Re: OT: Inflation in the US

On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:59:51 -0800, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

John Larkin wrote:
On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:34:49 -0800, John Smith
<assemblywizard@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

John Larkin wrote:

...
A sign that says "will work for food" doesn't mean that they are
serious. Most panhandlers know exactly what works to maximize revenue.
In front of our building, the panhandlers work in organized 2-hour
shifts. The signs are always crudely lettered on brown cardboard,
because that's what works best. The panhandlers are almost universally
youngish white males; in a town that's 30% Chinese, I've never seen a
Chinese beggar.

You certainly demonstrate that is one way of "looking at it." However,
I live in Stockton, California. We are inundated with Indians from
Mexico representing themselves as Spanish. They gather, every morning,
in various locations in the poorer districts, liquor store parking lots,
vacant lots, quick stop lots, etc. You can hire them for ~$5.00 an hour
cash. If the "homeless" must compete with them for "start positions",
"take-a-job-just-to-survive-situations", etc.--they probably opt for a
sign in front of your building ... can't really say what I'd do
myself--keep an eye out for me. :-D


The large number of unemployed panhandlers is a symptom of widespread
prosperity. Think about it.

I do geocaching using GPS devices just for fun with the wife and a few
friends (you know, the old "treasure hunt gig"--the wife just loves it)
I have seen many of those suffering from "widespread prosperity" under
bridges, along railroad tracks, in vacant lots, etc. Now the news may
tell me one thing and gov't propaganda along with it--but, when my eyes
tell me another--I'll leave you to decide what I believe ...

To tell me we are better off is a very poor joke, been there, seen it.
However, they have convinced the youngsters they are better off and
things are only getting better.

Sure looks to me like we are heading towards another depression and
price controls ... we shall see what the future brings.
I doubt that we'll have a serious depression, and price controls only
make things worse. Besides, most things, except housing, are dirt
cheap in the USA.

Yeah, my million dollar home was a real steal ... well, it would have
been two million if it was located down in so. cal., so I guess some may
view it as "lucky." :-(

John

While I don't believe anyone has a crystal ball which can predict our
future accurately--and especially amongst such dramatic manipulations of
the economy--I am still betting on my eyes ... like I said, we shall see
what the future brings.

And, handing a homeless couple a ten dollar bill makes me feel
good--even if their next stop is a liquor store. Again, I can't say
what I'd do in their position--however, I prefer Jim Beam! <LOL>


One problem with a Godless, post-industrial, generally wealthy society
is that there is a huge amount of money to be made by overstimulating
basic human appetites, appetites that evolved before printing,
television, cars, slot machines, IV drugs, credit cards, Home Shopping
Network, and trans fats were invented. So many people spend excess
time and money on porn, gossip mags, violent movies, gambling, fast
cars, cocaine, distilled spirits, hideous "collectables", and
disgusting pastries. I think Americans especially have appetites for
this sort of stuff.


Full agreements here. Except that I think people in other countries
aren't much different, at least not in the ones where I have lived.


Most of us here are lucky; we design electronics, and that keeps us
amused.

Hey "The Magnificent Seven" is on PBS tonight. We can watch it on The
Brat's enormous LCD teevee.


Darn. My wife can't stand Westerns and DTV can't be recorded (yet).

It's the wonderful Hollywood remake of The Seven Samurai. Tell her
it's an inter-cultural experience.


Unless the multipath kills it anyhow. So you daughter owns a big screen TV?

Yeah, she got a huge Samsung thing and a BluRay player. I've got to
admit it's mesmerizing. They must be doing some outrageous dsp inside,
because even broadcast video has incredible sharpness and color, with
just a bit of over-edge sharpening and an occasional motion artifact.
Impressive. We spend a lot of time one her bed watching Rome and
Deadwood and Bertie&Jeeves. We crosscheck the Rome and Deadwood
history on Wikipedia. The Wodehouse books I already have.

She doesn't like westerns? Get her hooked on Deadwood.

John



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Inflation in the US
    ... Most panhandlers know exactly what works to maximize revenue. ... I do geocaching using GPS devices just for fun with the wife and a few friends I have seen many of those suffering from "widespread prosperity" under bridges, along railroad tracks, in vacant lots, etc. ... is that there is a huge amount of money to be made by overstimulating ... basic human appetites, appetites that evolved before printing, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: OT: Inflation in the US
    ... Most panhandlers know exactly what works to maximize revenue. ... I do geocaching using GPS devices just for fun with the wife and a few friends I have seen many of those suffering from "widespread prosperity" under bridges, along railroad tracks, in vacant lots, etc. ... is that there is a huge amount of money to be made by overstimulating ... basic human appetites, appetites that evolved before printing, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: OT: Inflation in the US
    ... Most panhandlers know exactly what works to maximize revenue. ... is that there is a huge amount of money to be made by overstimulating ... basic human appetites, appetites that evolved before printing, ... television, cars, slot machines, IV drugs, credit cards, Home Shopping ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: OT: Inflation in the US
    ... Most panhandlers know exactly what works to maximize revenue. ... is that there is a huge amount of money to be made by overstimulating ... basic human appetites, appetites that evolved before printing, ... television, cars, slot machines, IV drugs, credit cards, Home Shopping ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: OT: Inflation in the US
    ... A sign that says "will work for food" doesn't mean that they are ... Most panhandlers know exactly what works to maximize revenue. ... my million dollar home was a real steal ... ... basic human appetites, appetites that evolved before printing, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)