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cash back incentive stupidity
Jun. 19th, 2009 09:45 amApparently there's a new incentive program "Cash for Clunkers" offering up to 4500 towards a new car, if you trade in a gas guzzler and buy a vehicle that does significantly better in the MPG. It's supposed to boost the American auto industry. Sounds good on the surface, right?
The deal: If you trade in a car getting 18 mpg or less and buy one getting 22 mpg or more, then you get $3500. If the improvemnt is at least 10 mpg, you get an additional $1000 (this is in lieu of your normal trade-in, I believe).
The intent is to get old gas guzzling clunkers off the road, and get new fuel-thrifty cars onto the road. Also promotes auto sales.
So once again, those who have been "bad" will reap the rewards, while those who have been "good" will not. And if you want to play the system, go buy a clunker for $200 before heading out to buy a new car.
And what will this do to the various charity groups that thrive on old car donations?
And since many of the quality high-mpg cars are Asian, how much of that incentive money will actually help the failing American auto industry?
Am I missing something here?
The deal: If you trade in a car getting 18 mpg or less and buy one getting 22 mpg or more, then you get $3500. If the improvemnt is at least 10 mpg, you get an additional $1000 (this is in lieu of your normal trade-in, I believe).
The intent is to get old gas guzzling clunkers off the road, and get new fuel-thrifty cars onto the road. Also promotes auto sales.
So once again, those who have been "bad" will reap the rewards, while those who have been "good" will not. And if you want to play the system, go buy a clunker for $200 before heading out to buy a new car.
And what will this do to the various charity groups that thrive on old car donations?
And since many of the quality high-mpg cars are Asian, how much of that incentive money will actually help the failing American auto industry?
Am I missing something here?
My 2:30 post, at noon
Jun. 18th, 2009 12:00 pmI had an old filling replaced in February, and afterwards there was a sharp pain when biting on that tooth. The pain decreased over time, and occurred less frequently, but still continued to stab at me when least expected. So I had the filling replaced again today. So no crunchy or sticky foods for two days. Mmmmmm....applesauce and mashed potatoes!
Mostly my jaw hurts, now that it's not numb.
But hopefully, no more tooth hurty.
Mostly my jaw hurts, now that it's not numb.
But hopefully, no more tooth hurty.
Road rage article
Jun. 16th, 2009 05:35 pmNew road rage comparison in the news: clicky for linkage
Of note: DC didn't make the top five, though Baltimore did. New York City took the top spot away from Miami.
Of particular interest, DC stands out as a place where enraged drivers are four times as likely to slam into you if you anger them.
Of note: DC didn't make the top five, though Baltimore did. New York City took the top spot away from Miami.
Of particular interest, DC stands out as a place where enraged drivers are four times as likely to slam into you if you anger them.
More refi loan grumbles
Jun. 11th, 2009 02:08 pmAs you may recall, we applied for a refi, and the lack of feedback/updates has been distressing. We are now five days from the end of the rate-lock period, and the loan officer still won't respond to my e-mails. So I call the bank manager to see what's up, and I'm told that the bank is still reviewing the appraisal.
The appraiser was at our house on April 21. That's more than seven weeks ago. The bank told us two weeks ago that the house had appraised low. But today, the appraisal is still under review.
The appraiser was at our house on April 21. That's more than seven weeks ago. The bank told us two weeks ago that the house had appraised low. But today, the appraisal is still under review.
Green Lantern Trailer
Jun. 8th, 2009 12:22 amThis is an absolutely wonderful trailer for a Green Lantern movie. Unfortunately, it's also completely fake. Enjoy!
you tube green lantern trailer
(According to IMDB, there is a Green Lantern movie slated for 2011, but there's no info on cast, plot, etc., yet)
you tube green lantern trailer
(According to IMDB, there is a Green Lantern movie slated for 2011, but there's no info on cast, plot, etc., yet)
I must be tired...
Jun. 5th, 2009 07:27 pmMy mouse was being a little sticky on the mouse pad, so I turned it over to check the ball.
I nearly blinded myself, because it's an optical mouse!
oy.
I nearly blinded myself, because it's an optical mouse!
oy.
RHF's last joke?
May. 29th, 2009 02:42 pmRHF (rec.humor.funny) seems to have stopped updating, but the last joke they posted (about a month ago) is terrifically funny and shockingly offensive at the same time. Espcially appropriate after a stand-up routine at Balticon...
"Mom and Dad"
( regarding the stand-up routine )
"Mom and Dad"
( regarding the stand-up routine )
The man in the red hat (Two Lumps)
May. 29th, 2009 02:39 pmToday's Two Lumps -- it snuck up on me, I blinked, then chuckled, and finally did the whole ROFLMAO.
The Chosen Beer
May. 28th, 2009 05:34 pmA coworker loves beer. Mostly at Irish pubs. But he brought in a label today that made me laugh. "Hebrew: the Chosen Beer"
I was able to find a website for it, clicky for the chosen brew
I was able to find a website for it, clicky for the chosen brew
can't recall name of book
May. 28th, 2009 10:49 amThere is a small paperback book of 500 tidbits of advice written by a man for his son when the boy went to college. Things like "do the dishes before going to bed"
Any thoughts on the title?
Thanks all!
Any thoughts on the title?
Thanks all!
Balticon 2009
May. 27th, 2009 05:03 pmHad a great time at Balticon last weekend. Got to hear professional filk by Mary Crowell. Got to hear Gene Wolf lead a panel on torturing one's characters. Mark L Van Name led a presentation of upcoming works from Baen publishing company. Van Name gave away a bit of stuff, and we got a copy of his first novel in hardback.
Van Name noted that a new author's first hardback, if published, might have a print run of about 1500 copies, and would be considered to be doing really well if about 1200 of those sold. That seems like really low numbers, and I have trouble understanding how anyone (author or publisher) can make money with so few copies.
Van Name also performed a stand-up routine (definitely rated PG-13) which was pretty good.
We got to play a few new (to us) board games, including Stone Age (enjoyable game despite its similarities to too many other recent games), Qwirkle Cubes (new version of the recent game Qwirkle), and St. Petersburg (a Rio Grande game that just didn't grab me -- too slow to start, not terribly engaging).
Bought a couple armloads of books, but neglected to add to our games collection. Includes a couple of old Keith Laumer (non-Bolo) books and a copy of Kurtz' Deryni Rising.
Looking forward to next year!
Van Name noted that a new author's first hardback, if published, might have a print run of about 1500 copies, and would be considered to be doing really well if about 1200 of those sold. That seems like really low numbers, and I have trouble understanding how anyone (author or publisher) can make money with so few copies.
Van Name also performed a stand-up routine (definitely rated PG-13) which was pretty good.
We got to play a few new (to us) board games, including Stone Age (enjoyable game despite its similarities to too many other recent games), Qwirkle Cubes (new version of the recent game Qwirkle), and St. Petersburg (a Rio Grande game that just didn't grab me -- too slow to start, not terribly engaging).
Bought a couple armloads of books, but neglected to add to our games collection. Includes a couple of old Keith Laumer (non-Bolo) books and a copy of Kurtz' Deryni Rising.
Looking forward to next year!
mortgage refinance pain and misery
May. 26th, 2009 06:45 pmFinally heard from the bank where we're doing our refinance.
The bank manager who took the application (5 weeks ago) called to follow up. "Follow up? On what?" Apparently the appraisal (which was done 4 weeks aqo) came in many thousands less than expected, so we have a choice of refinancing a lesser amount or paying PMI. What had we chosen?
I explained that this is the first we had heard of this, that the loan officer had not called us nor e-mailed us nor sent us smoke signals. I asked how much the PMI would be, and said I'd call back after talking to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
blueeowyn. I called back 10 minutes later, and the banker is still waiting on a call back from the loan officer. She'll have the loan officer call or e-mail me at work. Well, it's 6:50 pm, no phone call, no e-mail. They need a decision from me before the loan can go forward. They need a decision NOW. But they won't contact me with a simple piece of needed information.
The bank manager who took the application (5 weeks ago) called to follow up. "Follow up? On what?" Apparently the appraisal (which was done 4 weeks aqo) came in many thousands less than expected, so we have a choice of refinancing a lesser amount or paying PMI. What had we chosen?
I explained that this is the first we had heard of this, that the loan officer had not called us nor e-mailed us nor sent us smoke signals. I asked how much the PMI would be, and said I'd call back after talking to
blueeowyn. I called back 10 minutes later, and the banker is still waiting on a call back from the loan officer. She'll have the loan officer call or e-mail me at work. Well, it's 6:50 pm, no phone call, no e-mail. They need a decision from me before the loan can go forward. They need a decision NOW. But they won't contact me with a simple piece of needed information.
Bah. Hotmail.
May. 20th, 2009 05:34 pmHave I complained about hotmail yet this week?
The new "live hotmail" is about the worst e-mail system I could possibly imagine. Copy/Paste is fubar. The address line is fubar. If you navigate away, then come back, you'll find your last read message still open. The send button is fubar. They took what was a moderately functional e-mail system and systematically hacked up anything about it that worked.
I'll probably rant a little more about it in another week or so.
Yes, I could change to g-mail or something else, but I've got about 5000 archived messages to deal with first.
The new "live hotmail" is about the worst e-mail system I could possibly imagine. Copy/Paste is fubar. The address line is fubar. If you navigate away, then come back, you'll find your last read message still open. The send button is fubar. They took what was a moderately functional e-mail system and systematically hacked up anything about it that worked.
I'll probably rant a little more about it in another week or so.
Yes, I could change to g-mail or something else, but I've got about 5000 archived messages to deal with first.
*snort* hahahaha
May. 13th, 2009 10:47 amI don't know why, but this really made me laugh:
Extra Life online comic (James Hetfield does guitar/vocals in Metallica)
Extra Life online comic (James Hetfield does guitar/vocals in Metallica)
