Why File Bankruptcy? When the Government Can Bail You Out

Over the last couple years there have been a lot of talk about the fiscal cliff, the debt ceiling, bank bailouts and how the economy continues to recover and now has turned the corner. If you were a bank, there is no need to File Bankruptcy. The government will bail you out and you will come back bigger and stronger than ever before. The problem is, middle America is nowhere close to being their own financial institution and are not on the receiving end of any government bailouts. Recently, the number of Americans filing for bankruptcy has declined and the media uses this for a platform to prove the economy has turned the corner. There is only one mistake with that theory, the US GDP for the last quarter was negative.1%. To me, this sounds like things are getting worse and not getting better. In 2012 alone, the United States trade deficit is expected to come in between $500 billion and $600 billion. Businesses are leaving the country by droves and if they don’t leave they’re filing bankruptcy and shutting the doors. Continue reading “Why File Bankruptcy? When the Government Can Bail You Out”

Recidivism – Its Causes and Cure

For many decades, the U.S. recidivism rate – the rate at which released prisoners return to prison or get convicted again – has hovered around two-thirds or 70%. In other words, our correctional methods don’t rehabilitate very well. A wise prison warden in 1912 set forth the requirements of a good prison system, but our society has not listened to his advice. Instead, prisoners get worse over time by learning sick prison values, the process of “prisonization.” The gang culture thrives in prison, sometimes recruiting new members there or simply continuing previous gang membership. Our prisoners do not always receive drug rehabilitation or psychiatric counseling and only a minority learns valuable trades or skills or obtains a GED in prison. The mentally ill should be in mental institutions, not prisons; 16% of prisoners have significant mental problems. Inactivity and boredom take a toll, punctuated by violence and sometimes rape. Responsible conduct is not encouraged; we do not trust our prisoners to act responsibly. Their conduct in prison is judged by whether they have obeyed prison rules, not whether they are capable of navigating in the outside world. Because U.S. laws inhibit and discourage prison industries, relatively few convicts work productively while behind bars. In the federal and many state systems, determinate sentences release prisoners on a set date whether they are ready for the free world outside or not. After release, ex-cons are denied food stamps, welfare benefits, public housing, student loans and most jobs, and they are perceived as poor marriage, employment, housing and business prospects. Prisoners lose contact with family and friends, especially during longer sentences, and invariably find that things have changed while they were gone. Continue reading “Recidivism – Its Causes and Cure”

In Today’s Economy Is Filing Bankruptcy Only for the Low Income?

Since 2007, we have seen the US economy go through major changes due to political and banking policies. While the mainstream media is still trying to say that the economic numbers are showing a recovery, they obviously aren’t out on the streets talking to real people. The average American income is now close to $30,000. The sad thing is, the poverty level in the US is someone making $24,000 a year. So when the majority of people are making less there is no way the economy can be improving as people have less money to spend. Adding to that, we are seeing inflation and all the commodities from gas to food and housing. Recently, it was reported that 51 million American households are receiving food stamps. With the total number of people on food assistance reaching over 100 million and when you consider there are only a little over 300 million living in the US it just doesn’t add up. I don’t see how anyone can honestly believe that we are seeing in economy recovery at all. Continue reading “In Today’s Economy Is Filing Bankruptcy Only for the Low Income?”

Review – All You Can Eat: How Hungry Is America?

All You Can Eat: How Hungry is America?, Joel Berg, 2008, ISBN 9781583228548

This book looks at the current state of hunger in America. Written by an anti-hunger activist, and former government official, it is not a pretty picture.

If food insecurity (the new euphemism for “hunger”) is such a huge problem, then why are there so many obese African-Americans? Doesn’t it show that they are getting more than enough food? What it really shows is that those whose food insecurity situation is bad, but not totally desperate, have to rely on cheaper high-calorie food that is full of chemicals and preservatives.

Why don’t inner-city residents buy more vegetables, even organic vegetables? Most inner-city neighborhoods don’t have a supermarket, so the people have to rely on convenience stores, that will carry cheaper pre-processed foods, instead of organic vegetables. Also, if you are given a certain amount of money, and have to make it last an entire week, vegetables are rare, and expensive organic vegetables are simply not a possibility. Find out what your state gives food stamp recipients each week to live on, and see if you can do it. Continue reading “Review – All You Can Eat: How Hungry Is America?”

Three Reasons Why Baby Squirrels Die in Captivity

Did you ever take in a baby squirrel and start to feed and care for it, then have it go downhill physically and die? You’re not alone! The following are three common reasons why baby squirrels die in captivity:

1. The Wrong Diet.

Improper diet is the number one reason why squirrels die. There’s a lot of controversy over what is the correct formula to feed baby squirrels who are still nursing. Many wild animal rehabilitators will tell you to buy an expensive puppy formula, and to never feed a squirrel cow’s milk. I’ve used the expensive puppy formula with marginal success, but recently they changed the formulation which left it lacking enough milk fat for squirrels. Now, all of a sudden, they’re telling people to add heavy cream to boost the fat content! Hello! What is heavy cream? It’s the cream from cow’s milk! The reason cow’s milk will kill a baby squirrel is because there are substances in the milk that will give a squirrel severe diarrhea. Diarrhea will lead to an electrolyte imbalance,which will lead to a heart irregularity and ultimately death from sudden cardiac arrest. Continue reading “Three Reasons Why Baby Squirrels Die in Captivity”

Artichokes and the Mediterranean Diet

Artichokes are a winter vegetable of the Mediterranean diet with a reputation for being healthy. However, here we are more interested in their culinary virtues, in their slight-bitter nutty-like flavor that makes them delicious and special.

Their physical appearance is also special, and at first, artichokes may puzzle inexperienced non-Mediterranean home cooks.

To tell you the truth, I remember once feeling put off by the artichokes I saw in a Ghent food store. They looked completely inedible to me. They were huge and had a brownish-green color, the leaves were all open and hollow to the touch, and as dry as if they had been exposed to the desert sun for weeks. Now you know how an artichoke shouldn’t be when you buy it. Continue reading “Artichokes and the Mediterranean Diet”

More Tips and Techniques About Your New Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

How Do You like Your Eggs?

Cooking eggs in an Instant Pot®, like rice, is an individual affair. A casual search of the Internet reveals myriad suggestions, directions, and exhortations about how to cook eggs. Again, most of them are wrong. This is an area that you, as a user of this unique device will have to explore for yourselves.

The most popular technique appears to be the “5-5-5” method. To wit: “Place 6 eggs in a steamer basket or on the trivet, “Pressure Cook” for 5 minutes, then wait 5 minutes, and then cool for 5 minutes in an ice water bath.”

However, I find that “8-8-8” works better for me. I start with eggs directly from the refrigerator, and then proceed to cook them, “8 minutes at “Pressure Cook”, 8 minutes wait, 8 minutes in an ice bath”. Continue reading “More Tips and Techniques About Your New Instant Pot Pressure Cooker”

A Day in the Life of a Zombie Nurse

I knew nursing school would be rough, and I was willing to sacrifice my sleep to get my degree. I would arrive in class like something from the walking dead. I managed to get through the tough times in nursing school because I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and there was. But jeez, can we turn the light off sometimes and just all go night-nights?

Well, as you’ve gathered by now I’m a zombie nurse. I graduated 6-years ago, and I work on a busy med-surg floor. 12-hour shifts are the norm, and I work mine three-in-a-row. I guess you could say, I’m a glutton for punishment, and you’d be right. Many nurses choose to separate their shifts throughout the week so that they won’t be so tired. But me? Nah, I’m a diehard. I figure, if I’m already working, I may as well continue through till I’m done, then enjoy being off for four days. My boss thinks I’m crazy, but I would never admit that she’s right about that, because she already thinks she’s Einstein’s ghost. Continue reading “A Day in the Life of a Zombie Nurse”

Survival Tips – The Best Emergency Food Kit

Who Needs The Best Emergency Food Kit?

Who knows what the future holds? If only we knew, day to day, what challenges would arise, we would never be caught unawares. Unfortunately, life just doesn’t work that way. Those who prefer to look forward and make preparations for the “just in case” scenarios are often painted as fringe lunatics and doomsday preppers. However, assembling the best emergency food kit for yourself or your family should be something every responsible adult takes seriously. Just a few of the “normal” situations that could arise, when having emergency rations for your family would make sense, include: loss of a job, temporary lay off, extended storm damage or power outage that traps your family at home. Or perhaps you’d just like to be a position to help another family in need, should the opportunity arise. Then there are Armageddon type scenarios that plague the mind of some, and no better way to put those fears to rest than to look ahead and prepare for the worst. Whatever your reasons for looking forward and setting up emergency rations against a difficult time ahead, we are here to help you build the very best emergency food kit for your family. Continue reading “Survival Tips – The Best Emergency Food Kit”

Wrapped in Loving Arms

It’s early morning. We’re still in bed. It’s Monday morning and we’re wondering what this week will hold for each of us. I know the previous week was hard for my wife. She has so much on her pitchfork. She has to support so many people. She has so much to do. She has to give a lot of herself.

And in this early morning she asks just one thing of me: “Please hold me. Just hold me.”

We men don’t always understand the role we have to play for our wives. Sometimes we’re rather too pragmatic. We want to give advice. We want to make suggestions for doing it easier, better and quicker. We want to give answers. It may be the right answers, suggestions and advice, but not the right solution right at this moment.

They just want to be held. Continue reading “Wrapped in Loving Arms”