bad for even thinking it.

He is transferring over the ownership of the company that they still own to my mom completely.  He says he's still able to make up to $18k per year, so he's going to apply a few places (he mentioned Wal-Mart - ugh!).  I just know that there is so much that he can still do and would be good at - sales, for instance.

I posted this in another thread, but I think it deserves its own post:

Regarding Joe the Plumber.
See the video here. 
Did McCain speak with Joe the Plumber? If so, can someone please link to it.

If I understood Obama correctly, JoeP would only be taxed the higher rate on the profit over $250,000. So if I remember correctly and the rates were 36% and 39% (???), then
if JoeP makes $250,000- taxed at 36%, he pays $9,000

If JoeP makes $280,000- he will be taxed for $250,000 @ 36% and $30,000 @ 39% = ($90,000 + $11,700) = $101,700

If he makes $280,000 and is taxed at the straight 36% that Obama is proposing, he will be taxed $100,800

That's a difference of $900.

And if you recalculate the first scenario as a "flat percentage" it comes to 36.3214% (instead of 36%). If that $900 is going to keep JoeP from opening his business ..... well, then JoeP probably needs a better business plan.

And of course these scenarios don't include the 50% reduction in health costs that Obama mentioned, nor does it include a $3,000 tax credit for hiring a new employee in the U.S. 
 

Here's a handy chart:

BASE	$250,000.00		-		$90,000.00		36.0000%
+	$260,000.00		$3,900.00		$93,900.00		36.1154%
+	$270,000.00		$7,800.00		$97,800.00		36.2222%
+	$280,000.00		$11,700.00		$101,700.00		36.3214%
+	$290,000.00		$15,600.00		$105,600.00		36.4138%
+	$300,000.00		$19,500.00		$109,500.00		36.5000%
+	$310,000.00		$23,400.00		$113,400.00		36.5806%
+	$320,000.00		$27,300.00		$117,300.00		36.6563%
+	$330,000.00		$31,200.00		$121,200.00		36.7273%
+	$340,000.00		$35,100.00		$125,100.00		36.7941%
+	$350,000.00		$39,000.00		$129,000.00		36.8571%

Of course, it should also be said that I don't know what McCain would tax him, so maybe Obama's 36% (or 36.3214%) is still too high for Joe.  I'm only commenting on Obama's tax difference between those under $250,000 and those over $250,000 as I understand it.

Bernie Sanders, the Independent Senator from Vermont, is a regular guest every Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program. He seems to really have his ducks in a row, as they say. I am getting really sick of all these laissez-faire, free-market capitalists supporting all these corporate bailouts and takeovers. So I found this clip endlessly entertaining (if imbed doesn't work):

( Video behind the cut )Bernie Sanders calls Larry Kudlow a socialist.


I'm no expert on the ISMs of the world, but I was thinking (BEWARE!), isn't this more specifically the merging of government and business*, or ....... fascism?  That set me off down a whole new pathway of thinking which, needless to say, was not very optimistic.


*There's been all this talk about the government gaining equity shares in the companies that it bails out or takes over, etc, but I think that is just masking over the problem, providing a good spin of the situation.  I find it all truly frightening and very dangerous.



Bernie Sanders:  "If these companies are too big to fail, then they're too big to exist.  We need to start breaking them up."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html 

See, I don't really have any problem with this, but I wonder if the average person doesn't look at those first two groups and be shocked by the huge disparity.  I can't help but wonder if Obama would be better served to distribute the top two groups down into the third (and possibly fourth) group a bit.

Again, I have no problem with this as it is, especially when the country/government is hemorrhaging money and that group of the rich top 1% is getting richer and richer (quite probably at the expense of the country).

To recap, I bought a new laptop at Best Buy in .... March (Feb?).  When I got it home it had a defect, so I returned it.  When I returned it, they credited my account, but neglected to recharge the new one.  So when I got my credit card statement and noticed, I decided to do the right thing and point it out to them.  I went in to the store and they (re)charged me for the laptop.  I noticed about a month after that that they hadn't given me my Reward Zone points.  So, I went in again, and blah, blah, they wound up crediting my account AGAIN and recharged my card.  Well, NOW I haven't been able to find the credit on my credit card statement.  So, now instead of not charging me at all, they've charged me twice  (at least if my observation is correct) ...... which is EXACTLY what I had worried about in the first place..... and makes me question my decision to "do the right thing" in the first place.

Well, I'm unusually busy right now AND I don't want to deal with this AGAIN!!!!  So I'm pissed off and confused and freaking out and anxious, and I can't do anything because I'm sitting here at work and my receipts are all at home and I'm busy and don't know when I will be able to address this ...............  AARRGGHH!!

I couldn't sleep last night.  My mind wouldn't stop running.  My back has also been bothering me, and I just went to the chiro 2 weeks ago.  Last time I remember looking at the clock it said 1:36.  It started storming this morning and I woke up.  My alarm also went off (twice that I remember).  I don't know which happend first.  Finally I rolled over expecting my alarm to go off any minute again, until I realize it said 6:42 and not 5:42.  18 minutes to get up, shower, get dressed, and drive 25 minutes to work.  Was late; don't care.  Tired. 

Didn't do much of anything (AGAIN) this weekend.  I did some reading*, some tv, not much cleaning.  I did stop by and see my dad (mom wasn't there).  We briefly discussed financial issues.  I breached the subject, barely, about the need to find a way to more consistently have a steadi(er) income.  Don't think it sank in, but might provide an inroad for future.

Blah.  Now I'm hear at work.  Blah.  They signed the deal for new computer software last week.  They're supposed to call us when the software comes in to begin scheduling the training/transition.  Excitement and trepidation ensues.

*I bought John Dean's Conservatives Without Conscience at the dollar store last week.  I've been interested in reading it for a while, so when I saw it for $1 I couldn't pass it up.  Fascinating look into the mindset of conservatives and the modern version- the neoconservative.  I'm actually buying a couple more copies to give to people, so if anyone else wants a copy let me know.

It always confused me. And the article is even kinda funny

Trivia buffs will know that once upon a time there were three "agencies": the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. It didn't take all that long for market participants to start coming up with pronunciations for the abbreviations GNMA (Ginnie Mae), FNMA (Fannie Mae), and FHLMC (Freddie Mac, which makes no sense whatsoever except that nobody liked "Filly Mac."

And of course, "at some point the student loan corporation climbed on board and we got Sallie Mae."
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From Paul Krugman:

Although they’re private companies with stockholders and profits, they’re “government-sponsored enterprises” established by federal law, which means that they receive special privileges.

The most important of these privileges is implicit: it’s the belief of investors that if Fannie and Freddie are threatened with failure, the federal government will come to their rescue.

This implicit guarantee means that profits are privatized but losses are socialized. If Fannie and Freddie do well, their stockholders reap the benefits, but if things go badly, Washington picks up the tab. Heads they win, tails we lose.

So once again, corporate welfare - good!; individual welfare - bad! (done in my reasonably good George H.W. Bush impersonation)

Lots of thoughts have run through my head in the past couple weeks.  At some point I may try to elucidate on them, if I work up the courage and initiative.

One of my biggest concerns, aside from Caleb, has continued to be my parents.  I've commented in the past about this, I know, but their financial situation continue to be worrisome.  I've avoided talking to them as much as possible lately as even something so important is dwarfed by Caleb's medical situation, but we have discussed it some.   From a brief discussion with mom yesterday, they plan on returning home (I think she said) by Sunday.  My mom's (new-ish)  job at the bank seems safe.  From what I gather, they've been understanding as to the time off, but she still hasn't been getting paid, and they won't allow her continue to be absent indefinitely.  Dad, who has been selling art, I'll call it "flea market style," has missed a lot of opportunity due to all the rain we've had in the past several months, and he unexpectantly missed these last two finally nice weekends.

My dad's sister (who's retired) wired him some money before they left to go up to Toronto.  I gave them a not insignificant amount also, much to their initial protest.  At this point I don't expect it back and would MUCH rather see them figure out their situation.  Frankly, I don't think their current (especially dad's) plans are working, but I don't see an easy solution.  I don't see dad being willing to go back to a regular "9-5 job" like mom has.  And it isn't exactly easy for a 62 year old man to find an "entry-level" job, to which drmagoo can attest.  It's not the easiest topic to broach with them either.......

What a week.  Very busy.  Busy like I haven't been in a LONG time.  My work ethic has suffered (as I had guessed it might), and I am currently very flustered by having to do so much at once.  

Last thursday (before the Mem Day weekend) one of my vendors/friends informed me that one of his customers has a purchasing position open.  I haven't sent an email (with resume) to the guy yet...... I'm not sure about it (from the VERY little that I know), mainly because it's way in Schaumburg.  Though I do plan on trying to move east .... If I ever get off my ass.  Also he said that the guy seems to want someone right away.  No matter how much I seem to dislike my job sometimes, I feel VERY uncomfortable about giving NO notice to an employer.  Anyway, I'm going to contact the guy and find out more.

Now, the good (per memo).  The company finally broke the $6million sales barrier.  We got a substantial bonus check today.  The first one I've received in 6 years.  The memo also mentioned (same as last year and the year before) that we would be getting new software.  Hah!  I'll believe it when I see it.  But I am much less skeptical under the circumstances.

I feel like I have gotten a lot done this week, but haven't really made any progress towards finishing anything.

 

ME!!

I went and bought a laptop last week with my annual tax return money.  I filed about a month before deadline this year (early for me, considering it is usually easy - just procrastination).  I figured the deposit would show up any day now.  So what did I get in the mail today?  My paperwork returned because I forgot to sign it ...... again.  This is either the second or third time that I've done this.  So now ..... well, I'm hoping that I still get the $600 bribe (which required that you filed on time).  On top of this I mailed my state return on the 14th.  On the 16th I got that one back because I'd either forgotten the stamp or it fell off.  I think it was the former.

AARRGGHH!!!




Everyday I fight a war against the mirror
I can't take the person staring back at me
I'm a hazard to myself

So doctor, doctor, won't you please prescribe me something?
A day in the life of someone else 'cause I'm a hazard to myself

Don't let me get me
I'm my own worst enemy
It's bad when you annoy yourself, so irritating
Don't wanna be my friend no more
I wanna be somebody else

So I have been planning on getting a laptop with my tax refund this year.  After a couple days of looking around, I finally picked one.  A very short decision-making time for me, of which I am very proud.  I went to pick it up since they didn't have it at the store I was at.  Brought it home, turned it on, set up the Vista log-on password, etc., picked a background, noticed a flaw in the monitor (black speck that doesn't move or deviate no matter what), unplugged it put it back in the box, put it by the door in order to return tomorrow.


FUCK!!!! 

I got my notice in the mail yesterday that my government would be mailing out the stimulus checks ... soon .... sometime .... whenever ...... maybe......

Apparently it cost $42 million to send out these notices.   And they're planning on sending a second notice.  Money well spent  (or as I "accidentally" typed the first time - money, well, spent).  How about adding that $42 million to the stimulus instead?  Or spending it on something useful?  Or at the very least, not borrowing it and increasing the debt?

Fucktards!

I've been pretty outspoken about my HATRED of medical insurance companies in the past. I still haven't resolved my bill for the procedure that I had in October and expect that situation to eventually (then rapidly) deteriorate. I regularly worry about it. I also avoid medical attention that I probably need, like possible high blood pressure revealed in my last eye exam and hbp in general. My parents are currently unemployed. (Actually my mom just got a job for $9/hr at a bank last week.) My mom has hbp, and my dad has had a heart attack (or is it two? - I feel totally shitty for not knowing) and has (my "professional diagnosis") some sort of stress or anxiety problem and/or allergy. Needless to say, they have no health care. My uncle in Seattle just had a (minor?) heart attack, and he is apparently progressing well. I have no idea as to his insurance status, but I think he works for the post office.

I know that Michael Moore has a definite "liberal agenda" and that he may stretch the truth and/or be selective in his use of material. But I really believe that his heart is in the right place. I tried to watch Sicko from an objective viewpoint. When the film got political or Moore got a bit preachy, I tuned out a bit and didn't take things at face value. The stories of these people in the movie are just SO moving though.

• A man who accidentally cut off the tips of two fingers and had to choose between reattaching the middle finger for $60,000 or the ring finger for $12,000.
  
• A man who had three heart attacks and his wife got cancer and they had to move in with their daughter whose husband had to take a job as a plumber in Iraq.
  
• A woman who was in a headon collision whose ambulance ride wasn't covered because she didn't get it preapproved.
  
• A boy not covered because he's too thin (6' / 135lb); a girl not covered because she's too fat(5'1" / 175lb)
  
• An insurance customer service woman driven to grief and stress from falsely assuring people while knowing that claims or applications will be rejected.
• An HMO doctor states that they get bonuses for denying care and saving the company from a "medical loss."
  
• A former insurance medical reviewer who confessed before congress to causing a man's death by denying care in order to save the company $500,000 and incidentally to secure her position and status.

The examples go on and on. And that doesn't even scratch the surface.  I was in tears listening to some of these stories, tears of anger and of sadness ... and disgust. Along with many other things, but probably MORE than any other thing, this makes me feel like I want to move out of this country.