I don't have a lot to say on this topic at the moment. Personally, I think if you make a dollar you have a right to that dollar and your neighbor does not. That's not to say I don't understand taxes. Someone has to pay for streets and cops and other necessary parts of government. But, I can't stand this.
There is a new program called Safelink Wireless that is basically free cell phones from the government. Now, I understand that having 911 access is important. But, cell phones are a luxury item. There is no reason to give someone a cellphone unless they have earned it.
I can remember not more than a decade ago when if getting a cell phone required a hell of a lot of financial responsibility. Not just having the money to pay bills, but proving through your credit score that you were trust worthy. I tried to get my own when I was in college and couldn't because I was "too young" according to Nextel. I had to have my dad set mine up!
Pretty soon we are going to be looking at a new government program: "Limos for Lazies".
~DB
P.S.: Sorry if this comes off as harsh, but it really does piss me off.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Table Saw Upgrades #1
(Originally posted on Lumberjocks.com)
If you had read The Great Table Saw Debate Continues then you know I just recently purchased an old Craftsman Emerson saw. This was a major step in my home shop. The old saw literraly crapped out on me in a major way. (Could have killed me if I wasn’t careful.)
Well, after a couple of weeks I have finally gotten to work a bit on tuning and doing a few cuts. I’ve worked through part of a quick project and I have to say I am not disapointed in the saw at all. That particular model is well made and the motor has plenty of power. Plus, it seems to be plenty customizable.
Well, the first thing that I upgraded was the legs. I absolutely have to have a mobel base. My shop is just too small to work without one. However, price is a major concern. Also, I have the unfortunate asset of an unlevel floor (dug out basement) and not enough head room to lay down a level floor (or money). So, I settled on the retracting casters from Woodcraft . I was able to pick up a set while on vacation a right after I bought the saw so the wheels went on early.
This was also my first experience with something I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do: modify the saw. And by “modify” I mean drill holes. The stock legs on the the saw didn’t have holes that line up for the casters so I ended up drilling (using a step bit) new holes and attaching them that way. Worked out well. But, it isn’t the last time I’m going to have to do something like that (more on that later).
So far, I like the saw and the possibilities that it opens up for me. The next step, which I am in the middle of, is to buy and attach a new fence system. I already have the fence, but I’ll do a write up and review on that separately. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures and if you have the chance to get one of these saws, you won’t be sorry.
~DB
P.S.: Sorry for the blurry pics. Phone camera’s suck.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Dishwasher
Jenny and I just bought a new dishwasher last night. I have to say that they make these things pretty easy to install anymore. I can't imagine having to pay $100 (Lowes) to have one installed unless you just didn't have the physical ability to do so.
That being said, if I had hired someone to come and install it, I don't think they would have been able to do it for just $100. When I took the old DW out of the cabinet, I found that the electric feed line was on the same circuit as the power outlets in the kitchen, the fridge, the garbage disposal, and the receptical in the dinning room (which runs a dehydrator and a microwave). I swear, whoever did the electrical work in this house was a dipsh!t.
So, I ended up pulling a new line through the ventilation cavity that runs down the center of the house, then pulled in through the basement to the wall with the new DW. It didn't take me near as long as I figured it would to do (probably since I have done it before), but it was still an extra two hours that I didn't think I would be spending on this install. Once it was pulled, I hardwired it (since it was on it's own breaker) and finished the water hookups for the unit.
We bought a Whirlpool DU1055XTVQ from Lowes ($340ish after a 10% discount). Jenny is very picky when it comes to buying appliances both on the reliability and on the energy efficiency. We researched on several sites for opinions (I like Buzzillions) but for energy use we went straight to the Energy Star website. They had a listing of all the Energy Star certified dishwashers to search through. This gave a nice starting point for research. It also helped me understand that some models are Energy Star certified but are not advertised as such (which I thought was odd).
Anyway, I've run just one load so far through the machine and I'm not disappointed. I figure I'll give it a month or so and come back to the Lowes website and leave a review. I figure that if I am going to read reviews to buy a product, then I have a duty to review the products I buy. I will say so far, though, that this purchase has been another plus for the team at the Lowes at Vivion an N. Oak here is KC. They have continually rocked.
~DB
That being said, if I had hired someone to come and install it, I don't think they would have been able to do it for just $100. When I took the old DW out of the cabinet, I found that the electric feed line was on the same circuit as the power outlets in the kitchen, the fridge, the garbage disposal, and the receptical in the dinning room (which runs a dehydrator and a microwave). I swear, whoever did the electrical work in this house was a dipsh!t.
So, I ended up pulling a new line through the ventilation cavity that runs down the center of the house, then pulled in through the basement to the wall with the new DW. It didn't take me near as long as I figured it would to do (probably since I have done it before), but it was still an extra two hours that I didn't think I would be spending on this install. Once it was pulled, I hardwired it (since it was on it's own breaker) and finished the water hookups for the unit.
We bought a Whirlpool DU1055XTVQ from Lowes ($340ish after a 10% discount). Jenny is very picky when it comes to buying appliances both on the reliability and on the energy efficiency. We researched on several sites for opinions (I like Buzzillions) but for energy use we went straight to the Energy Star website. They had a listing of all the Energy Star certified dishwashers to search through. This gave a nice starting point for research. It also helped me understand that some models are Energy Star certified but are not advertised as such (which I thought was odd).
Anyway, I've run just one load so far through the machine and I'm not disappointed. I figure I'll give it a month or so and come back to the Lowes website and leave a review. I figure that if I am going to read reviews to buy a product, then I have a duty to review the products I buy. I will say so far, though, that this purchase has been another plus for the team at the Lowes at Vivion an N. Oak here is KC. They have continually rocked.
~DB
Friday, August 28, 2009
Cash for Clunkers
I just read Dave Ramsey's take on Cash for Clunkers and I got to say that I'm middle of the road on this one.
On the one hand, I don't have any problem with people who can afford to buy something to buy something. In the case of cars, I'm not too upset with borrowing money for it. I don't think it is the wisest thing, but I've done it before and I'm not going to villainize someone for doing it. However, one question for all those who have or are thinking of doing it: What could you do if you didn't have a car payment?
On the other hand, there are several things that I don't like about this and not just what was listed in Dave's take. I do agree with him on the government. They do steal your money via taxes. Further, if you can't afford a car (even at a $400 monthly payment) then you don't need to spend that kind of money on it.
My biggest concern is one that I think was partially the point of this program. They got rid of cars. The program's intent was to increase the average mileage of cars on the road while also increasing the demand for new cars (thus miraculously saving the car industry). Both of these goals have had unintended consequences that seem a little obvious now.
First, by removing older cars from the road, you have effected two markets that actually encourage people to be financially responsible: used cars and car parts. These 'clunked' cars aren't hauled to a pull-apart salvage lot or to Bob's Used Cars, they are smashed up. So, there are now fewer cars available that people who don't want a $400 a month bill can get. Also, there are fewer cheap used parts out there for people to maintain those cars.
Second, the program didn't target our American manufacturers:
So, who was the big winner here? The American auto industry? Uh... No.
This is just another one of the programs that was forced through Congress with time to consider what was going to happen and we are going to see quite a bit of crap about it later on. As Dave had said, it will come back to bite us when people who couldn't afford these cars are suddenly getting them repossessed. So, what happens when the Health Care bill gets pushed through too fast? We can only wait and see...
~DB
Posted at Hick by Association.
On the one hand, I don't have any problem with people who can afford to buy something to buy something. In the case of cars, I'm not too upset with borrowing money for it. I don't think it is the wisest thing, but I've done it before and I'm not going to villainize someone for doing it. However, one question for all those who have or are thinking of doing it: What could you do if you didn't have a car payment?
On the other hand, there are several things that I don't like about this and not just what was listed in Dave's take. I do agree with him on the government. They do steal your money via taxes. Further, if you can't afford a car (even at a $400 monthly payment) then you don't need to spend that kind of money on it.
My biggest concern is one that I think was partially the point of this program. They got rid of cars. The program's intent was to increase the average mileage of cars on the road while also increasing the demand for new cars (thus miraculously saving the car industry). Both of these goals have had unintended consequences that seem a little obvious now.
First, by removing older cars from the road, you have effected two markets that actually encourage people to be financially responsible: used cars and car parts. These 'clunked' cars aren't hauled to a pull-apart salvage lot or to Bob's Used Cars, they are smashed up. So, there are now fewer cars available that people who don't want a $400 a month bill can get. Also, there are fewer cheap used parts out there for people to maintain those cars.
Second, the program didn't target our American manufacturers:
The biggest industry beneficiaries were Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, which accounted for 41 percent of the new vehicle sales. That outpaced Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which had a share of nearly 39 percent. Toyota Motor Corp. led the industry with 19.4 percent of new sales, followed by General Motors Co. with 17.6 percent and Ford Motor Co. with 14.4 percent.Reference
So, who was the big winner here? The American auto industry? Uh... No.
This is just another one of the programs that was forced through Congress with time to consider what was going to happen and we are going to see quite a bit of crap about it later on. As Dave had said, it will come back to bite us when people who couldn't afford these cars are suddenly getting them repossessed. So, what happens when the Health Care bill gets pushed through too fast? We can only wait and see...
~DB
Posted at Hick by Association.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Health Protests
(posted on my blog at http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/)
No doubt everyone has been watching the news and hearing about how town halls have become a place to protest health care reform. We are constantly hearing have rowdy demonstrations or disruptions and politicians who are getting fed up with dealing with it too.
If you have read my blog before, you know how I feel about the reform and it hasn't changed much.
Something occurs to me about the current climate that I wanted to ask about. This may be rhetorical but feel free to chime in. Didn't we (or the majority) elect these people to represent us? If they aren't going to listen to what we want and vote that way, aren't they no longer representing us. Seems like a breach of contract, doesn't it?
I can't for the life of me understand how it is that politicians have lost this fundamental ideal in our Representative Republic. We are their boss. If we don't like it, they aren't supposed to do it. With all of this negative outcry about health care reform you would think that someone in Congress or the Senate would say, "Wait, my constituents don't want this? Maybe I shouldn't vote for it."
Duh.
~DB
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