Please guess the number of States that have a population that in total is smaller than the 4,657,169 people unemployed in the State of California. CA population is 36,961,664 with 12.6% unemployment. This is interesting to me, as I could not get a grip on the size of that population of unemployed - in just one State.
Well, here is the answer according to the population estimates in late 2009 by the government. The total number of States that have a population that is smaller than the number of people unemployed in California is twenty-one. My guess was just 8.
Here they are: AR, CT, DC (NOT A STATE AND WOULD BE NUMBER 22), DE, ID, IO, KS, ME, MS, MT, NE, NM, NV, NH, ND, OK, RI, SD, UT, VT, WV, WY,
To help you see how big the unemployment numbers are, think of California’s unemployed as 1 in 8 do not have a job.
At the round table (seating 8) at a conference or restaurant - at least one of the chairs is empty because of unemployment. For those music lovers, an octet would become a septet, or what ever a seven person group is called. Name 8 relatives, and one of them would be unemployed.
disclaimer:
I used gross population numbers as reported in late 2009. The government has most likely used some other base line for the 12.6% unemployment figures. So allow for the number to be close enough for this blog.
If the details are not accurate, the fault is _______.
(David you guess whose fault.... :)
This is a cab ride only in the sense that the cab driver wouldn't shut up....
If I read between the lines, I couldn't expect to collect a fare for a ride in a rant, so just get out and walk away.
CABBY
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The "Lasts" - A Sign of the Future
Today was the last day I will be first unemployed, without a job, no prospects, no resume', no interview, no appointments, no presentations to make, no catalogs to distribute, no calls to return, no stamps to lick, no complaints to sort through, no more work.
I know, how can all of these items be relative to me?
The helm of the Curves is today up to the new owner.
What is the relevance of the title of this post?
Well, the last payroll has been calculated. The last restlessness at 6 am has occurred. The last commercial utility account has been closed, the credit card processor has drawn it's last, the last commercial transaction line at the bank has been waited in.
I've received the last alarm company call about an alarm and the last bill from the Albuquerque City for alarm response has been paid. The last lead bag placed.
No more BR's, no more webinars, no more projection sheets, no more mis-management by a pathetic owners association, and no more franchiser. No more fighting with job flakes about undeserved unemployment. You get the idea? No more paying city, county, state, fed, employment, unemployment, social security, sales taxes, and inventory taxes. No more surcharges for commercial uses of government facilities, like water, power, trash police and fire department.
Will I miss it? No.
So what will take up my time?
Painting on canvas, board, paper, glass, vinyl, stainless steel mesh and clay.
Drawing and sketching.
Volunteer at some community event or activity once per year or so.
Quick short trips around the country to see long ago friends, relatives and sights and places. Healthier life decisions: Cellared wine, craft beer, aged scotch, whiskey and bourbon. Fine food prepared at home for friends and guests, etc, etc.
Ceramics. Home gardening, house trim in and out painted, trim repaired, Christmas,
blogging, Grand kids, family, friends.
You get the idea.
Please do not call too early tomorrow.
Cab is on blocks for the night. No ride, no fare.
CABBY
I know, how can all of these items be relative to me?
The helm of the Curves is today up to the new owner.
What is the relevance of the title of this post?
Well, the last payroll has been calculated. The last restlessness at 6 am has occurred. The last commercial utility account has been closed, the credit card processor has drawn it's last, the last commercial transaction line at the bank has been waited in.
I've received the last alarm company call about an alarm and the last bill from the Albuquerque City for alarm response has been paid. The last lead bag placed.
No more BR's, no more webinars, no more projection sheets, no more mis-management by a pathetic owners association, and no more franchiser. No more fighting with job flakes about undeserved unemployment. You get the idea? No more paying city, county, state, fed, employment, unemployment, social security, sales taxes, and inventory taxes. No more surcharges for commercial uses of government facilities, like water, power, trash police and fire department.
Will I miss it? No.
So what will take up my time?
Painting on canvas, board, paper, glass, vinyl, stainless steel mesh and clay.
Drawing and sketching.
Volunteer at some community event or activity once per year or so.
Quick short trips around the country to see long ago friends, relatives and sights and places. Healthier life decisions: Cellared wine, craft beer, aged scotch, whiskey and bourbon. Fine food prepared at home for friends and guests, etc, etc.
Ceramics. Home gardening, house trim in and out painted, trim repaired, Christmas,
blogging, Grand kids, family, friends.
You get the idea.
Please do not call too early tomorrow.
Cab is on blocks for the night. No ride, no fare.
CABBY
Saturday, September 26, 2009
What would it be called today, and where is it?
Self-reliance, individualism, inventiveness, pragmatism, mobility and restlessness. These are the characteristics of a people in an era gone, and yet seemingly returning to some of the most amazing stretches of America.
Get out of your rut and take some head clearing time and visit some of the areas of the country where the population is declining to the internationally recognized standard for 'vacant' land as a separate measurement from land of a 'frontier' which is also a recognized measure of land, people, usage, along with population density.
Did you know (I hope to have you care by the end of this post)? that the only population increasing in some stretches of the middle plain states and the high tier Canadian border states of the U. S. is the American Indian and a few species of once threatened birds, and animals.
So what?
Well, if you will recall your history lessons in that little one room school house you are old enough to have attended, or young enough to have been taught about, the Indians were unceremoniously marched down the streets of the towns of the old west and not so old west to reservations as recently as the early 1900's.
So what?
Well, these people are returning to the lands from which they were forced. They are finding ways to live and return to values of importance to them.
So what?
The Indians are returning to what was once the 'Frontier' of the country as it fulfilled its long harsh intent of eminent domain. What the tribes and small groups of Indians are finding again is what a huge share of the airy fairy population claim to desire. They have found the solitude of living with the land and what it offers and do not dwell on attempting to change the land to fit them. They are again teaching those who care and wonder about this unique place we live. They are showing that the land is open to heal itself, and can support 300 thousand of what was nearly an extinct life line - the buffalo. It is too late for the carrier pigeon, the plains wolves, and the many tribes of people who were trampled with the disease and greed of the westward drive to the 'frontier', however it is not too late for you to see what is going on today to recreate a 'frontier' for the country.
It is not too late for you to see the frontier being reborn.
It IS happening in various places across the west and plains.
You will find people who can and do live through their self-reliance, individualism, inventiveness, pragmatism, mobility and restlessness that make-up the characteristics of people who settled the country during the great rush west. The people who stuck to the ground and didn't necessarily drive all the way West to the coastal states are still represented, however they are now able to live so far apart with cars etc, that there are no communities for gathering and marketing.
Lots of authorities consider the Horace Greeley quote; "Go West young man, go West." as the cry of the doom of the Indian people and the era of the frontier.
I for one think that the paper presented to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 by Frederick Jackson to be the grand description of what Horace Greeley was actually saying.
It seems to me, now that much of the plains and west has been recently measured as vacnant and much more as frontier, we can all go west and consider our values and wonder just how much 'stuff' we ought to be collecting on the back fence and walls of our casitas.
How much junk do we get to take with us when we die?
How much do we need to be comfortable and live happy? After all, that we will be able to allow ourselves to live as happy as we can is our biggest fear. Most are unable to create happiness and contentment with what they have.
There is a daily experience that was for thousands of years a non volunteer experience that I'd guess the majority today haven't experienced for possibly years. The peace in a sunset or sunrise. Or even something as simple as experiencing a tomato while standing at the plant and wiping the dust off on your bib overalls as you pull it from the plant and stuff it in your mouth.
Where is the limit to living with the earth and living off of the earth?
At what point in the scheme that allows the Indian as a people to return to live contentedly on the 'frontier' and 'vacant' land where civilization has not been able, do we begin to look for our individual human animal responsibility? What is our real responsibility to the earth and to our fellow inhabitants on earth?
Is it really as simple as to just live as happily as I can while causing as little impact on others as possible so that when I die, there will not be a carbon footprint, monuments and shrines to my having been here? Is it my responsibility to leave here and have someone say of me. "He was happy."
The answer is to listen to your mind chatter less, and listen to the sunrises, sunsets, waterfalls, rainbows, butterflies, buffalo, tall grasses and the birds. Do not forget to smell the roses,also.
No cab fare, as there is no place for me to spend it in a 'vacant' or 'frontier' land as you could find out if you would get out of the rut.
Oh yes, here is a link to what Fredrick Jackson Turner had to say :
http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/frontierthesis.html
CABBY
Get out of your rut and take some head clearing time and visit some of the areas of the country where the population is declining to the internationally recognized standard for 'vacant' land as a separate measurement from land of a 'frontier' which is also a recognized measure of land, people, usage, along with population density.
Did you know (I hope to have you care by the end of this post)? that the only population increasing in some stretches of the middle plain states and the high tier Canadian border states of the U. S. is the American Indian and a few species of once threatened birds, and animals.
So what?
Well, if you will recall your history lessons in that little one room school house you are old enough to have attended, or young enough to have been taught about, the Indians were unceremoniously marched down the streets of the towns of the old west and not so old west to reservations as recently as the early 1900's.
So what?
Well, these people are returning to the lands from which they were forced. They are finding ways to live and return to values of importance to them.
So what?
The Indians are returning to what was once the 'Frontier' of the country as it fulfilled its long harsh intent of eminent domain. What the tribes and small groups of Indians are finding again is what a huge share of the airy fairy population claim to desire. They have found the solitude of living with the land and what it offers and do not dwell on attempting to change the land to fit them. They are again teaching those who care and wonder about this unique place we live. They are showing that the land is open to heal itself, and can support 300 thousand of what was nearly an extinct life line - the buffalo. It is too late for the carrier pigeon, the plains wolves, and the many tribes of people who were trampled with the disease and greed of the westward drive to the 'frontier', however it is not too late for you to see what is going on today to recreate a 'frontier' for the country.
It is not too late for you to see the frontier being reborn.
It IS happening in various places across the west and plains.
You will find people who can and do live through their self-reliance, individualism, inventiveness, pragmatism, mobility and restlessness that make-up the characteristics of people who settled the country during the great rush west. The people who stuck to the ground and didn't necessarily drive all the way West to the coastal states are still represented, however they are now able to live so far apart with cars etc, that there are no communities for gathering and marketing.
Lots of authorities consider the Horace Greeley quote; "Go West young man, go West." as the cry of the doom of the Indian people and the era of the frontier.
I for one think that the paper presented to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 by Frederick Jackson to be the grand description of what Horace Greeley was actually saying.
It seems to me, now that much of the plains and west has been recently measured as vacnant and much more as frontier, we can all go west and consider our values and wonder just how much 'stuff' we ought to be collecting on the back fence and walls of our casitas.
How much junk do we get to take with us when we die?
How much do we need to be comfortable and live happy? After all, that we will be able to allow ourselves to live as happy as we can is our biggest fear. Most are unable to create happiness and contentment with what they have.
There is a daily experience that was for thousands of years a non volunteer experience that I'd guess the majority today haven't experienced for possibly years. The peace in a sunset or sunrise. Or even something as simple as experiencing a tomato while standing at the plant and wiping the dust off on your bib overalls as you pull it from the plant and stuff it in your mouth.
Where is the limit to living with the earth and living off of the earth?
At what point in the scheme that allows the Indian as a people to return to live contentedly on the 'frontier' and 'vacant' land where civilization has not been able, do we begin to look for our individual human animal responsibility? What is our real responsibility to the earth and to our fellow inhabitants on earth?
Is it really as simple as to just live as happily as I can while causing as little impact on others as possible so that when I die, there will not be a carbon footprint, monuments and shrines to my having been here? Is it my responsibility to leave here and have someone say of me. "He was happy."
The answer is to listen to your mind chatter less, and listen to the sunrises, sunsets, waterfalls, rainbows, butterflies, buffalo, tall grasses and the birds. Do not forget to smell the roses,also.
No cab fare, as there is no place for me to spend it in a 'vacant' or 'frontier' land as you could find out if you would get out of the rut.
Oh yes, here is a link to what Fredrick Jackson Turner had to say :
http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/frontierthesis.html
CABBY
Friday, September 25, 2009
Nothing posted for weeks, and now twice in a few days - go figure.
This is a piece I wrote out long hand while watching and listening to a Charlie Rose bit late one night recently:
Oh, for the days of our military pilots doing "touch and gos" to stay qualified and prepared.
The airspace over our cities occupied by our 'best in the world'; now that was a sense of peace and security.
Attempt to watch them today, and you'll be in a 'forward observers position' which because of the evolution of society would require you to be in a combat zone.
Or should that be evolution of religion instead of evolution of society.
Now then, this posting can go two directions here, the one about religion, or the one I am focused upon.
The religious one seems futile in todays world, so I will stick to my original idea here.
What visible signs of our 'might' are left for us?
Ships in port? Battalions on CONUS (stationed in the continental US). Sailors, soldiers, Coasties and Marines in our airports? Just a small portion of what we were used to seeing before this religious war commenced back in the Clinton days.
These are all we 'see' any more.
Is it because all of the hardware is deployed? What about training? Recovery from the stresses of the action? Families? What about change?
Well, in reading "In Search of America" by Jennings and Brewster, I found in the intro the following which was written mourning the passing of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams:
"The Republic will cease to be," offered the eulogist, "when it ceases to remember, to revere, and to imitate the virtues of its founders."
So where are we in relation to what the founders of this Republic expected and wanted?
Since I offer no conclusions and have left this with a question, I will not post a fare for the ride...
CABBY
Oh, for the days of our military pilots doing "touch and gos" to stay qualified and prepared.
The airspace over our cities occupied by our 'best in the world'; now that was a sense of peace and security.
Attempt to watch them today, and you'll be in a 'forward observers position' which because of the evolution of society would require you to be in a combat zone.
Or should that be evolution of religion instead of evolution of society.
Now then, this posting can go two directions here, the one about religion, or the one I am focused upon.
The religious one seems futile in todays world, so I will stick to my original idea here.
What visible signs of our 'might' are left for us?
Ships in port? Battalions on CONUS (stationed in the continental US). Sailors, soldiers, Coasties and Marines in our airports? Just a small portion of what we were used to seeing before this religious war commenced back in the Clinton days.
These are all we 'see' any more.
Is it because all of the hardware is deployed? What about training? Recovery from the stresses of the action? Families? What about change?
Well, in reading "In Search of America" by Jennings and Brewster, I found in the intro the following which was written mourning the passing of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams:
"The Republic will cease to be," offered the eulogist, "when it ceases to remember, to revere, and to imitate the virtues of its founders."
So where are we in relation to what the founders of this Republic expected and wanted?
Since I offer no conclusions and have left this with a question, I will not post a fare for the ride...
CABBY
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
6 Years
6 years and a glass of Port with a little triple cream Bree cheese.
A celebration we had! We sat at the kitchen table. We talked of this night 6 years ago. We called our Treasured friend, Rachael for whom we were compelled to leave a message that thanked her for this night, 9 22 03 (six years ago).
Now, back to today.
Curves is still going strong.
We are worn out. We are, at long over 60, beginning to feel the results of the abuse we have heaped upon our bodies and minds over the years. Hopefully by the time we reach the celebration for the 7th year, we will have worked out how to not have the daily requirements of the life we have chosen seem so intrusive and exhausting. Hopefully by the next celebration, we will have figured out how to fulfill our happiness as a steady 24 hour achievement. Hopefully we will be looking back at the 7th year as a gift that springs us to a new level of happiness.
The original plan was to do five years, divide the territory in 1/2 and sell the two pieces. We are at six years I remind you. What happened to the five year mark and that plan?
This is still a possibility, however not likely, due to the present economy.
There are stories to tell that I have written down of tales and experiences and people, however sharing those will have to be a different posting.
What I want you to know is that the door we walked through six years ago, is still open, we can see back through it, however: "There is no going back." The futile struggle that would be required to attempt to go back just makes me tired to consider. I see and hear people all of the time saying and talking like it was easy to go back. It is not easy or possible, so looking forward is the real way to celebrate. We did.
We agreed over the port and cheese that we have no business regrets, and that if it weren't for people we would have no regrets at all. We have had lots of disappointments that do not concern the club, mostly disappointments about people and how easily they seem to give up on themselves.
In this day and age; with the present economy, world level strife, racial and religious prosecution, radicals on the right and left, politicians that are not taking care of our world and domestic best interests, what do we have to look forward toward?
The future is ours to chose for ourselves. We cannot rely on others to get us to the fulfillment of our main purpose in life. This life purpose is often circuitously discussed, however the main purpose (to be as happy as we want to be) is seldom declared aloud. It doesn't sell newspapers! and - most people do not think they can achieve it!
I have stopped the local paper. I do not watch the National, local, nor the world news. I seldom watch live TV, and race through the commercials to enjoy what I record to watch later.
As a result, I find the days are the same length (too damned short), the work necessary for me to complete is the same and that the things (news) that I need to know, I can read daily via a great website called: newseum.org.
Now then, what is this post about?
Know that even though the anniversary of opening the club was for the sixth year, we have more days and years (hopefully) of work to get through to be as happy as we want.
The cab has been parked for the month of August. Reasons are personal. Maybe probably I will explain why next time I post.
A good friend, (does anyone have a bad friend?) told me to blog about why I haven't been blogging. Maybe I will....
Since this post is a celebration announcement, I have waived the fare.
CABBY
A celebration we had! We sat at the kitchen table. We talked of this night 6 years ago. We called our Treasured friend, Rachael for whom we were compelled to leave a message that thanked her for this night, 9 22 03 (six years ago).
Now, back to today.
Curves is still going strong.
We are worn out. We are, at long over 60, beginning to feel the results of the abuse we have heaped upon our bodies and minds over the years. Hopefully by the time we reach the celebration for the 7th year, we will have worked out how to not have the daily requirements of the life we have chosen seem so intrusive and exhausting. Hopefully by the next celebration, we will have figured out how to fulfill our happiness as a steady 24 hour achievement. Hopefully we will be looking back at the 7th year as a gift that springs us to a new level of happiness.
The original plan was to do five years, divide the territory in 1/2 and sell the two pieces. We are at six years I remind you. What happened to the five year mark and that plan?
This is still a possibility, however not likely, due to the present economy.
There are stories to tell that I have written down of tales and experiences and people, however sharing those will have to be a different posting.
What I want you to know is that the door we walked through six years ago, is still open, we can see back through it, however: "There is no going back." The futile struggle that would be required to attempt to go back just makes me tired to consider. I see and hear people all of the time saying and talking like it was easy to go back. It is not easy or possible, so looking forward is the real way to celebrate. We did.
We agreed over the port and cheese that we have no business regrets, and that if it weren't for people we would have no regrets at all. We have had lots of disappointments that do not concern the club, mostly disappointments about people and how easily they seem to give up on themselves.
In this day and age; with the present economy, world level strife, racial and religious prosecution, radicals on the right and left, politicians that are not taking care of our world and domestic best interests, what do we have to look forward toward?
The future is ours to chose for ourselves. We cannot rely on others to get us to the fulfillment of our main purpose in life. This life purpose is often circuitously discussed, however the main purpose (to be as happy as we want to be) is seldom declared aloud. It doesn't sell newspapers! and - most people do not think they can achieve it!
I have stopped the local paper. I do not watch the National, local, nor the world news. I seldom watch live TV, and race through the commercials to enjoy what I record to watch later.
As a result, I find the days are the same length (too damned short), the work necessary for me to complete is the same and that the things (news) that I need to know, I can read daily via a great website called: newseum.org.
Now then, what is this post about?
Know that even though the anniversary of opening the club was for the sixth year, we have more days and years (hopefully) of work to get through to be as happy as we want.
The cab has been parked for the month of August. Reasons are personal. Maybe probably I will explain why next time I post.
A good friend, (does anyone have a bad friend?) told me to blog about why I haven't been blogging. Maybe I will....
Since this post is a celebration announcement, I have waived the fare.
CABBY
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