Unethical -- Just Plain Cheap -- Or Both?

Quora.com is a source of all sorts of unusual questions and responses. I've been reading them the past few weeks, and so far, they've covered everything from near-death experiences to travel tips. But their latest caught me more than a little offguard:

What are some unethical life hacks?

Wait a minute. Is Quora encouraging us to cheat, swipe and lie...as long as we don't get caught?

Responses to the question include everything from stealing extra packets of sauce at fast food restaurants, to wangling your way inside airlines' first-class clubs, so you can drink as much liquor as possible.
     Or do it even easier, say the 'experts,' by showing up in workman's clothes at a fancy party -- the people will assume you're there to Fix Something, and would never bar the door. (Hmmm. What would they think to see their 'plumber' throwing down a glass of champagne? I keep thinking of the Trading Places New Year's Eve costume party on the train, crashed by two of the baggage handlers. "Uh, I came as a baggage handler," one says, as he grabs some chips.  "Imagine my surprise when I found out someone else had the same costume," says the other, as he helps himself to  liquor.)

It's all too easy to take home the pen from work, or slide off with something you're not supposed to have. But 'easy' does not equal 'right.'

I don't believe in the 'if no one says anything' rule, either. One much-loved uncle thought nothing of clearing off extra sugar, salt & pepper packets off his restaurant table, on the theory that he'd paid for everything there by just ordering something. No waitperson ever stopped him...though I'd bet they discussed his actions back in the kitchen.

Some guidelines help me to control the urge to be TOO cheap about all this:

*Has it already been discarded? Dumpster diving items just means you're rescuing them from clogging up the landfill. If not --

*Have you asked permission to take it? A polite question is often politely answered. Imagine how much more embarrassing it would be to assume that item is free and walk out the door with it, only to be stopped. I learned this the hard way once, with a backpack leaned up against a garbage can. It contained such goodies as an expensive camera -- owned by the college student who rushed out of the house to intercept me when I picked his backpack up. I still think he was foolish to leave it out there -- but that didn't stop my face from turning red.
     If not --

*Has it been offered to you? Ask, if you're not sure. (Be polite.) But also consider --

*Offer some kind of payment. It doesn't have to be money: a swap of your time, a ride or errand offered, or a useful item can be all the payment needed. Besides, you're better off if you --

*Take what's needed -- not all there is. A few salsa verde packets at Taco Bell, versus a handful. A couple strips of bacon at the buffet, instead of the entire plate. (Don't laugh. I've seen this happen.) One refill at the pop machine -- but not three or four. (Even worse -- surreptitiously grabbing soda, when you got a cup for free water, instead.) And --

*Don't take it, if you can't put it to good use. By grabbing items that don't fit, are too bulky or don't coordinate, you are depriving them from someone who really needs them. (This is especially difficult for me...the Hollander blood really kicks in. The only exception I can validate: if that item is needed by a family member or friend -- and can be quickly passed on to someone else.)

Can you look in the mirror that night, with no regrets about your actions? Not be embarrassed if someone questions you? Feel proud that you were able to reuse, revamp or repurpose something others would have thrown out? Have you paid your own way, both literally and figuratively?

Then you did the right thing.

Take a look at the Quora question that inspired all this--

Prepare to gag.

Democratic Caucus, Colorado-Style

I went to a Democratic Caucus tonight. 

Boy, was it a strange experience. 

Colorado doesn't have primaries anymore. And from what the Brick says (more on this later), the Republicans didn't vote on presidential candidates, anyways.

But the Democrats did. 

(Thanks, Wikipedia.)

Picture the scene at one of Douglas County's Democrat caucuses: a cafeteria in one of the local high schools. It was absolutely jammed, crammed and stuffed with people. Just the line to register (I got there late) was at least 75-100, all ages (though most were older than 40, I'd guess), colors and economic status, based on the clothes they wore. Practically everyone had a cellphone, though -- and they weren't hesitating to use it.

Party members who obviously had been there before were buzzing around the crowded aisles, talking others up. Many were, like me, clueless as what this milling batch of humanity were doing -- and where we were supposed to be. After one false assignment, I finally shoved my way through the crowd to my precinct table, to sign the attendance list. One of the guys seated at the table was griping: 'Only four showed up at the last caucus...how come 24 people came this time?!?'
     Gee, Buddy -- did you want us to leave?

Very few election posters or fancy signs -- only precinct reps waving their numbered white notebooks at each table. Any seats were jammed with sweating people -- the rest of us stood around, straining to hear what was being said.

The row-deo (think "ow-dee-oh") continued after the meeting officially started. The guy running things was an older, bearded man energetically chewing gum -- whenever anything weird happened, he'd just chew harder. (At least he used a microphone, so we could hear what he was saying in between.)

A younger guy in a dark pink polo shirt spoke on behalf of Bernie Sanders: 'We want a change in Congress, a change in the Capitol...vote your passion.'  (Plenty of cheers, both before and after. Moderator chews away steadily.)

An older man in fancy striped dress shirt, tie and nice trousers spoke on behalf of Hillary Clinton: 'I'm a doctor, my wife was Bill Clinton's personal nurse.' (Polite clapping.) Some comments about healthcare. (A few hecklers started yelling in the back...nervous chewing speeds up.) 'Hillary has all this experience...'  (More shouting. Chewing intensifies. People tell the hecklers to shut up -- 'not now!')
    'And that's why we support her.' (Lots of cheering and applause...chewing relaxes back to normal speed.)

Then we voted. No discussion, but no one could have heard much anyways, with all the talking going on. My precinct went 9 for Hillary, 15 for Bernie...but based on some fractional calculations, both got a delegate. (I still don't get this, but it's typical of Colorado politics. The Denver Post calls it 'complicated.') How did the other precincts at my caucus vote? Who knows -- it sure wasn't mentioned at the meeting.

Then it was time to appoint delegates, ask for precinct officers, volunteer for election judges. More chaos ensued. Lots of talking, people trying to figure out what their precinct captain was saying. (I'm not even sure how our captain became one...and I was standing there!) Then in little more than an hour, it was over. We were thanked for our service, and everyone left -- fast.

Weird.

Ironically, the Brick was at the Republican Caucus for Douglas County. (One of the other Democratic Caucuses was held at his high school -- and some Republicans accidentally got in the Democratic registration line. Go figure.)
     He said his meeting was just as chaotic...but no voting. In fact, they were told that delegates could vote for anyone they wanted to. (Ours were definitely separated as Bernie and Hillary people.) Plenty of protests about that, but it didn't change anything.
     Here's the kicker: the Brick was elected as a delegate for our precinct. Good for him!
     (Yes, I am sleeping with a Republican.)

Daughter #1 went to the Denver Democratic Caucus. She got appointed as a Bernie delegate for her precinct. Good for her!

And I just found out -- Daughter #2 went to Nederland's Democratic Caucus! (No, we didn't plan this.) I wonder if we're one of the few families in Colorado that all went to Super Tuesday.


Colorado is one of the few states that have gone both ways in elections -- its 'purple' status means that it's voted both Republican and Democratic.   (Denver and Boulder tend to be much more liberal, skewing the rest of the state, which is heavily conservative.)



Summary of results of the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 presidential elections:   States carried by the Republican in all four elections   States carried by the Republican in three of the four elections   States carried by each party twice in the four elections   States carried by the Democrat in three of the four elections   States carried by the Democrat in all four elections    (Courtesy of Wikipedia)


Bernie Sanders officially won in Colorado tonight. I never saw a Clinton button at the caucus...but there were a bunch of 'Bernie 2016' buttons and t-shirts on the people attending.
     In case you're wondering... I voted for Bernie Sanders. (I have a lot of difficulty with Mrs. Clinton's repeated dishonesty. I'm not the only one struggling with this, either.)

Having both Daughter #1 AND the Brick as delegates is going to make for plenty of interesting discussion around the dinner table these coming months. Frankly, I stay out of most of it. In spite of my affiliation, I tend to vote for the person, not the party.

But if the squirrelly, unfocused atmosphere we experienced tonight was typical around the country...
     We're in deep trouble. And it's only going to intensify.

Maybe Marge Simpson was right, after all.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: March-ing Into Spring

Where did February go? 

I'm amazed at how quickly the months have gone by lately. Maybe it has to do with cramming a Tucson trip with a visit by The Mama.  She leaves on Thursday, but we've got a number of things to finish up before she goes. 
     Tomato seeds get planted tomorrow. So do greens and peas outside under a cold frame. For the next few weeks, we'll be taking care of bunnies for friends, while they finish up some other commitments. 
     I hope the chickens don't get jealous. 

Write for greeting card companies. (From the Penny Hoarder)

Excavations at an Israeli copper mine site have uncovered 3,000-year-old fabric. Plus, leather, seeds and other interesting bits...

Weird Al Yankovic's take on 'Word Crimes:'  English majors everywhere are cheering!
   (Click on this link, if you're having trouble with the one below.)

Mushy peas and spaghetti: a newspaper look at one of my favorite frugal bloggers, Life After Money.

A 23-year-old from the Ukraine 'becomes' a high-student student. Eventually, he also gets caught. (Take a look at the photo in the link -- does this guy really look 18 to you?)

The Royal Bank of Scotland posts another 2 BILLION pound annual loss. What's even scarier: this is the eighth year in a row for serious losses.

Shelter dogs as ball runners in professional tennis tournaments? Yes, in Brazil.


Have a great week.

Pikes Peak...hopefully the green will be starting soon. 

Is This What the Election's Really Going to Be Like?

Like Marge Simpson, I am beginning to wonder...

(I have to attend the Democratic caucus in our area of Colorado on March 1. Stay tuned for a report.)

Happy Anniversary

Today has been a celebration of sorts.

My dad died seven years ago, today. 

A big Dutch farmer, he tended to sit in the corner and say very little...but he filled the room.

I miss him so much.

The loss is probably sharper because The Mama is visiting for another week. She spent the day grieving, and trying desperately not to show it. We went to the store and bought a red rose. (Normally she puts it on his grave.)

 We went out to Applebee's for ribs. (Another tradition, apparently.) And she got ninety million phone calls, checking on how she was doing.

Didn't matter. She STILL missed him.

I do, too. Love you, Pa. See you soon.

A quilt from Paducah 2015 that reminded me of my dad...Farmer to the end

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


On a better note, thanks in great part to the help of Daughter #2 and Keith, we finally got the stove insert dragged in and set up in the fireplace. Had our first fire last night...and the stove, a Craigslist find, worked beautifully. Even the blower turned on and off like a champ.

The insert still needs some tinkering. The fireplace tiles need to be painted black. I want to black the stove up a bit, and polish its brass. But meanwhile, we'll have many more warm, cosy fires this season.

Chicken Humor

just what the Brick would do...

After all, chickens seem to appear and reappear in our lives.

Which is how we like it!

Life Truths

Did nothing go right today for you? Read this story -- 

My mother’s father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was really upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. “It’s not fair,” he told God as he drove home in frustration. “I’ve been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this.”

Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather’s small church in Chicago.

The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. “But most of all,” he said, “I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses wedged between two blankets.

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: “Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that.”

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.

There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking Him. Perhaps it is something we ought to try more often, “Thank you, God, for not allowing my car to start this morning.” He may have been saving your life from a car accident. “Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me lose my glasses; I’m sure they’ll be put to good use or there is a lesson to be learned.”

Always look for the “perfect mistakes.”

God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. – Phil 4:19

(Thanks for sharing, This Daily Headline)