This is all interesting, since every TV commercial for automobiles advertises them for speed. I do believe that there was once a car that didn't go over 55mph. Now it's 0-60 in 3.5 seconds or something crazy like that.
:( your post made me tear up a little because it really touched me. listen you follow ur dreams, your need to stop thinking life is a waist and do something about it. the greats regret in life is waking up one day and saying "**** i could of done that, but i didnt!"
your still young u got so much time ahead of you. do the things u loved to do the most when u were in ur "happy days"
dont give up on life because once u give up everything is down hill from there.
belive in urself and u will have the power to achieve all ur hearts desires.
dont let fear strike you from playing the game!
good luck and hope u will feel better.
i bought a house that the bank was asking 50,000 for and it was gonna go to an auction before it did i offered the bank 20.000 for it and got it i guess because the house did not sell no one was intereasted in it im happy i have some work to do to it the basement need to be repaired and carpeting in it and bathroom kitchen need to be just redone to modification but the house was woth that to me in this aconomy if more banks would give to a cash deal they would make more than a auction i say try it and the bank might go for it because to me in this day and time for 50.000 a house better be in one hell of a good condition and have some property and i must say the home was in a moderately sime rough area in cleveland make sure the bank knows this i think they will work with people or hell let them eat it hay its better to get something for a home that will sit and get tore up to hell!!!
I got a dining room set from my uncle that had seen better days. The table was ok so I just cleaned it and polished. The chairs I reupholstered. For about $20 I was able to have a wonderful dining set.
My experiences are very similar to the author's - I'm an ex-pat that moved to the United States in my 20's. Bear in mind that was 15 years ago, so I'm a little out of date, but my family tells me by and large it's improved since. Here's my take:
GOOD SIDE
(1) The health care I got in the UK was almost always excellent. Much the same as I've seen in the US. My close friend has Cushing's Disease and she gets regular treatment in London with world experts, all at no cost. People travel from elsewhere in the world to get care in the UK, like they do to the US (same for college)
(2) I had a choice of GP's.
(3) It was sensible - all medications were generic if available, and they won't prescribe just because you saw an advert. All medicine is free if you have no money or if it's for a child, otherwise it's about $10 a month, max.
(4) It's scientifically based, google for "NICE". That means that they won't use treatments that don't work. Sounds silly, but it's world-respected. If a treatment is 10x the cost but 10% more effective, they'll go for the cheaper one. Disadvantage too -- see my list of bad parts below.
(5) You never have to worry. This is huge. I've seen both sides in the US. When I first arrived I had no insurance and my wife had a serious illness. It was scary, and we were in debt for years. I don't want to think about money when I go to a hospital. These days, I have some of the best insurance you can get, from my company, and outstanding treatment.
(6) No @#$#@ fighting with insurance companies. If you have great insurance, like I do now, you don't see this. When you have bad insurance, it saps your life force, just when you are most sick.
(7) Morally superior. Let's get it out there :-) I'm not a liberal - I believe each person should work hard to support themselves and be self reliant, and otherwise, have a sense of shame, quite honestly. But just as everyone, no matter how lazy, has a right to basic nutrition and a roof over their head, and every child to an education, I believe everyone has a right to basic healthcare. (That's a personal opinion - I respect disagreement. It's colored by being European, no doubt.) Beyond that, the fruits of life are yours to earn by yourself.
BAD SIDE
(1) No choice of specialists. Sometimes, long waits. Whenever it's an emergency, you get rushed through. But my brother hurt his foot, and had to wait 2 months. Need a hip replacement, it could be 3+ months. As the author mentioned, you can pay to have it done immediately, and some companies offer that as a benefit.
(2) Dowdy. Your doctor or hospital won't have fashionable furniture or remodeling. It will be clean and high tech, though.
(3) Higher taxes: 28% overall tax burden in the US, 37% in the UK - although that's still lower than most of the West, and you get other benefits, like cheaper but still world-class college educations. I don't like the cost either.
(4) Treatments are ranked against cost. No, not death panels. But they will spend more for a baby than an old person, or use a drug that's not quite as effective but costs 10x less. If you don't like that, I respect that. But consider that no matter how much money you put into healthcare, you're making these choices. It's just a matter of whether you do it consciously. If you have $1m to spend, do you spend it on a newborn or a 90 year old? What would you do? You do HAVE to choose.
(5) No way to be an intelligent consumer, because you don't see the prices. Except dentistry -- which is far better in the US.
My take -- I want the best of both. I want solid healthcare to be free at the point of use for everyone. But I DON'T want the government to run the hospitals, to run the system. Everyone has a right to food, but htey don't run the supermarkets! Have a medicare system, where you don't have to see the bills. Secondly, have some exposure to the cost. If you can afford it, pay 50 pounds to go to the emergency room, 10 pounds to go to the doctor.
I hope this is interesting for anyone who's only been exposed to the US system.
Respectfully , Joe
As a single mother of 1 and step mother of 2, life is hectic. So if I can have 1 tool to help me keep track of everything then life would run smoother.
I do more with less by giving simple gifts that have taken time to put together - if I make homemade rum raisin truffles as my gift to friends and family, I can purchase simple treat boxes and tie them with festive ribbon. Adding little details makes people feel special, without having to be expensive!
I am the mother of six, so using all of my resources at the grocery store is essential. I check the sale ads, stock up on what is on sale, use coupons, and often buy generic. Anything that can help keep down the grocery bill is a big plus.
I'm looking forward to the homemade gifts I can give this year. I never could get the hang of knitting, but I recently learned how to pickle and feel totally empowered to pickle pretty much anything. My dad loves having brined and pickled stuff for his martinis, so that will make gift baskets much easier this year.
Do more with less by making sure you have a low-flow showerhead installed. A low-flow showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute or less, saving water and the energy to heat it. After a few showers, you don't notice the lower flow, but you will notice the savings! Note that ultra-low flow (1.5 gpm or less) showerheads may not be for everyone since the lower volume of water, and hence higher pressure, is more noticeable.
Do more with less? I am an elementary art teacher with a $100 annual budget (450 students) and no computers - we make all our great things with everyone's castoffs!
Less is definitely more with makeup. Natural beauty is nice. There is no need to cover yourself with tons of makeup and look fake. Makeup should compliment your natural features, not make you look like a clown.
Do unto others what you want others do unto you. Majority of salespeople will benefit from making a sale — even at a bargain price — but they’re unlikely to do it if it costs them their dignity. So be courteous and don’t be astonished if the negotiation process takes a little longer than a normal transaction.
So I'm out of town this weekend, and had to bring my laptop, which is obviously no problem. What sucked was all of the witty thoughts that popped into my head on my 10 hour drive that I couldn't immediately tweet of FB. I needz a smart phone!
Below is the text of a scam I just brushed in to. Thanks for the blog, provided some language that confirmed my suspicion that this piece of garbage was a scammer. And under cover of being in the Armed Forces too. Ugh. Despicable.
"Hello,
Thank you for your interest in my car. This is 2005 Audi A6 3.2 quattro. Fuel Consumption: City: 19, Highway: 26, Remote Power Door Locks, Power Windows, Cruise Control, 4-Wheel ABS Brakes, Front Ventilated Disc Brakes, 1st And 2nd Row Curtain Head Airbags, Passenger Airbag, Side Airbag, Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity, Audio System Security, Am/Fm/Satellite-Capable Radio, Radio Data System, Remote 6-Disc CD Changer, Remote CD Changer In Glove Box, Speed Sensitive Audio Volume Control, Surround Audio, Total Number Of Speakers: 10, Braking Assist, ABS And Driveline Traction Control, Stability Control, Privacy Glass: Light, Silver Alloy Rims, Wheel Diameter: 16, Wheel Width: 7.5, Front Fog/Driving Lights, Rear Fog Lights, Leather Steering Wheel Trim and more...
The car has been well taken care of, always kept in the garage.Flawless exterior/interior condition,no scratches and no dents.It has never been involved in an accident.The engine starts and drives like new and the paint looks great.It comes with US clear title which will be signed and notorized in the buyer's name.Have original manuals and all keys.
I'm an US Air Force SSgt. currently stationed in Alaska.The car is here with me. The price is $2,970 including shipping from Alaska and delivery to your home address.So if you decide to buy this car or
need further information please get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Sgt. Miguel Duarte"
I asked him to send me the VIN, photos, a carfax and proposed method of payment. His response:
"Hi again,
I attached the carfax report to this email
I will have the car shipped from Alaska by an US Air Force cargo plane so there won't be any additional shipping costs. Also I will arrange for a truck to transport the car to your home address or, if you like, you can pick it up from the nearest airport in your area. The shipping will take 3-5 days, depending on your location.Shipping will be door to door,to your home address,somebody must be home when the car arrives to sign for the reception.The car will arrive with all the papers and documents required for registration and the keys. The clear title and the bill of sale will be already signed by me.
The payment will be done through eBay.You will send the money to eBay and as soon as the payment is confirmed they will notify me to proceed with the shipping. I will ship the car, you will receive it and you will have 5 days for inspection, both the car and the paperwork and the option to accept or reject the car.The inspection time period will begin as soon as you sign for receiving the car at your requested address.During all this time eBay will hold the money into a trust account.So, this is not a blind transaction,you can see the car before decided to buy it.If you are satisfied with the car and decide to keep it you inform eBay about this and they will release the money to me. If the car is not as advertised and decide not to keep it eBay will refund you the money, no questions asked, and shipping back the car will be my concern. I think this is more than fair for the both of us.Please take into consideration that I will get paid only after you receive the car and make sure everything is as agreed.
If you agree with these terms and you have the money, send me your full name and the address where you want the car to be delivered to and I will initiate the transaction with eBay. You will receive all the transaction details from them.I will appreciate an answer as soon as possible.
Thank you!"
Noting that the pictures were in the suburbs and the carfax showed an auction in Ohio less than a month ago, I searched language from the email and found this blog. I have a mind to track down the actual Staff Sgt. Duarte, who is indeed a real person on an air force base in Alaska. These people have no shame. Thanks again for the blog!
On both Kindle and Nook you have to place your credit card information. However the books are really free. Also, if you own a computer you can download their software to read the books, or if you own and ipod touch you can also download the software and the books. After your books are downloaded you no longer need to stay online. The Kindle has a very interesting option, you can buy their device and have free 3G coverage world wide. It is really worth it.
This is all interesting, since every TV commercial for automobiles advertises them for speed. I do believe that there was once a car that didn't go over 55mph. Now it's 0-60 in 3.5 seconds or something crazy like that.
:( your post made me tear up a little because it really touched me. listen you follow ur dreams, your need to stop thinking life is a waist and do something about it. the greats regret in life is waking up one day and saying "**** i could of done that, but i didnt!"
your still young u got so much time ahead of you. do the things u loved to do the most when u were in ur "happy days"
dont give up on life because once u give up everything is down hill from there.
belive in urself and u will have the power to achieve all ur hearts desires.
dont let fear strike you from playing the game!
good luck and hope u will feel better.
Sandy k.
i bought a house that the bank was asking 50,000 for and it was gonna go to an auction before it did i offered the bank 20.000 for it and got it i guess because the house did not sell no one was intereasted in it im happy i have some work to do to it the basement need to be repaired and carpeting in it and bathroom kitchen need to be just redone to modification but the house was woth that to me in this aconomy if more banks would give to a cash deal they would make more than a auction i say try it and the bank might go for it because to me in this day and time for 50.000 a house better be in one hell of a good condition and have some property and i must say the home was in a moderately sime rough area in cleveland make sure the bank knows this i think they will work with people or hell let them eat it hay its better to get something for a home that will sit and get tore up to hell!!!
I can do more with less if I shop for bargains, and buy when things go mark down. Works awesome.,
I got a dining room set from my uncle that had seen better days. The table was ok so I just cleaned it and polished. The chairs I reupholstered. For about $20 I was able to have a wonderful dining set.
I do more with less by driving a gas saving hybrid car.
My experiences are very similar to the author's - I'm an ex-pat that moved to the United States in my 20's. Bear in mind that was 15 years ago, so I'm a little out of date, but my family tells me by and large it's improved since. Here's my take:
GOOD SIDE
(1) The health care I got in the UK was almost always excellent. Much the same as I've seen in the US. My close friend has Cushing's Disease and she gets regular treatment in London with world experts, all at no cost. People travel from elsewhere in the world to get care in the UK, like they do to the US (same for college)
(2) I had a choice of GP's.
(3) It was sensible - all medications were generic if available, and they won't prescribe just because you saw an advert. All medicine is free if you have no money or if it's for a child, otherwise it's about $10 a month, max.
(4) It's scientifically based, google for "NICE". That means that they won't use treatments that don't work. Sounds silly, but it's world-respected. If a treatment is 10x the cost but 10% more effective, they'll go for the cheaper one. Disadvantage too -- see my list of bad parts below.
(5) You never have to worry. This is huge. I've seen both sides in the US. When I first arrived I had no insurance and my wife had a serious illness. It was scary, and we were in debt for years. I don't want to think about money when I go to a hospital. These days, I have some of the best insurance you can get, from my company, and outstanding treatment.
(6) No @#$#@ fighting with insurance companies. If you have great insurance, like I do now, you don't see this. When you have bad insurance, it saps your life force, just when you are most sick.
(7) Morally superior. Let's get it out there :-) I'm not a liberal - I believe each person should work hard to support themselves and be self reliant, and otherwise, have a sense of shame, quite honestly. But just as everyone, no matter how lazy, has a right to basic nutrition and a roof over their head, and every child to an education, I believe everyone has a right to basic healthcare. (That's a personal opinion - I respect disagreement. It's colored by being European, no doubt.) Beyond that, the fruits of life are yours to earn by yourself.
BAD SIDE
(1) No choice of specialists. Sometimes, long waits. Whenever it's an emergency, you get rushed through. But my brother hurt his foot, and had to wait 2 months. Need a hip replacement, it could be 3+ months. As the author mentioned, you can pay to have it done immediately, and some companies offer that as a benefit.
(2) Dowdy. Your doctor or hospital won't have fashionable furniture or remodeling. It will be clean and high tech, though.
(3) Higher taxes: 28% overall tax burden in the US, 37% in the UK - although that's still lower than most of the West, and you get other benefits, like cheaper but still world-class college educations. I don't like the cost either.
(4) Treatments are ranked against cost. No, not death panels. But they will spend more for a baby than an old person, or use a drug that's not quite as effective but costs 10x less. If you don't like that, I respect that. But consider that no matter how much money you put into healthcare, you're making these choices. It's just a matter of whether you do it consciously. If you have $1m to spend, do you spend it on a newborn or a 90 year old? What would you do? You do HAVE to choose.
(5) No way to be an intelligent consumer, because you don't see the prices. Except dentistry -- which is far better in the US.
My take -- I want the best of both. I want solid healthcare to be free at the point of use for everyone. But I DON'T want the government to run the hospitals, to run the system. Everyone has a right to food, but htey don't run the supermarkets! Have a medicare system, where you don't have to see the bills. Secondly, have some exposure to the cost. If you can afford it, pay 50 pounds to go to the emergency room, 10 pounds to go to the doctor.
I hope this is interesting for anyone who's only been exposed to the US system.
Respectfully , Joe
As a single mother of 1 and step mother of 2, life is hectic. So if I can have 1 tool to help me keep track of everything then life would run smoother.
I do more with less by giving simple gifts that have taken time to put together - if I make homemade rum raisin truffles as my gift to friends and family, I can purchase simple treat boxes and tie them with festive ribbon. Adding little details makes people feel special, without having to be expensive!
I am the mother of six, so using all of my resources at the grocery store is essential. I check the sale ads, stock up on what is on sale, use coupons, and often buy generic. Anything that can help keep down the grocery bill is a big plus.
I'm looking forward to the homemade gifts I can give this year. I never could get the hang of knitting, but I recently learned how to pickle and feel totally empowered to pickle pretty much anything. My dad loves having brined and pickled stuff for his martinis, so that will make gift baskets much easier this year.
Eat less junk food during the holidays; have more confidence in the new year.
My husband always packs his lunch, instead of buying out, which definitely saves money!
I am a high school teacher in a low income school. I am often asked to do more with less as school budgets get smaller
Do more with less by making sure you have a low-flow showerhead installed. A low-flow showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute or less, saving water and the energy to heat it. After a few showers, you don't notice the lower flow, but you will notice the savings! Note that ultra-low flow (1.5 gpm or less) showerheads may not be for everyone since the lower volume of water, and hence higher pressure, is more noticeable.
Hooray for raw fed doggies!! (We feed our 8 yr old Aussie raw too!)
You are forgetting http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page with over 30,000 free ebooks.
We practice giving each other massages, rather than just paying someone else. We're not nearly as good as a professional, but it's still nice. :)
Do more with less? I am an elementary art teacher with a $100 annual budget (450 students) and no computers - we make all our great things with everyone's castoffs!
Less is definitely more with makeup. Natural beauty is nice. There is no need to cover yourself with tons of makeup and look fake. Makeup should compliment your natural features, not make you look like a clown.
Do unto others what you want others do unto you. Majority of salespeople will benefit from making a sale — even at a bargain price — but they’re unlikely to do it if it costs them their dignity. So be courteous and don’t be astonished if the negotiation process takes a little longer than a normal transaction.
go shopping on a rainy day. stores tend to be quiet and sales people are eager to sell
go shopping with a friend who wants the same item. negiotiate with the sales person who then sells two with one transaction.
So I'm out of town this weekend, and had to bring my laptop, which is obviously no problem. What sucked was all of the witty thoughts that popped into my head on my 10 hour drive that I couldn't immediately tweet of FB. I needz a smart phone!
Below is the text of a scam I just brushed in to. Thanks for the blog, provided some language that confirmed my suspicion that this piece of garbage was a scammer. And under cover of being in the Armed Forces too. Ugh. Despicable.
"Hello,
Thank you for your interest in my car. This is 2005 Audi A6 3.2 quattro. Fuel Consumption: City: 19, Highway: 26, Remote Power Door Locks, Power Windows, Cruise Control, 4-Wheel ABS Brakes, Front Ventilated Disc Brakes, 1st And 2nd Row Curtain Head Airbags, Passenger Airbag, Side Airbag, Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity, Audio System Security, Am/Fm/Satellite-Capable Radio, Radio Data System, Remote 6-Disc CD Changer, Remote CD Changer In Glove Box, Speed Sensitive Audio Volume Control, Surround Audio, Total Number Of Speakers: 10, Braking Assist, ABS And Driveline Traction Control, Stability Control, Privacy Glass: Light, Silver Alloy Rims, Wheel Diameter: 16, Wheel Width: 7.5, Front Fog/Driving Lights, Rear Fog Lights, Leather Steering Wheel Trim and more...
Mileage: 66,808
Here you can find more pictures of the car: http://s1109.photobucket.com/home/audiA6_A6/recentuploads?view=slideshow
(if the above link does not work copy and paste it into a new web browser window).
The car has been well taken care of, always kept in the garage.Flawless exterior/interior condition,no scratches and no dents.It has never been involved in an accident.The engine starts and drives like new and the paint looks great.It comes with US clear title which will be signed and notorized in the buyer's name.Have original manuals and all keys.
I'm an US Air Force SSgt. currently stationed in Alaska.The car is here with me. The price is $2,970 including shipping from Alaska and delivery to your home address.So if you decide to buy this car or
need further information please get back to me as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Sgt. Miguel Duarte"
I asked him to send me the VIN, photos, a carfax and proposed method of payment. His response:
"Hi again,
I attached the carfax report to this email
I will have the car shipped from Alaska by an US Air Force cargo plane so there won't be any additional shipping costs. Also I will arrange for a truck to transport the car to your home address or, if you like, you can pick it up from the nearest airport in your area. The shipping will take 3-5 days, depending on your location.Shipping will be door to door,to your home address,somebody must be home when the car arrives to sign for the reception.The car will arrive with all the papers and documents required for registration and the keys. The clear title and the bill of sale will be already signed by me.
The payment will be done through eBay.You will send the money to eBay and as soon as the payment is confirmed they will notify me to proceed with the shipping. I will ship the car, you will receive it and you will have 5 days for inspection, both the car and the paperwork and the option to accept or reject the car.The inspection time period will begin as soon as you sign for receiving the car at your requested address.During all this time eBay will hold the money into a trust account.So, this is not a blind transaction,you can see the car before decided to buy it.If you are satisfied with the car and decide to keep it you inform eBay about this and they will release the money to me. If the car is not as advertised and decide not to keep it eBay will refund you the money, no questions asked, and shipping back the car will be my concern. I think this is more than fair for the both of us.Please take into consideration that I will get paid only after you receive the car and make sure everything is as agreed.
If you agree with these terms and you have the money, send me your full name and the address where you want the car to be delivered to and I will initiate the transaction with eBay. You will receive all the transaction details from them.I will appreciate an answer as soon as possible.
Thank you!"
Noting that the pictures were in the suburbs and the carfax showed an auction in Ohio less than a month ago, I searched language from the email and found this blog. I have a mind to track down the actual Staff Sgt. Duarte, who is indeed a real person on an air force base in Alaska. These people have no shame. Thanks again for the blog!
On both Kindle and Nook you have to place your credit card information. However the books are really free. Also, if you own a computer you can download their software to read the books, or if you own and ipod touch you can also download the software and the books. After your books are downloaded you no longer need to stay online. The Kindle has a very interesting option, you can buy their device and have free 3G coverage world wide. It is really worth it.
Thanks :) Albert