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Grex > Enigma > #379: Lynne's "I aint got no baby" Diary. | |
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| 25 new of 160 responses total. |
slynne
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response 45 of 160:
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Nov 4 16:26 UTC 2003 |
Aaron has started a blog called The Stopped Clock
http://www.thestoppedclock.blogspot.com/ . It is pretty good. I think
it is interesting how different my blog is from his blog. His is much
better written than mine. Certainly his grammar and spelling are better
than mine ;) His reads like a newspaper column. Mine is a little more
informal. He doesnt talk about his life at all. Just his opinions on
things. Weird
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jaklumen
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response 46 of 160:
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Nov 5 04:05 UTC 2003 |
I dunno, take your pick... whichever you choose to hold up to
scrutiny. Opinions or life.
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slynne
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response 47 of 160:
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Nov 13 18:54 UTC 2003 |
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/walterwilliams/ww20031112.shtml
I agree with Mr. Williams on some of his points. For instance I believe
that an international minimum wage that is set high enough for American
workers to not have to compete with foreign sweat shops would be really
bad for foreign workers.
It would take a pretty high wage to motivate companies to move out of
those really cheap labor markets. Consider too that workers in those
markets are generally *really* unskilled when compared to even the most
stupid of American workers. Even the most stupid people I know can read
and follow very very basic written instructions. Because they are so
unskilled, they dont have a lot of choices about what to do with their
labor that means that, as a group, they probably have a very inelastic
supply.
Demand for labor in those areas, by contrast is very elastic. Firms
havent invested a lot in capital so it doesnt cost them much to leave.
If the wage floor were high enough, they would be very motivated to
move to more industrialized areas where they would need fewer workers.
This would be very bad for those workers in developing countries.
This doesnt mean that I am against an international minimum wage. It
just shouldnt be set too high. I have a hunch that because labor supply
is so inelastic in those areas, a wage could be set that effectively
transfers "economic rent" from the firm's profits to the worker's
paychecks without causing any difference in the output or the consumer
price of the item. It would cause stock prices in those firms to fall a
bit but I believe that a wage increase that would mean a LOT to workers
who are earning pennies per hour of labor might not result in huge per
share decrease in stock prices here.
FWIW, I agree with William's ideas that minimum wages can increase
discrimination in an industry. There is actually some evidence of this
happening. We dont see this too much in the United States these days
because our minimum wage is much lower than the market wage in most
labor markets. But, it is possible that an international minimum wage
could result in increased discrimination against various groups of
people.
There are probably all kinds of other effects an international minimum
wage would have that arent so positive. The higher the wage is set, the
more one would see those things cropping up. I am not sure saving
American manufacturing jobs is worth all the potential problems. Now
saving American Tech Support jobs is another issue entirely ;)
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slynne
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response 48 of 160:
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Nov 20 02:33 UTC 2003 |
I dont have anything particular to write about right now. Sometimes it
is ok just to let one's thoughts ramble around the page. Still, I know
this doesnt necessarily lead to good writing. Too bad for you, gentle
readers ;)
I bought a new Sherman Alexie book yesterday. I think that after I walk
the dogs tonight, I am going to curl up and read it. I love doing that.
I am a real couch potato as I am sure some of you may have realized. I
love my couch and I love lighting candles and curling up under a
blankie with something to read. I had to get dogs because if I didnt
have them and our nightly walks, I wouldnt get any exercise.
I havent been taking any pictures lately. I dont know why. Laziness I
guess. I still "see" pictures but I dont have my camera with me. I
guess I need to get back in the habit of carrying it.
Last night I was really kicking myself for not having it since the
train came through just as my dogs and I were walking down by Depot
Town which is a very cute area of town. It was raining and the lights
from the crossing were reflected on the street and the train woooshed
through with all this blurry cozy yellow light from the windows of the
train. The store fronts all have that same cozy yellow light coming
from the windows. It makes me warm every time I see that. Knowing that
just inside there is some good beer and good music and warmth. Soup
too. There is something about the people on train *going somewhere* but
totally missing such an inviting place on a rainy evening as this place
is. Would I have been able to put all that into a photograph? Probably
not but it would have been worth trying. :)
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remmers
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response 49 of 160:
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Nov 20 11:31 UTC 2003 |
Ah, Depot Town. Nice place. We like to have dinner at the Sidetrack
Restaurant and feel the floor rumble as a train speeds by.
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slynne
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response 50 of 160:
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Nov 20 16:30 UTC 2003 |
Heh. The trains make the floor of my house rumble too. I like Sidetrack
for the fried pickles mostly. :)
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remmers
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response 51 of 160:
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Nov 20 16:46 UTC 2003 |
Never had fried pickles. Are they like fried green tomatoes?
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cmcgee
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response 52 of 160:
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Nov 20 17:43 UTC 2003 |
Better. Fried green tomatoes are your basic tart crusty pan-fried hard
green vegetable. Fried pickles are extremely vinegary crusty deep-fried
soft green vegetable.
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slynne
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response 53 of 160:
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Nov 20 20:13 UTC 2003 |
Yeah. Fried pickles are the best. You should order some next time you
are there.
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remmers
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response 54 of 160:
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Nov 20 21:56 UTC 2003 |
Now I am intrigued. I forsee a visit to Sidetrack in the near future.
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mary
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response 55 of 160:
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Nov 20 23:33 UTC 2003 |
I'm somewhat of a pickle freak. I grew up eating them by the bowl, for
snacks. When I go to Sidetrack it's not unusual for me to clean out the
pickle creamer at our table and start working on others nearby. So now
you're going to introduce me to deep fried pickles? Thanks a whole
freaking lot, slynne, old girl. ;-)
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jaklumen
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response 56 of 160:
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Nov 21 05:14 UTC 2003 |
I am also intrigued... but doubt I could visit such a place.
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furs
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response 57 of 160:
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Nov 21 16:57 UTC 2003 |
I like sidetracks They have an interesting menu.
But fried pickles just kinda grosses me out.
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slynne
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response 58 of 160:
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Nov 22 02:07 UTC 2003 |
I dont really have much to write about today. I think the Zoloft is
kicking in. Um. I dont think those things are related. I am just kind
of free form jotting down whatever comes into my head ;)
I decided to try to be a little more healthy a while back so I have cut
way down on sugar and white flour. For some reason today, all I can
think about is donuts. I tried eating a whole wheat bagel but it just
isnt the same. Oh well. If I am still thinking about donuts tomorrow
I'll drive to the good donut place because if I am going to cave and
have a donut, it had better be a *really* good donut.
One more week until Thanksgiving. I am just doing the usual thing with
the family. My brother is bringing his girlfriend. I think my family is
ok but every single other time my brother has brought a woman home to
meet us, she has dumped him a few months later. ;) Maybe this one will
be different. Even though I havent met her, I hope they get married.
She is from Mexico so I imagine that if they do get married, the
wedding will be there and I would really like to go down there for a
party. Oh, I guess it would cool if my brother were happy too.
I wonder if they have good donuts in Mexico...
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jaklumen
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response 59 of 160:
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Nov 23 10:01 UTC 2003 |
nah, it's all about the pan dulce, chica. Sorta similar but not quite
the same.
Checked out a local panaderia?
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slynne
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response 60 of 160:
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Nov 23 20:39 UTC 2003 |
resp:59 - heh. I dont even know what a panaderia is.
Gearing up for Turkey Day-
The holidays always make me feel more single than usual. I love
spending time with my family but it annoys me that yet again, I am
showing up to the family dinner alone. This year, the only other single
people will be my widowed grandmother, my spinster aunt and my 8 year
old cousin.
OH well. This holiday is not supposed to be one where we focus on what
we DON'T have. It is supposed to be one where we focus on what we DO
have. I have to admit that I have quite a lot.
For one thing, I have a large family to have dinner with in the first
place. It would really suck to be single and NOT have a family dinner
to go to. I have a lot of friends who really really love me. So even
though no one is "in love" with me, it isnt as if there is a lack of
love in my life.
So, for the next few days, my goal is to focus on what I *have* rather
than what I dont have.
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furs
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response 61 of 160:
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Nov 24 02:57 UTC 2003 |
You can take me to the dinner?
Wouldn't that be fun?
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jaklumen
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response 62 of 160:
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Nov 24 07:56 UTC 2003 |
resp:60 in Spanish, anything ending in -eria essentially means "shop."
carne= meat carneceria= butcher (meat) shop
zapato=shoe zapateria= shoe shop
pan= bread panaderia= bakery, bread shop. Pan dulce is sweet bread.
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slynne
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response 63 of 160:
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Nov 24 14:16 UTC 2003 |
resp:61 Dont you have to have dinner with your family, furs? If not, I
would love to have you as my hot date!
resp:62 - Oh cool. thanks
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slynne
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response 64 of 160:
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Nov 24 20:41 UTC 2003 |
It's just another day in my life...
I woke up a little late this morning. I typically sleep on my stomach
and lately my cat has taken to sleeping right in the small of my lower
back. It is weird. I wonder if it is warmer there or what.
I rushed off to work. It was snowing but not so much that the roads
were slick. Didnt matter. Everyone drove like bozos anyway. Sometimes I
think if there were a soundtrack to my life, it would sound like those
Benny Hill Show segments where everyone runs around acting silly with
the film sped up. ;)
Got into work. Got pissed that there werent any emails from a certain
even though I havent sent him any emails all weekend either. We had a
small argument on Friday. I am still annoyed with him. But now I am
annoyed because he isnt paying attention to me even though by being
kind of bitchy on Friday, I can kind of understand why someone would
want to avoid me. heh. But, I will pat myself on the back for not
turning this into a huge drama. I used to have a big problem with that.
I mean, I couldnt just be angry with someone...I had to make sure they
*knew* I was angry so I would scream, yell, stamp my feet, etc. I dont
do that anymore but sometimes the urge is still there. I think I get
credit for not caving into it :)
I went to my class at lunch. More bad drivers. ARGH. It was really cold
and windy with snow flurries when I walked to class. I noticed that I
walk slower than almost everyone else. I tried to walk faster. I guess
I am just pokey ;)
My class was kind of interesting for a change. We talked about
monopolistically competitive firms. I wont bore all of you with the
details but I have once again been reminded of why I take classes in
Economics. It is helpful to understand such things. Things are clicking
for me in this class and I love that. When I did my homework over the
weekend, I felt like all the answers just flew into my head. I am
*sure* I'll get 100% on the assignment. I got so geeked about it last
night that I actually danced around my living room with a bunch of Econ
equations in my hand. Then I laughed at just how DORKY that is. I am
not sure when I turned into such a geeky dork but it is kind of fun.
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slynne
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response 65 of 160:
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Nov 28 19:15 UTC 2003 |
The Thanksgiving Report
I woke up in the morning of Thanksgiving feeling really sad. I had a
good cry with loud sobs (advantage of living alone). I felt better
after that. Still a little angry at the universe but functional. :)
I went up to my folk's house. It was a small bunch this year. Just my
mother, father, brother, his girlfriend, 2 aunts, uncle, 2 cousins and
my grandmother. The food was yummy as usual.
my brother's girlfriend seems really nice although I didnt get a chance
to talk to her too much.
I am eating leftovers for breakfast and watching the weather outside
which is pretty icky. rain mixed with snow. My house is a mess and I
really *should* be cleaning it instead of sitting around blogging.
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slynne
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response 66 of 160:
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Nov 30 19:26 UTC 2003 |
Yesterday, I woke up early and went to the big cookie making party at
my aunt's house. That went well. Making cookies is fun and when there
is a lot of people, there is a lot of chit chat going on and I like
that.
Then I went to a different aunt's house for dinner. That was nice too.
I had a chance to talk a lot to my brother's girlfriend about Mexico.
Now I *really* want to go there. :).
On the way home from my folks house though, my car died. It just
stalled out and died with no warning at a stop sign. Bleh. Luckily I
had my cell phone with me so my parents were able to come rescue me.
Also, I had the dogs with me so I didnt have to worry about rushing
home to let them out or whatever. I was able to get my car towed so it
is going to need some repairs on Monday. I dont have the money for it
really but I have to have a car so I have no choice. I am feeling
pretty stressed out about that aspect of things. My mom is going to
lend me her car though because she doesnt have anything going on this
week. Whew. That is lucky for me. I am not sure exactly what I would
have done without a car this week. I cant take any time off from work
because we are in our busy period and we arent allowed to take *any*
time off.
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jaklumen
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response 67 of 160:
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Nov 30 22:29 UTC 2003 |
Whereabouts in Mexico?
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slynne
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response 68 of 160:
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Nov 30 22:32 UTC 2003 |
She is from Tampico.
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slynne
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response 69 of 160:
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Dec 4 16:06 UTC 2003 |
Yesterday after work, I went furniture shopping with a co-worker. I
love furniture shopping but I hate the way the sales people circle
around like a pack of sharks. I saw a really nice leather couch on
sale. It was just $700. But, of course, I dont have $700 right now so
(well I do but I want to use it to visit my friend in California) I
couldnt buy it. I dont really think of myself as being a very
materialistic person but sometimes I guess I am. I was bummed that I
couldnt afford the couch. heh.
The stupid thing is that I know that buying a something like a new
couch would only make me happy for a short time. I mean, there is
nothing actually wrong with the couch I have except that the fabric is
getting dirty from the dogs. Oh well. I went out and bought a lotto
ticket anyway and sat around daydreaming of leather couches, Eames
lounge chairs and private indoor swimming pools....
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