S.K.S. Perry's Blog, page 20
November 25, 2011
Occupy Wall Street - My Perspective
When I first joined the military a MCpl made about $40K a year. You could buy a nice house for about $60K, and a brand new car for $8K. I could fill the tank up in that car for under $20.
The average worker -- whether they worked in an office or a factory -- could count on a job for life, with a pension when they retired. More than likely they could live comfortably on one income, with enough to take the family on vacation at least once a year.
29 years later, a MCpl makes about $60K a year, a nice house goes for over $200K, and a comparable new car costs about $30K. It costs me about $70 to fill up that same tank.
If the price of everything else had risen proportionally to pay, today a car should cost $12K, a house $90K, and a full tank of gas $30.
As a matter of fact, with the constant increase in tax rates and the sheer number of things they can actually tax you on today, you probably took home almost as much of that $40K you made when I first joined the military than you do the $60K a MCpl makes today.
Forget about job security, which means your odds of getting a pension are unlikely as well. At best, hopefully you were able to put enough money away in RRSPs/401Ks; that is if the recent recession didn't wipe them out.
The banks (the ones who wiped out your RRSPs/401Ks and foreclosed on your homes) the auto industry, and the oil companies - the ones we bailed out with taxpayer money; your money -- are still raking in record profits. The costs of the goods and services they provide have skyrocketed.
The price paid for your labour has stagnated.
This is the model we are being told to expect is normal now.
This is the reason people are protesting in Occupy Wall Street.
*All prices are in accord with where I live in Southern Ontario, Canada. I'm guessing the ratios wouldn't change much if you plugged in the figures where you're from.
The average worker -- whether they worked in an office or a factory -- could count on a job for life, with a pension when they retired. More than likely they could live comfortably on one income, with enough to take the family on vacation at least once a year.
29 years later, a MCpl makes about $60K a year, a nice house goes for over $200K, and a comparable new car costs about $30K. It costs me about $70 to fill up that same tank.
If the price of everything else had risen proportionally to pay, today a car should cost $12K, a house $90K, and a full tank of gas $30.
As a matter of fact, with the constant increase in tax rates and the sheer number of things they can actually tax you on today, you probably took home almost as much of that $40K you made when I first joined the military than you do the $60K a MCpl makes today.
Forget about job security, which means your odds of getting a pension are unlikely as well. At best, hopefully you were able to put enough money away in RRSPs/401Ks; that is if the recent recession didn't wipe them out.
The banks (the ones who wiped out your RRSPs/401Ks and foreclosed on your homes) the auto industry, and the oil companies - the ones we bailed out with taxpayer money; your money -- are still raking in record profits. The costs of the goods and services they provide have skyrocketed.
The price paid for your labour has stagnated.
This is the model we are being told to expect is normal now.
This is the reason people are protesting in Occupy Wall Street.
*All prices are in accord with where I live in Southern Ontario, Canada. I'm guessing the ratios wouldn't change much if you plugged in the figures where you're from.
November 22, 2011
I'm finding it harder to take things serious every day.
So the unit I work at has recently put procedures in place that we should follow should a gunman ever let loose on us. I suggested that, seeing as we are the military, they could just arm us. After the laughing stopped, they said no.
I then suggested putting a sign on the door to our office which read: "This office only contains low level minions who couldn't possibly have screwed you over in the past."
Again, no.
I'd like to tell you what they finally went with, but then I'd have to kill you - unless you actually show up with a gun, of course.
I then suggested putting a sign on the door to our office which read: "This office only contains low level minions who couldn't possibly have screwed you over in the past."
Again, no.
I'd like to tell you what they finally went with, but then I'd have to kill you - unless you actually show up with a gun, of course.
November 17, 2011
Someday my prince will come.
I've come to realise that the military and I have sort of a "battered wife syndrome" thing going on. Over the years it has mentally and physically abused me, and I'm pretty sure it's cheating on me. Not only that, but I have the feeling it's about to trade me in for some young, blonde bimbo any day now.
And I can't leave, mostly for the same reasons that battered wives don't leave. It's familiar, and it provides for me, and I don't know anything else.
Lately I've been seeing this Writing thing on the side though, and it's making these promises to take me away from all this. Oh, I know it's probably just telling me what I want to hear, but at least there's hope now.
Of course if Lottery comes a calling, all bets are off.
And I can't leave, mostly for the same reasons that battered wives don't leave. It's familiar, and it provides for me, and I don't know anything else.
Lately I've been seeing this Writing thing on the side though, and it's making these promises to take me away from all this. Oh, I know it's probably just telling me what I want to hear, but at least there's hope now.
Of course if Lottery comes a calling, all bets are off.
November 16, 2011
Priorities
If the zombie apocalypse was to occur, and you had a secure compound, what kind of people would you allow in?
My pick would be, in no particular order: doctors, engineers, mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, farmers, fishermen, butchers, tailors/seamstresses, soldiers.
No lawyers, bankers, brokers, politicians, CEOs, etc. IMHO, they are non-essential.
Why is it then, that they run everything, and make so much money?
My pick would be, in no particular order: doctors, engineers, mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, farmers, fishermen, butchers, tailors/seamstresses, soldiers.
No lawyers, bankers, brokers, politicians, CEOs, etc. IMHO, they are non-essential.
Why is it then, that they run everything, and make so much money?
November 10, 2011
An excerpt from the new Darkside Novel:
I did my part as Best Man, rapier drawn and covering Drat's back, dressed to the nines in the formal fighting leathers Skatha had gifted me with. Leanne said I was the best looking dead guy at the wedding. Normally that wouldn't be saying much, but the place was crawling with vamps and we all know what pretty boys they can be.
November 9, 2011
Good thing we're not a communications squadron.
I've been told I'm on the Remembrance Day Parade for the base this year (as opposed to being a spectator like everyone else I work with) but as yet there's no parade state or timings for it. I guess the day snuck up on them again. I mean, it's not like it's the same day every year, right?
November 4, 2011
Neo can bite me!
If I could have super powers, I would want to have the powers that my avatar has on Second Life. Seriously, the guy can fly, teleport anywhere instantaneously, change his shape and appearance at will, and manifest anything he owns no matter where he is.
To add to that, I can purchase about 5000 Lindens (the currency in Second Life) for about $20 Canadian. I have a Steampunk Zeppelin that I bought for 500L , an intergalactic fighter for 1200L, and there's loads of stuff you can get for free.
Seriously, you can be anyone or anything you want to be.
If only.
To add to that, I can purchase about 5000 Lindens (the currency in Second Life) for about $20 Canadian. I have a Steampunk Zeppelin that I bought for 500L , an intergalactic fighter for 1200L, and there's loads of stuff you can get for free.
Seriously, you can be anyone or anything you want to be.
If only.
October 31, 2011
Grimm
I watched Grimm the last night and rather enjoyed it. (I'm loving Once Upon a Time, too, btw.)
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
The only thing that really irked me was, if my aunt suddenly told me I was a Grimm, and said revelation was proven valid when we were attacked by creepy crawlies, and then I found the Creepy Crawlie Wikipedia in my aunt's trailer—I would not leave said trailer until I'd read every last word—even if my girlfriend caught me reading it. (Hey, it's not like it was porn or anything!)
Me: The information in this book will explain all the weird stuff going on, and possible save all of our lives.
GF: Hey, what are you doing up?
Me: Oh nothing. Let's go to bed.
Of course, I'm constantly surprised how dumb people can be in RL, so maybe it's not that much of a stretch after all.
(And I love me some Eurythmics, but was the woman at the beginning jogging to Sweet Dreams on constant repeat, because it was still playing that song when the detectives found her ipod? Nice long lasting battery, too.)
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
The only thing that really irked me was, if my aunt suddenly told me I was a Grimm, and said revelation was proven valid when we were attacked by creepy crawlies, and then I found the Creepy Crawlie Wikipedia in my aunt's trailer—I would not leave said trailer until I'd read every last word—even if my girlfriend caught me reading it. (Hey, it's not like it was porn or anything!)
Me: The information in this book will explain all the weird stuff going on, and possible save all of our lives.
GF: Hey, what are you doing up?
Me: Oh nothing. Let's go to bed.
Of course, I'm constantly surprised how dumb people can be in RL, so maybe it's not that much of a stretch after all.
(And I love me some Eurythmics, but was the woman at the beginning jogging to Sweet Dreams on constant repeat, because it was still playing that song when the detectives found her ipod? Nice long lasting battery, too.)
October 30, 2011
They're Here!
My wife thinks our house has a ghost haunting it. The circuit breaker for the sump pump went on the fritz on Thursday. On Friday the thermostat for the furnace crapped out and had to be replaced. Yesterday the fan in the bathroom decided to run 24/7 whether the light switch that controls it was in the ON position or not. Give me a break.
What ever happened to helpful spirits? Is it too much to ask for a poltergeist who…say…randomly fixes shit? Hey, I'll even settle for Faeries. I'll leave milk and honey out for them—hell--I'll leave fillet mignon out for them if they fix my car, and maybe mow the lawn/shovel the driveway once in a while.
Wait…what's this? I think my monitor is going wonky. That's it! I'm going to the supermarket right now to pick up some Ghost Be Gone in an aerosol spray can.
Take that, Casper!
What ever happened to helpful spirits? Is it too much to ask for a poltergeist who…say…randomly fixes shit? Hey, I'll even settle for Faeries. I'll leave milk and honey out for them—hell--I'll leave fillet mignon out for them if they fix my car, and maybe mow the lawn/shovel the driveway once in a while.
Wait…what's this? I think my monitor is going wonky. That's it! I'm going to the supermarket right now to pick up some Ghost Be Gone in an aerosol spray can.
Take that, Casper!
October 28, 2011
Calling all...um...people with nothing better to do!
Anyone who would like to volunteer to beta read my Heroic Fantasy novel please email me at sks_perry at sympatico dot ca. And thanks in advance.
