"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. ~~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Monday, January 11, 2010
To Pawn or Not To Pawn
Things are hard and money is tight. Especially at the end of the month. How do you get a few dollars, quickly - without signing away your life? The local pawn shop?!
That is an option, with several caveats.
One, they don't take just anything. Primarily, they 'deal' in power tools, electronics, musical instruments, and jewelry. But, depending on the local shop, not all electronics. The last time we visited, printers were on the we-have-too-many-already list.
Two, it has to work. Seriously! If the owner defaults and they can't resell it, why would they want to take an item. (Obviously, this doesn't apply to jewelry.)
Three, they don't pay much. For most of the items, brokers pay a percentage of the original purchase price. By entering the serial number from a DVD player, for example, employees can see the retail price, year of manufacture, and recommended loan amount. (Jewelry is priced by the gold content and weight.)
Lastly, it isn't cheap. A local business charges $3.00 processing fee, off the top. If an item only qualifies for a $10.00 loan, that's 30% upfront. Then, there is the interest rate, which varies from item to item, and increased dramatically at our local store in 2009
When it's all said and done, the $10.00 that put milk, eggs, and bread on the table at the end of the month, could end up costing $25.00 - or more - when it's time to reclaim that power tool. And, sadly, you do run the risk that what worked when you took it in, won't work when you bring it home. We've seen it happen.
Over the years, we've had a DVD player broken, a printer cord disappear, and stones in a cocktail ring come loose. So, if you do decide to get a short-term loan from the local pawn shop - check everything very, very carefully, when you reclaim it.
The business is only as reputable as its worst employee.
Personally, I resolved to make no resolutions this year. The failure rate is just too high and too depressing. But saving money doesn't require resolve and January is a great time to save.
Whether online or brick-and-mortar, stores need to clear it or count it. Having helped with year-end inventory in the past, I understand their motivation. Why not let their needs meet yours and get a great deal?
Looking at treadmills or elliptical machines for your new, physically-fit lifestyle? Many sites are offering tremendous New Year discounts - 50% off, and more. Personally, I love online shopping - they deliver and haul it up the stairs for me!
Hmmmm? Doesn't sound like someone looking to get in shape in 2010, does it?
It is my fondest hope that this does not become a recurring theme, but ...
I, again, am struck by the fact that the mobile content of major news providers is annoyingly and vastly dissimilar to their Internet content.
For a while now, it has been my habit to review the latest news, editorials, advice columns, what-have-you in bed each night - on my phone. It keeps me somewhat up-to-date with world happenings and, in the case of odd news reports, relaxes my mind so that I can get to sleep. Often, it gives me ideas for a blog post or directory category as an added benefit.
Lately, however, I have found that the articles I read - just hours before on the phone - are nowhere to be found when I fire up the laptop the next day. It would make sense, perhaps, if the news items were not available in the mobile content, as some stories are lengthy and probably don't translate well to the smaller platform. But it's the fact that I can find an article on epigenetics on the phone and, yet, it takes a monumental search to locate the same information on the same website using the laptop.
If I could, I would just forward a link to my email. But I'm currently using Opera Mini on my phone and, as far as I can tell, have no way to forward. That, however, is a whole 'nother Whine.
I stumbled across an interesting article, Why Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny, while trying to wind down and get to sleep. By the time I finished reading, I was wide awake. (Perhaps I'd better stick with entertainment stories, if I want to get any rest.)
The field of Epigenetics isn't all that new - Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a predecessor of Darwin, postulated that evolution could occur within a generation or two - but some of the studies and papers in the news are really fascinating. Poor Darwin. Guess he didn't have all of the answers and Lamarck wasn't an idiot, after all.
In the 1980s, Dr. Lars Olov Bygren did a study on the long-term effects of feast and famine on the children living in a small parish in Sweden in the 19th century. While, obviously, the years of famine took a toll on the children's health, it was the years of feast that had the greatest affect - on the children and grandchildren of the residents! Bygren found that the years of gluttony reduced the lifespan of descendants by not just a few years, but decades.
Other papers discovered that a poor diet during pregnancy, known to cause low birth weight and related health problems, also put these children at significant risk for heart disease in adulthood.
Scientists are rethinking some of the truisms of nature versus nuture, in that epigenetics studies the systemic effects of environmental stressors (among other things) and how they can be passed from generation to generation. In one case, mice with genetic memory problems were placed in an environment rich with stimulation. Not only did the test subjects show memory improvements, so did their offspring.
The belief is that these changes, although heritable, are reversible. Once the stressors are removed, the DNA code will revert. After all, it is the activity/behavior of the genome that is altered; not the genome itself. However, anything (it appears) is possible.
There is nothing worse in this world than going through all of the tests, doctor's appointments, and paperwork involved in an SSDI application, just to be turned down on a technicality. It's an upsetting and frustrating situation that can, often, be avoided.
When you've been denied and need to file a disability appeal, getting the right help is critical. Not everyone can do it on their own; they need help. Someone who has a 98% success rate, who's helped over 130,000 people with disability applications is a good place to start.
Mark and I have been through it. We just accepted the denial and tried to get on with things the best we knew how. That is not the way to proceed, I promise.
It wasn't until Mark was - literally - at death's door that we finally got everything right. I don't recommend doing it our way. Find the help you need.
Every month has its own 'awareness' themes, as well as the odd daily or weekly observances. They run from the important to the silly. I enjoy checking to see what each month is celebrating or laughing over.
On the serious side, January is (in no particular order):
Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth. ~ Diane Ackerman
It's amazing how the aroma of homemade chicken soup can trigger a dozen memories of my grandmother. She made the world's best soup - any and every kind. And don't get me started on her rye bread. That scent can take me back 40 years!
The same with the smell of a cigar. Two of my favorite uncles smoked cigars; as did one of my first boyfriends.
Each type of cigar has its own unique aroma and its own set of memories that take me back to a much different time.
Let me tell you - a good cigar is more than a smoke.
Well, another year gone. Hard to believe it's been 365 days since I last sat here thinking of resolutions for 2009. Rather sad, considering I don't think I managed to start, let alone keep any of them.
Under the circumstances, I have decided to skip the whole resolution business this year. It's always been important to me to not make promises to others that I can't keep. Why should I not treat myself the same way?
Instead, I will wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy 2010. May this decade see some positive changes in our lives and in the world.
In the last couple of months, I have received some interesting spam. Not that the message was all that interesting (although the formatting is getting quite unique, in a bad way), but the source and links in the messages have made me sit up and pay attention.
One message seemed to come from Indiana University. When I opened it, the footer also looked like it was from Indiana University. Out of curiosity, I checked the headers - and, boy, was I surprised! It did come from an IU IP!
So, being the good www-citizen that I am, I (long story, short) forwarded the message to the university. In less than 24 hours, I had a response and they were tracking down the culprit. Ta! and da!
Earlier today, I forwarded another message, with Wayne State University information. They have also gotten back to me, with information on their efforts to stop this particular spammer. Amazing how quickly one can get something done when a university is supporting the efforts. Way to go WSU!
Then, just a short while ago - another message. This one upset me. Not the spam, but the link in the message - apparently designed to make me think that this wasn't a scummy spammer. It was a PenPal ID link from JDRF!
JDRF, by the way, is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. They have a secure, PenPal system for kids aged 4-18 to contact each other and share their stories. No identifying information exists in the IDs and the link opens a non-identifying form for submitting a message.
Can you imagine spam - going to dozens, if not hundreds of email addresses - with any kind of information about someone 18 or under!? I was enraged and notified JDRF immediately. In hindsight, I should have also notified Verizon, as the sender is using a UUNet account.
Now, I'm not suggesting that you spend hours researching the sources of your junky emails. (I've left out several steps involved in tracking down information - before I can send the spoofed organization any details. It is not a quick, wham-bam process. At least, not for me.) But, as you can see, there may be times when it's a good idea to let someone know what's landing in your spam folder.
Please remember: the Universities and Foundations being abused by these spammers are not culpable. Someone is using their good name and, often, their resources to fill your bulk/spam folder with dreck. When notified, the organizations are as anxious to stop the perpetrators as are those of us who have to clean up the mass mess in our inboxes.
And on that note, I have to forward some crud to Verizon / UUNet!
It's not that I dislike shopping. Heaven knows I do enough of it. But when it comes down to parting with cold, hard (and hard-earned) cash, I like to know that I'm getting a good value.
This year, I can also support artisans around the world.
While trying to find different "gifts for her" - something for our manager and Mark's GI NP - I stumbled across a couple of craft stores that have some really fun things. The earrings and bracelets weren't like what everyone else carries. And the prices were so reasonable, that I don't have to feel guilty for picking up a thing or two just for me.
In fact, I have my eye on ... well, let's just say I'm narrowing down my options.
Choose the style in the picture, or try one of the many other options - from colored handle and rim to a larger 15 oz size to a handy stainless-steel travel mug.
Order by 3:00pm, December 17th to ensure delivery by Christmas!
I believe that - once I hit the lottery - I know exactly what my perfect Christmas vacation will be. The emphasis on hitting the lottery is due to the fact that when planning the perfect vacation, money cannot - under any circumstances - be a consideration.
The trip starts with a train ride to New York City; in a sleeper, not a coach. Next, we have a New York luxury hotel stay of at least 3 nights. Somewhere near the theaters, I believe, would be just about perfect.
Then, of course, there must be tickets to at least 2 of the plays that I have been wanting to see forever. Followed by an incredible dinner (or two) for two at some of the restaurants I've always wanted to visit. We would have to include Rockefeller Center, the Rockettes, the Nutcracker ... Hmmmm?!
I don't think 3 days would be enough. Might have to stay for a week - or 10 days. Because we'd have to visit FAO Schwarz, and that's at least a 2-day adventure.
The big news these days seems to be the new privacy settings on Facebook. Everyone has something to say about the changes. Some of it is even positive.
Now, admittedly, I don't regularly check my profile without being logged in. So, I really couldn't testify to what it looked like before the latest privacy changes. After doing a search for myself, cuz I've been known to get lost in the www, I didn't really care much for what I found.
Most of the listings are fine; I set them up that way. Facebook, however, shows a sample of my friends in the Google listing. And, although I'm not friends with anyone too strange, I'm not certain that they would like to be listed, simply because I am.
In an effort to protect their privacy, I simply unchecked the 'Allow Indexing' option in my settings. It took about 2 seconds for that page to no longer be available. Oh, it still shows up in a search, but when someone clicks on the link they now get a message that the page is not found. Unless you log in to Facebook and know me, you aren't going to get a list of my friends.
I think?!
One interesting notice from Facebook about access to personal information:
"When you visit a Facebook-enhanced application, it will be able to access your publicly available information, which includes Name, Profile Photo, Gender, Current City, Networks, Friend List, and Pages. This information is considered visible to Everyone."
This, I believe is what has some people upset. By allowing access to the games we play, we are giving (in essence) all of this information to third-party applications. And there is no way to know what they will do with it.
One of the latest and greatest additions to our apartment, in a vain attempt to justify the outrageous rents, was a ceiling fan. Mark was thrilled; I've never had one before. After some time in the hot Arizona weather, I am forced to admit he had a point. Except for one slight problem.
We live at the confluence of filthy-air and just-can't-breath. As long as the windows are closed, the apartment stays quite dust- and crud-free. Then, come October/November, when the temperatures approach humane again, we open the windows and turn on the fans.
This addition of polluted outdoor air has turned our lovely white ceiling fan a nasty shade of brown - which it is also sharing with the ceiling directly above it. (I don't want to know what my lungs look like!) So, I thought I'd see what it would cost to replace the once-pristine fan with one that's the color of the dust.
I know, I know! - most normal people would just clean the fan! But, Minka Aire has such lovely bronze-tone fans, it's very tempting to replace the white one. Naturally, I would have to repaint the ceiling in a lovely pollution-brown color to hide the dust. A small price to pay for the illusion of clean. Right?!
We were having more than a lilttle trouble with the wireless card that came with the ThinkPad. It's not that it didn't work, mind you. But it didn't work with any kind of speed - at all.
A couple of days ago, well okay a week ago, I ordered a new card. While I was waiting, I pulled out the card that I used to use with my Dell. Definite improvement!
Today, the new card arrived and after an initial - "The network adapter is not plugged in" panic attack - is up and running. Can't say that it's hugely faster than the old Linksys. But that isn't really why I chose this card.
What caught my attention is the promise that the NetGear WPN511 basically ignored pesky interferences like walls. Although I haven't put it to the test, this means that I can be a total bum now. Just sitting in bed and surfing away.
To all of our wonderful readers - Thank you for your interest in our first ever Seasonal Afghan Special Offer. Unfortunately, the offer is no longer available. You can, as always, take advantage of our normal order options, as listed below.
Time is running out! Order today to guarantee your one-of-a-kind Afghan gets to your house -- before Santa!
This Special Holiday offer is available only to readers of "Random Musings of a Curious Mind" who order before December 10th.
(We are limiting sizes and yarn options to speed up the arrival of your new, favorite Afghan.)
Ordering couldn't be easier! Simply pick a size, a yarn color, and click {Buy}. For your convenience, we offer PayPal or Google Checkout to complete your order. (No personal information is required, until you place your order through our secure options.)
As always, if you have any questions or problems - Contact Jules - for more information.
Despite my best intentions, I recently had another birthday. I know, I know. You'd think after all this time, I'd have learned to run a little faster. But, no - it catches me every single year; and on the very same day, no less. Just sad.
Coincidentally, every year on that very same day, I start thinking about wrinkle treatment. Or, at the very least, about taking better care of my skin. Living in Arizona, I've got several strikes against me - besides my age - going in.
First, unrelenting sunshine. It's lovely to look at, but brutal to live in. You can just feel the skin damage - without even stepping outside. Those brown spots? Not freckles, my friend! Little spots of skin destruction!
Second, zero (or almost) humidity. Yes, it's a dry heat! Unfortunately, dry is the critical part of that phrase. You do know how they get raisins, right?! Suck all of the moisture out of a perfectly good grape! Frankly, I'd rather be the grape, if it's all the same to you!
Third, the world's worst skincare regimen. Seriously! I own - Heaven only knows how many - moisturizers, creams, exfoliants, and jars of stuff I forgot I had. Do you think it goes bad, like sour cream or cheese after a few years?! Eh, probably!
Every now and then, I get an email at JMark Afghans, etc. that provides an interesting giggle for the day. It's easy to tell, from the tone and content of these messages, that the sender didn't actually visit the website.
Which is why they are often very, very funny.
One must realize that a search engine, even one as finely-tuned as Google, will only give you that which you have requested.
For example, performing a search for Afghans - as in warm, snuggly hand-crocheted blankets - will also provide a list of posts, pages, and sites about the people of Afghanistan. It's only natural, especially given the world situation.
So, for anyone who is trying to market to Afghan-based or -owned businesses - please don't blindly email your marketing service offer to every business site, page, or link that uses the keyword Afghans. Or, at least, visit first. Deal?!
We have had a number of gaming systems in our house. Playstation (replaced by PS2), Playstation 2 (totalled by the youngest), Xbox (sitting in the bedroom, gathering dust). There were even a couple of standalone units that hooked to the TV, that the boys played for about 5 minutes one Christmas morning.
With three computers in the house, we don't really use separate systems. Although, two of the computers aren't really designed for gaming - substandard (read: old) graphics cards, and minimal RAM. So, maybe a PS3 would have it's place.
I noticed, during one of my 'surfing' expeditions, that the prices really haven't come down. On the other hand, the goodies that you get with the system do seem to have increased - dramatically. And, as I had forgotten, it does nearly as much as a computer.
Didn't realize you could get on the Internet - and the 160GB hard drive looks really good. Hmmmm?! May have to rethink this.
One of my biggest problems is hoarding. Not like the people on the TV show, where you can't get through the house for all the stuff, mind you. But I am a packrat, nonetheless.
Which means that like my closets and under my bed, my computers tend to be loaded with stuff that I just don't need - well, I hope I don't need them. You know the old saying, "The minute you throw something away, that's when you remember why you had it in the first place."
Today, however, I am working on minimalism on my computer.
It occurred to me, as I was downloading the 4th game, that I really didn't need all of these downloads. I only play a couple of them, between Facebook games, editing, and blogging. So why was I loading my hard drive? Because ...
Because they were there. I might want to play one of them some day. Maybe. If I couldn't find anything else to do.
Phentermine has long been touted as an effective appetite suppressant. A stimulant, similar to amphetamine, it affects the central nervous system. In addition, a 'drug of abuse', it is available only by prescription. As it may be contraindicated in many people - those with heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, substance abuse history, arteriosclerosis, or diabetes - it should only be taken under the supervision of a medical professional.
That said, many manufacturers are trying to design a weight-loss supplement that mirrors the results of Phentermine, without the prescription. According to some review sites, there is one over-the-counter supplement that contains 18.75mg of Phentermine. Not something I would feel comfortable putting into my system without monitoring by my doctor.
Like it or not, there is really no way to know how much of what is in OTC diet pills. In reviewing one product, I found that the website had 'borrowed heavily' from an article on the effectiveness of some of the ingredients. Of course, they only 'borrowed' the information that worked in their favor.
If you research these supplements - and it's easy to do online - you'll find that the claims are borderline, if not out and out lies. One popular ingredient - phenylethylamine (PEA) - is reported to mimic the affect of amphetamines on the brain. Well, yes, but not in oral administration. And, more importantly, it is known to interact with certain anti-depressants.
Frankly, the ingredient combinations that one finds in the 'top-of-the-line' supplements are a tad frightening. In and of themselves, each one may or may not be effective; and may or may not be dangerous. Thrown together in one pill, it's almost impossible to be sure.
Well, it looks like Christmas came early at our house!
Frankie was helping a friend over the weekend and, to make a long story short, ended up with a new laptop. We haven't seen it yet, as he's still helping out. But, given his level of enthusiasm, I'd guess it's much better than the used one he got earlier this year.
In fact, I'm nearly as excited as he is, since he called to tell me that I could have the one he was using. Since my needs are much different than his, this is just perfect for me. Sadly, that meant transferring my blog to a new computer - which didn't go too well the last time.
Guess what!? It didn't go too well this time, either.
Somehow, once I finally found a version of my blog software that was close to what I was using before, got it installed, and copied over the set-up files - I managed to lose about 10 days worth of blogs! From right in the middle of November, no less. I still don't get it.
I have the first through the fourth, and from the eighteenth forward. Everything in between disappeared from my files! Just like in April! Albeit not nearly as much information was misplaced, but the frustration is about equal.
So, as you're reading through, wondering why the archive files look funny - that would be the reason.
Thank you friends, for all of your interest in our first-ever Seasonal Afghan Special Offer. Unfortunately, the offer is no longer available. You can, as always, take advantage of our normal order options, as listed below.
JMark Afghans, etc. is offering - for a limited time - our favorite Lacy Afghan at amazing prices!
This offer is available only to readers of "Random Musings of a Curious Mind" who order before December 10th.
(To ensure that your order is completed in plenty of time for Christmas, we are offering only 3 sizes and a limited number of yarn colors.)
Ordering couldn't be easier! Simply pick a size, a yarn color, and click {Buy}. For your convenience, we offer PayPal or Google Checkout to complete your order. (No personal information is required, until you place your order through our secure options.)
As always, if you have any questions or problems - Contact Jules - for more information.
... making it through another Thanksgiving orgy of food. Truly, I don't know why we go to so much trouble every year. By the time everything is cooked and set out, the cook (in our case, cooks) are too worn out to enjoy it.
We were up until after 4:00am Thursday morning, baking pumpkin pies, cheesecakes, and cookies. Then, back up at 9:30am to get the bird ready. I'm not sure I actually had any sleep. (I know Mark didn't.) And, sadly, we managed to enjoy one of our newer Turkey-day traditions, again this year ...
Our lovely, beautiful, sat-in-the-fridge-for-a-week bird was still half frozen!
I try to tell myself that, with a refrigerator that freezes the pickles on the back of the shelf, we know our food isn't going to go bad overnight. But, it's really tough to remember that, when you're trying to get dinner in the oven. Too bad you can't fit a turkey in the FlavorWave - that thing'll cook anything from frozen-to-table in record time.
Oh, well. We had our family together. The food was good, if several hours later than we'd planned. And no one had the flu.
One of the latest and greatest additions to our apartment, in a vain attempt to justify the outrageous rents, was a ceiling fan. Mark was thrilled; I've never had one before. After some time in the hot Arizona weather, I am forced to admit he had a point. Except for one slight problem.
This addition of polluted outdoor air has turned our lovely white ceiling fan a nasty shade of brown - which it is also sharing with the ceiling directly above it. (I don't want to know what my lungs look like!) So, I thought I'd see what it would cost to replace the once-pristine fan with one that's the color of the dust.
