Balance this

So, here it is Monday, the 2nd day of my 3 days off in a row... and it just happens to be Martin Luther King day.  I didn't know today was a holiday when I requested it off, I just wanted to make sure I got 2 days off in a row.  And evidently MLK day has become more popular than President's Day, which doesn't surprise me.  A while back corporations decided celebrating Washington's Birthday and Lincoln's Birthday gave workers 1 too many holidays in the month of February, so they lumped them together into Presidents Day, a holiday which represents neither of these 2 great men.  While January has Martin Luther King Day, a holiday dedicated to one great man, February has Presidents Day, a holiday dedicated to 2 great men whose names aren't even mentioned.
Oh, and in case anybody out there is wondering, the Idiot Jerk in the White House has declared that "I am not a racist," which is so very, very funny.  Republicans are tripping over themselves trying to do some sort of damage control... what a shame they didn't start until nearly 48 hours after the Idiot Jerk's comments were first made public.  Did it really take them that long to realize he was looking like an even bigger shit bag than he already was?  I doubt it.  More likely it too them that long to understand that the smoke in their eyes was actually coming from the Gateway to Hell.
At last count there were 30 Republicans from the House of Representatives that were "retiring."  That's right, they're not going to be seeking re-election.  Many a whispering that they will lose control of the House...   This is totally beyond belief to the Idiot Jerk's loyal supporters.  That there are multitudes out there who don't sing hymns to personal greed, or who don't bow down daily to Mammon, is a truth they will never fathom.  In particular this a problem for Social Conservatives who presume every pay raise, every bonus, and every tax break is blessing from God.
Anyway, when I jumped on the scale this AM I was a little surprised to see that I gained 2 lbs yesterday... of course that's not true.  This is a primary example of why they tell you not to weigh yourself every day.  There is no way my fat cells grew 2 lbs heavier in 24 hours, not did my muscle mass increase by that amount.  My water weight went up as well, which meant that I drank more than I voided, or sweated away.  Every thing will balance out in the end.

By the way, that photo above is not me... I still have hair on my head.  Besides, it's 14 (F) outside, the sky is getting overcast, and we're supposed to have some snow tomorrow.  Wow!  More free Cardio!

Chase Sucks!

When I opened my email this morning I saw I had received one from Chase - I have my Amazon.com credit card through them.  They send me monthly notifications since I no longer receive paper statements.  It's rare if there's a balance carrying over from month to month so normally I just do an online payment.  This month, however, I am going to be carrying a balance forward thanks to the new phone $600 (to replace the one the dog chewed up), $387 for a plumbing issue, and $150 for the new Ipod to replace the one which vanished.  So today I really did look at my online statement.  Holy shit!  They're charging me 17.24% interest.  The last time I looked it was 12.7%.  My credit rating is outstanding.  I know this because last year, when I purchased my fairly expensive CR-V the deal gave me a copy of my credit report.  Like 93% of the country rate lower then I do.  That's right, I'm in the top 7%.  Anyway, since I'm going to have to pay an interest payment, I wanted to find out why it was going to be higher then I was expecting.  I called Chase.

Pay us more money!

I was told that I "was receiving the lowest APR I could get at this time."  My credit rating, so I was told, has nothing to do with it, nor does the fact that I rarely carry much of a balance.  I was also told by the Customer Service Rep that "we are trying to get you a lower rate, and we may be able to get you a lower rate in six months time, however right now there's nothing they can do."  And I'm sitting there listening to this guy thinking "those dirty bastards, they're going to nail you anyway they can."  For every guy like me who does happen to look at his statement, (even though it's done rarely) there are thousands out there who don't.  And if I'm getting the lowest APR possible, what are the highest APR's?  There are people out there paying those rates.  Just like every other large bank, Chase has no problem screwing people over.  The bottom line is, Chase Sucks, almost literally, every penny they can from you.

Retail and the IRS

Yes, that time of year is approaching when vast numbers of Americans file with Turbo Tax as fast as possible in order to get their return.  Oh, yes, and quite a number of Americans do get refunds.   What do they do with those refunds?  Spend them! I can tell you, I work in Retail and Retail looks forward to Income Tax Time.  Why?  Because those checks are spent on things like, appliances, and x-box's, and carpet, and a host of other things people put off buying until they get that check.  Christmas helps grow the economy and so does Tax Time.  Which makes me wonder why the Republicans are so dead set on screwing over the middle class and their tax cuts in order for the wealthy to keep theirs.  Face it, the Koch brothers don't race down to Home Depot in order to take advantage of their $37 whole house installed carpet.  Yet, if you're a middle class home owner that is something which may be high on your refund spending agenda.  I know there are going to be people in my community who will go out and buy a new refrigerator, or washer and dryer, on mattress set.  They may decided to replace that sofa which, after ten years of kids jumping up and down on it, has no spring left.  Do you think the rich have to wait until income tax time to make these purchases?  No way.  It's almost as if the Republicans are expecting to hear "hey, let me drop the soap so I can bend over."

I always like getting the check.

And, as always, they want entitlements on the table (define entitlements as social security).  Do you really think the wealthy are worried about paying their bills in their retirement years?  Are they concerned about whether their social security check will cover all of their medications and still let them put food on the table?  Of course not, but somebody needs to pay.  They prefer to penalize the middle and lower classes then those upper crusters who seem to have them on a very short leash.  I don't think they comprehend that stability is only maintained when there is a balance to the structure.