I always thought it was a cheer.
Happy Guy :)
JoinedPosts by Happy Guy :)
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13
What does wOOt mean?
by Nancy Drake ini see this all the time, but cannot find a good explanation of what it means....
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33
Compromise
by teejay inone of the fundamental keys to a successful marriage.
doing stuff you wouldn't ordinarily do... stuff you don't and wouldn't ever do by nature, but you do it because you're married to this particular person.
without it a marriage is, at best, an unhappy situation; at worst, a divorce waiting to happen.
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36
Bad news about the house. : /
by Elsewhere ini have been holding off making a public announcement for awhile because i have been waiting for all of the paperwork to become official... but the company that is building my house has been dragging their feet, trying to delay the inevitable.. the bottom line is this: i won't be able to buy the house.
when i was doing contract work, i was making x amount of money.
i had anticipated a pay cut caused by my becoming a permanent employee, but the pay cut turned out to be more substancial than i had anticipated.
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Happy Guy :)
Hey buddy sorry to here about the news. The 33% debt ratio is not off the wall though. The problem is more one of whether your mortgage would be a variable or fixed rate. Obviously with a variable rate you would need extra flexability as a buffer for when rates increase (unless of course you do what most people don't but should which is set aside extra $ to allow for rising rates).
You will see gross income to mortgage payment ratios at many finincial institutions claiming that a 31-33 % as a target not to exceed. I am more to your way of thinking. I prefer a very high degree of financial flexibility-less stressfull. A
I would suggest to you that you estimate your mortgage payment plus property taxes and the measure that against your gross income (assuming that you don't have any unusually large other personal debt). If your at 33% then seriously consider the house.
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11
It is carved on a wall facing the UN.
by Blueblades inno matter what your beliefs, the words of the prophets still ring out for all humankind: carved on a wall facing the united nations headquarters in new york is one of isaiah's most powerful -- and as -- yet -- unfullfilled -- prophecies: "and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
nation shall not lift up sword against nation.
neither shall they learn war anymore.".
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Happy Guy :)
Just a couple of things Kwint:
What caused WW2? A large part was the burdens that the world put on Germany.
It is interesting because this was Hitler's propoganda and apparently it was so effective that inspite of his racial monstrosities, people 50 years later still use (or should I say misuse) his propoganda. Let's remember that other countries were aggressors in WW2 as well. Let's take the example of Italy and Japan. Are we to believe they were aggressors in WW2 because they were somehow protesting a western world placing burdens on Germany? I think not. Even Germany's involvement in WW2 was driven by an evil psycopath who was fixated on world domination and ethnic cleansing. He ruled his country like a cult. Many actually did not like what Hitler stood for but they were so afraid of being exposed as against Hitler by their neighbours that many went along for the evil ride.
With regard to Nike offering pay to citizens of less developed countries: Is it that the citizen has no other alternatives for a livelihood or is it that Nike is it's best alternative. Why should western companies be critisized for offering a superior wage to third world citizens simply because the wage is low by our western standards? Should we be so interventionist and arrogant as to impose our higher wages (minimum wage) on foreign countries or should we allow them to control there own free market forces? This type of action should only be used against countries who violate human rights.
and with regard to this:
When was the last time you heard of a unionized sweatshop? Would these corporations negotiate with 3rd world unions? I'd think that the union would have very little bite, as the employee often as much more to lose then the company.
This is where you are mistaken (as are many others). The whole process of industrial revolution (and more importantly evolution) will force the development of collective bargaining just as it has in western economies. In fact more so today because of the rapid access to and flow of information and people.
As for companies having more bargaining power, it is very much dependant on: Economic conditions; regional labour market conditions; and, global ease of capital movement. These are conditions which will be issues in every country. As for a concern that a company would have more leverage in negotiating: Even if it were always true (because it is not always true); that's life. Somewhere there is a point of agreement where Business and Labour meet. The goal of a free society is (in many western countries) to provide everyone an educational (or learning skills) opportunty to better themselves. This would be a far better goal to improve these educational opportunites for everyone.
As for the comment you can't have a win-win situation i.e. there must be a loser. That too is incorrect. The function of free markets is that we all are (or will be) better off through specialization and trade in the long term. Many have a difficult time understanding this in the short term as they go through a process of re-tooling their skills with (in my opinion) not enough help from society with skills training costs while the worker is temporarily realigned into the labour force..
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17
Which GB member Dying would make the biggest difference
by stillajwexelder inwhich gb member dying would make the biggest difference?
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Happy Guy :)
Frank, I was out for a drive in your neck of the woods about 3 weeks ago. The leaves were stunning.
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11
It is carved on a wall facing the UN.
by Blueblades inno matter what your beliefs, the words of the prophets still ring out for all humankind: carved on a wall facing the united nations headquarters in new york is one of isaiah's most powerful -- and as -- yet -- unfullfilled -- prophecies: "and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
nation shall not lift up sword against nation.
neither shall they learn war anymore.".
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Happy Guy :)
Kwint my fellow Canadian (how I love thee) but please explain these comments:
True, there is money going over there, for services recieved
What about all the money sent over in the form of aid?
Is it enough to ensure that the workers recieve the same quality of life as the average western world individual?
Why is it up to the Western world (you and I) to ensure that the workers recieve the same quality of life as us?
Is it not enough that we are improving their conditions must they be the same?
and, if they are to be the same how do we ensure that the many who make their home in the armpit/hellhole of Bangladesh or the wasteland of some desert equal to a Canadian who wakes up to the splendor and magnificence of the Canadian rockies or the luxuries of Toronto?
and lastly,
the one being forced to work for next to nothing is the same one who will fight and terrorize to get a better lot in life.
Where are western corporations forcing people to work for next to nothing- what country? Are you sure it is not by choice?
If the Corporations were to not do business in these countries and not offer these third world people work in exchange for monetary compensation are these third world people better off without these employment opportunities? or worse off?
If western corporations did not do business and employ third world labour who would? would they be any more fair?
Would these people not have an opportunity to improve their lot and organize into collectives where they can bargain for higher wages and healthcare? These are labour concepts which are intertwined with western capitalistic business/labour culture.
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17
Celtics PHOTOS Grand Canyon & Arizona - (Sort of Completed now)
by bisous inonly a few this time, hundreds more landscape pictures here, software too slow to put lots on, so just general pick of many of best shots, tis ruddy annoying though cos had some other beauties to share.. hope you all enjoy them, click on any image to enlarge in new window, only take moment or so to view.
if you do get a blank picture on the main page, click with mouse anyway, ought to upload no probs.. onward yeeeeee haaaaaaaaa!!.
bestest regards t'll all scallywags, balmpots and mingers.. one cantankerously cheerful celtic.
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33
What Do You Do When You Get The "Blues"???
by minimus inevery once in a while we all get the blues.
we start overthinking, overanalyzing----we dwell on negatives.
what do you do to get out of this frame of mind?
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Happy Guy :)
I pick my sorry ass up and get busy. If I can get busy doing something which is productive or leads to a positive outcome than that usually puts me right again.
*edit* and sometimes I listen to a little blues music and pout a bit before I get busy.
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11
It is carved on a wall facing the UN.
by Blueblades inno matter what your beliefs, the words of the prophets still ring out for all humankind: carved on a wall facing the united nations headquarters in new york is one of isaiah's most powerful -- and as -- yet -- unfullfilled -- prophecies: "and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
nation shall not lift up sword against nation.
neither shall they learn war anymore.".
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Happy Guy :)
I wonder how many of the representatives actually read that carving on the wall and try to fullfill it.Or how many just walk by it on the way to work with an indifference, a shrug of the shoulders, giving no thought to the words what so ever,as they see to the everyday affairs of the nations.
I would hazzard to guess that many know that war is bad for everyone not just from a direct human misery toll but economically as well. Most nations just want to improve their lot and from an economic point of view the "peace dividend" is by far the most prosperous route for nations in the long term and for sustained economic growth. It will take more than a few decades to undo thousands of years of warlike behaviour. As well, there will always be the existance or threat of existance of lunatic dictators. That is something which will make any efforts of the U.N a work in progress.
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81
What makes you special?
by kls ineveryone has something inside that gives them a special quality (everybody ) so what would you say is yours?
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please don't be negative because you do have something special .
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Happy Guy :)
What makes you special?
I would have to say that it is the unique blend of people who have touched my life in so many wonderfull ways. I suppose many (if not all) of us could say this as well but this is the only thing that I think makes me special. I don't have any other unique talents or gifts but for sure the wonderful people that I have and have had in my life is more than sufficient.