We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
This was a nice breakfast amuse bouche: A single scrambled egg with chopped chives, topped with a dollop of creme fraiche, topped with a scoop of Beluga caviar.
There are, in fact, important and interesting insights to be derived from The Social Construction of Reality. On the other hand, there is ordinary reality which always wins in the end.
I suspect many of our readers would agree that the Obama EPA's extension of federal authority from navigable waters to every rural mudpuddle was overreach.
For three personal examples, that extension made if practically impossible to legally ditch our driveway because two seasonal trickles (albeit, already with small culverts) intersected it. Second, it made it practically impossible for us to replace a 200 year-old bridge over our stream, after Irene washed it out. Third, it made it illegal to dredge out a small old cow pond which, over time, had filled with sediment and become a "seasonal wetland" filled with grass.
As a conservationist, it saddened me to see the gradual loss of that pond along with the loss of our Painted Turtles, the shore and swamp birds, the frogs and salamanders, etc. But to dredge it legally (and I do not do illegal), we needed an environmental lawyer, an engineer consultant, etc. to begin a multi-year process to apply to the Army Corps of Engineers, the state EPA, and the federal EPA. Give me a break. It was a darn (50X60' roughly) farm pond, only 5'-6' deep in the middle at first.
Do you have enough clothes? Enough footwear? Enough for the rest of your life?
I understand that women need to keep up with fashion to some extent to avoid appearing non-serious (appearance counts!) so I am talking more about casual wear, outerwear, hiking gear, hunting gear, more than about professional wardrobes.
One of our end-of-summer rituals is to go through all of the closets and all of the clothes shelves. It's mostly getting rid of excess stuff.
It's difficult to anticipate one's life span, but it's easy for me to see what I will never run out of regardless of how active I remain:
I will never wear out my hunting gear. I will never wear out my casual sport jackets I will never wear out my 2 wool suits (weddings and funerals, not needed in court anymore) I will never wear out my Tux I will never wear out my misc. hiking and hunting boots I will never live to wear out my fall/spring outwear I will never wear out my more formal rain wear I will never wear out my sporting rain gear I will never wear out my casual shirts (not including polo shirts and tennis shirts) I will not wear out my collection of gloves I will not live long enough to wear out my fleeces and sweaters
I will wear out another blazer or two, God willing I will wear out more work/dress shirts (I like the Brooks non-iron ones) I will wear out some jeans and casual trousers I will wear out the socks in my sock drawer. Underwear too.
One of my tricks is to keep near my age 35-40 weight. It is do-able.
Do our readers have enough clothing stuff for the rest of their lives? If so, what? I wearing out clothes a good measure of an active and fulfilling life?
(Addendum: seems like much of this does not apply to women, except for the outdoor clothing. Women have to stay up to date to look right.)
Can anyone be taught to be a writer? I sort of doubt it, but anybody can learn to structure a coherent essay, and if that's interesting to read then that's a good start. Many lines of work require that. For writing, talent helps, so does IQ, curiosity, observational power, and wit.
I have always (like so many, because music is harder) aspired to be a fine writer, but I lack the talent. I can do simple declarative, mostly grammatical sentences, but that's all.
A US Social Security card is specifically not to be used for identification. All it means is that you are enrolled in a forced government retirement program. They are easily and frequently faked. So I am confused.
Does anyone have one anymore? Of course, I have a number. But a card? That little piece of paper? That little piece of paper that you are not allowed to laminate? Are you kidding me? I always thought that thing was just to inform me about my gummint number. Why didn't they tattoo it on my forearm, or implant me with an ID chip?
Guess what? You need the card to get your REAL ID driver's license. And in 2020, everybody who is legit will need a REAL ID license. Only illegals will have trouble getting that.
To get your card, go to the Social Security website, fill out the form, and print it out. Then you have to go in person to a local SS office with other ID info and they will eventually mail you a replacement card.
Then, with your brand new SS card, you can go to your DMV, wait in line, and get your REAL ID license. Fun.
I do not mind much that the US wants to determine who is legit and who is not, but who can take off work time for this gummint BS? Time is money. Really, at this point the gummint knows everything about me anyway.
I already spent an hour getting my TSA Pre-check number. That cost me money - $85 plus loss of billable hours. Global Entry? That's even more of a hassle. I'd like to have it, but take a day off from work to get it? Not gonna happen. Alas, I just do not spend that much time in airports.
"The object of the university is to develop character — to make men. It misses its aim if it produced learned pedants, or simple artisans, or cunning sophists, or pretentious practitioners. Its purport is not so much to impart knowledge to the pupils, as whet the appetite, exhibit methods, develop powers, strengthen judgment, and invigorate the intellectual and moral forces. It should prepare for the service of society a class of students who will be wise, thoughtful, progressive guides in whatever department of work or thought they may be engaged."
Johns Hopkins University President Daniel Coit Gilman, in 1876 (h/t, Askblog)
Your credit score is sort of like a grade in practical life-management. The way life is, one never knows when a little or a lot of credit might come in handy.
A few other tips: Not a great idea to entirely pay off a mortgage. Regular mortgage payments are important, even if you maintain a small balance. Also, never entirely pay off a credit card. Keep a balance, however small, or some wierd algo might decide to cancel your card for no good reason (it happens even to prosperous people when an algo gets tired of you and a zero balance is its chance), and that's a ding. Regular, on-time payments are the best thing for your credit. It's because lenders are in the business of lending, and like borrowers. Never, ever, cancel a credit card. So, for your credit score, use all of your credit cards and never pay them off entirely. But, yes, you can get rid of student loans.
Another detail: Too many checks of your credit harms your credit score. However, you can check your own once in a while, for free online.
Your results may vary. We probably have readers with experience with all of this.
People who analyze and write about higher education generally fall into two camps. One camp consists of those who believe that our system is “the envy of the world” and just needs more public support to do its great work of improving our citizens and strengthening our economy. (For a sense of what that camp is about, read professor Steven Brint’s book Two Cheers for Higher Education, which I reviewed here.)
The other camp consists of people who conclude that our higher education system draws in far too many students, poorly educates most of them, and costs too much. Unlike the first, which has, so far as I am aware, no conservatives or libertarians, in this camp you find people from all over the political spectrum. Former Harvard president Derek Bok, a liberal, has written Our Underperforming Colleges. And arguably the best-known among the critics is professor Richard Vedder, a thorough-going free market advocate.
The US TSA offers a few Trusted Traveler programs which reduce some or much of the annoyance of air travel.
The Pre-Check is easy to obtain. The Global Entry is a bit more involved, but worth it for regular travelers. You can do most of the processes at the TSA website, but a brief in-person interview is required for all of these. It's a vetting process.
Somewhat related, many states now offer "Real ID" driving licenses. It's a minor hassle to collect the info your DMV wants for this, but worth doing for some people. You can upgrade your license to REAL ID any time. Next year, REAL ID will be required.
Ideally, make a lot of money and fly private... no fuss.
A US Social Security card is specifically not to be used for identification. All it means is that you are enrolled in a forced government retirement program. They are easily and frequently faked.