Tuesday, June 15, 2010

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 24 new messages in 7 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

* Car Rental Question-Help - 9 messages, 4 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/aeefc75f26d7709a?hl=en
* The Americanization of the World - 4 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6f48285144a7baef?hl=en
* I have been blessed - 7 messages, 3 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/a98b48c0b4a02cde?hl=en
* What's the most overpriced used item you've seen for sale lately? - 1
messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c0e087b29491fbfd?hl=en
* "5 Places to Retire On Social Security Alone" - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/e36c1faf947e7496?hl=en
* Krogers ice cream recalled for undeclared tree nuts - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/765e745551181665?hl=en
* Krogers ice cream recalled for undeclared tree nuts. - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/cf739924fba87ece?hl=en

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Car Rental Question-Help
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/aeefc75f26d7709a?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:01 pm
From: Vic Smith


On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:04:27 -0400, "h" <tmclone@searchmachine.com>
wrote:

>

>
>Not in NY. I had to have one policy for my car and one for my van. The CAR
>is insured in NY, not the driver. By your explanation, since I own the car
>the DH drives, he wouldn't have to have insurance on it since, I already
>have insurance on my car. Insurance is not on the driver, it's on the car.
>At least it is here.
>

Probably every stats is different somehow.
I'm in Illinois and have State Farm ins for home and cars.
Best to check your policy and maybe ask your insurance agent if it's
not clear to you.
I insure 4 cars with four drivers in my household.
Each policy has a car and primary and secondary drivers described.
The ins agency has always juggled the primary driver for each car so
the lowest rates show up.
Some combination of car/driver works best premium wise because they
use the car model and driver age and driving record to determine
premium rates according to statistics.
They have their "science."
I've used the same agency for 36 years and with the multi-policy
discounts don't pay much for insurance.
Claims history also counts, and we've only had a few claims.
Only my daughter's car has collision, as it has enough worth to make
it practical. She also happens to be the listed primary driver on
that car.
I rented a car for a +4000 mile trip about 5 years ago because none of
the cars were really suitable for that trip except my daughter's, and
I don't like it. She loves it. Mitsu Eclipse.
The rental-company provided collision insurance was about what the OP
mentioned - think it was about $14 a day.
Checked to see that my credit card didn't cover it.
I called my ins agent and was told the collision on my daughters car
would cover the rental car only if nobody was driving my daughter's
car at the same time. IOW, garage it.
I just bought the rental car company's insurance.
Almost doubled the cost of the rental. Think the car itself was about
$17 day at the 2-week rental rate.
And I never really pushed for deeper answers once I made the decision
to go with car rental company insurance.
For instance, the collision insurance on my daughters car was based on
its value, and the rental car worth was almost double the replacement
value if I totaled it. It was a new Malibu with 4k miles on it.
Could have been a Caddy worth twice as much.
Would my insurance on the daughter's car which was worth about $10k
actually pay $20k if I totaled the Malibu or $40k for a rental Caddy?
I don't know, since I didn't ask.
There's usually gotchas all over the place when it hits the fan.
Felt comfortable with the rental company insurance once I accepted
that cost into the price. No miles charge for the rental.

--Vic


== 2 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 2:39 pm
From: George


On 6/15/2010 11:04 AM, h wrote:
> "George"<george@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
> news:hv7usr$abf$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> On 6/14/2010 7:28 PM, h wrote:
>>> "George"<george@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
>>> news:hv6147$6iu$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>> On 6/14/2010 11:08 AM, h wrote:
>>>>> "Mark Ratner"<RidgemontRat77884@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:a8fdf3dc-3dbd-4dc4-989b-f90fb14c731d@i31g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
>>>>>> Hello.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't own an automobile but will be renting a car soon for a trip.
>>>>>> The fact that I don't own a car means that I don't have car insurance,
>>>>>> either.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I looked at car rates through priceline, and I see that Priceline
>>>>>> offers $11 a day for collision coverage. Should I get this? Would that
>>>>>> be all the insurance I'd need in my case?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Or am I better off getting the insurance that the rental company
>>>>>> offers?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do I need both collision and liability coverage?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> You don't need any. Insurance is on a vehicle, not a driver. The rental
>>>>> company has insurance on their vehicles, so you're covered. You don't
>>>>> have
>>>>> to buy their extra coverage, either. You're all set with just the
>>>>> rental
>>>>> agreement.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Auto insurance is on a driver not the vehicle. Ever wonder why they are
>>>> so
>>>> interested in your driving record, age and who else might drive the car?
>>>> Additional coverage such as comprehensive is on the vehicle.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Wrong. You need a policy for EVERY car you own, not just one policy on
>>> the
>>> driver. The car is insured, not the driver. Hell, my grandmother had car
>>> insurance for 10 years after she gave up her driver's license. She kept
>>> the
>>> car for her home health aide to use to take her to doctors' appts.,
>>> shopping, etc. And the insurance was in her name as the owner of the car,
>>> not the aide's name (the driver.) They care about the primary driver's
>>> record because that's a good prediction of how likely the car is to get
>>> damaged, stolen, etc. At least that's the way it is in NY.
>>>
>>>
>> No, if you have multiple vehicles you still have only one policy on the
>> driver (owner) and listed drivers whether by name or class.
>>
>
> Not in NY. I had to have one policy for my car and one for my van. The CAR
> is insured in NY, not the driver. By your explanation, since I own the car
> the DH drives, he wouldn't have to have insurance on it since, I already
> have insurance on my car. Insurance is not on the driver, it's on the car.
> At least it is here.
>
>

I am confused. You state you own the car your husband drives and he has
insurance on it. Doesn't that mean he is insured and not the vehicle?

I am in PA and I still don't get the logic behind what you describe.
Liability insurance covers you for damage you inflict to others or their
property. So that means you are insured and not your vehicle. The reason
the vehicle is named is so that they can use the type of car as a factor
in determining the rate the rate.

If the car is insured what protects you in case you case large scale damage?

If say you hit me and the damage exceeded your liability coverage would
I sue you or say 2002 Chevy NY tag XYZ-123?

My description is exactly how it works in PA . You as the owner furnish
who in your household in addition to you will drive the vehicle.

== 3 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 2:45 pm
From: George


On 6/15/2010 4:01 PM, Vic Smith wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:04:27 -0400, "h"<tmclone@searchmachine.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>
>>
>> Not in NY. I had to have one policy for my car and one for my van. The CAR
>> is insured in NY, not the driver. By your explanation, since I own the car
>> the DH drives, he wouldn't have to have insurance on it since, I already
>> have insurance on my car. Insurance is not on the driver, it's on the car.
>> At least it is here.
>>
>
> Probably every stats is different somehow.
> I'm in Illinois and have State Farm ins for home and cars.
> Best to check your policy and maybe ask your insurance agent if it's
> not clear to you.
> I insure 4 cars with four drivers in my household.
> Each policy has a car and primary and secondary drivers described.
> The ins agency has always juggled the primary driver for each car so
> the lowest rates show up.
> Some combination of car/driver works best premium wise because they
> use the car model and driver age and driving record to determine
> premium rates according to statistics.
> They have their "science."
> I've used the same agency for 36 years and with the multi-policy
> discounts don't pay much for insurance.
> Claims history also counts, and we've only had a few claims.
> Only my daughter's car has collision, as it has enough worth to make
> it practical. She also happens to be the listed primary driver on
> that car.
> I rented a car for a +4000 mile trip about 5 years ago because none of
> the cars were really suitable for that trip except my daughter's, and
> I don't like it. She loves it. Mitsu Eclipse.
> The rental-company provided collision insurance was about what the OP
> mentioned - think it was about $14 a day.
> Checked to see that my credit card didn't cover it.
> I called my ins agent and was told the collision on my daughters car
> would cover the rental car only if nobody was driving my daughter's
> car at the same time. IOW, garage it.
> I just bought the rental car company's insurance.
> Almost doubled the cost of the rental. Think the car itself was about
> $17 day at the 2-week rental rate.
> And I never really pushed for deeper answers once I made the decision
> to go with car rental company insurance.
> For instance, the collision insurance on my daughters car was based on
> its value, and the rental car worth was almost double the replacement
> value if I totaled it. It was a new Malibu with 4k miles on it.
> Could have been a Caddy worth twice as much.
> Would my insurance on the daughter's car which was worth about $10k
> actually pay $20k if I totaled the Malibu or $40k for a rental Caddy?
> I don't know, since I didn't ask.

I used to be a frequent renter because of business travel and have had
different policies from different companies in different states and they
all had the same language which stated you were covered as long as it
was the same class on road vehicle.


> There's usually gotchas all over the place when it hits the fan.
> Felt comfortable with the rental company insurance once I accepted
> that cost into the price. No miles charge for the rental.
>
> --Vic

One thing that some rental companies are now asserting is loss of
revenue charges. Say you rent a car and have collision coverage. Say the
car is damaged and it takes 2 weeks to fix it. They will charge you for
the lost revenue.

== 4 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 3:27 pm
From: "h"

"George" <george@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:hv8rur$l7u$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> On 6/15/2010 11:04 AM, h wrote:
>> "George"<george@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:hv7usr$abf$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> On 6/14/2010 7:28 PM, h wrote:
>>>> "George"<george@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
>>>> news:hv6147$6iu$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>>> On 6/14/2010 11:08 AM, h wrote:
>>>>>> "Mark Ratner"<RidgemontRat77884@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:a8fdf3dc-3dbd-4dc4-989b-f90fb14c731d@i31g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
>>>>>>> Hello.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't own an automobile but will be renting a car soon for a trip.
>>>>>>> The fact that I don't own a car means that I don't have car
>>>>>>> insurance,
>>>>>>> either.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I looked at car rates through priceline, and I see that Priceline
>>>>>>> offers $11 a day for collision coverage. Should I get this? Would
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> be all the insurance I'd need in my case?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Or am I better off getting the insurance that the rental company
>>>>>>> offers?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Do I need both collision and liability coverage?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You don't need any. Insurance is on a vehicle, not a driver. The
>>>>>> rental
>>>>>> company has insurance on their vehicles, so you're covered. You don't
>>>>>> have
>>>>>> to buy their extra coverage, either. You're all set with just the
>>>>>> rental
>>>>>> agreement.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Auto insurance is on a driver not the vehicle. Ever wonder why they
>>>>> are
>>>>> so
>>>>> interested in your driving record, age and who else might drive the
>>>>> car?
>>>>> Additional coverage such as comprehensive is on the vehicle.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wrong. You need a policy for EVERY car you own, not just one policy on
>>>> the
>>>> driver. The car is insured, not the driver. Hell, my grandmother had
>>>> car
>>>> insurance for 10 years after she gave up her driver's license. She kept
>>>> the
>>>> car for her home health aide to use to take her to doctors' appts.,
>>>> shopping, etc. And the insurance was in her name as the owner of the
>>>> car,
>>>> not the aide's name (the driver.) They care about the primary driver's
>>>> record because that's a good prediction of how likely the car is to get
>>>> damaged, stolen, etc. At least that's the way it is in NY.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> No, if you have multiple vehicles you still have only one policy on the
>>> driver (owner) and listed drivers whether by name or class.
>>>
>>
>> Not in NY. I had to have one policy for my car and one for my van. The
>> CAR
>> is insured in NY, not the driver. By your explanation, since I own the
>> car
>> the DH drives, he wouldn't have to have insurance on it since, I already
>> have insurance on my car. Insurance is not on the driver, it's on the
>> car.
>> At least it is here.
>>
>>
>
> I am confused. You state you own the car your husband drives and he has
> insurance on it. Doesn't that mean he is insured and not the vehicle?
>
Nope. I own the vehicle but I DO NOT INSURE IT. He does. I could insure it,
sure, but since my mother gave it to me (was my dad's, but he died) and I've
never needed it, DH decided he wanted it, so he uses it. Therefore, he
insures it. Otherwise, I'd have 3 insurance policies (car, van, DH's car)
instead of just two. I don't mean to argue, but here in NY, insurance is on
CARS, not DRIVERS. Sorry, but that's how it is here.

The OP "might" need insurance, but the way things work in NY, if you rent a
car, the car rental place has ALREADY COVERED basic insurance so you don't
have to buy extra. Other states' laws may vary.


== 5 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 3:55 pm
From: Vic Smith


On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:45:06 -0400, George <george@nospam.invalid>
wrote:


>
>I used to be a frequent renter because of business travel and have had
>different policies from different companies in different states and they
>all had the same language which stated you were covered as long as it
>was the same class on road vehicle.
>
That's good to know.

>
>> There's usually gotchas all over the place when it hits the fan.
>> Felt comfortable with the rental company insurance once I accepted
>> that cost into the price. No miles charge for the rental.
>>
>
>One thing that some rental companies are now asserting is loss of
>revenue charges. Say you rent a car and have collision coverage. Say the
>car is damaged and it takes 2 weeks to fix it. They will charge you for
>the lost revenue.

A couple years ago I read about a case out west where the only road
in/out of a national park had been closed by a massive landslide.
Wasn't expected to be cleared for more than a month.
A guy who had his rental car stuck there was fighting the rental
company, who kept charging him some high daily rental fee.
If the insurance doesn't kill the numbers, and you find a good rate
with unlimited miles, it's possible to make a case for renting in some
instances, even if you own a car.
I just didn't trust my cars for that long vacation trip to Florida and
was close to junking the daily driver, which was rusting out and not
even worth fixing the A/C, which is mostly unnecessary up here but a
must have in Florida. But it was still easily good for another year
of my local commute. I wasn't ready to junk it.
The vacation rental from Enterprise cost me between $5-600 for 17
days. It was almost new and everything worked just fine. And if it
did break down I was led to believe I could just get a replacement at
another office. No worry about being stuck in Podunk with an old car
waiting for a maybe crooked mechanic to order parts, while biding my
time at the Bates Motel with Norman skulking about.
Fixing the A/C on my old car would have cost almost that, and be the
same money thrown away.
Never regretted it a bit. In fact, that made me a fan of the 2.2L
Ecotec which was in the Malibu.

--Vic

== 6 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 4:34 pm
From: Vic Smith


On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:27:26 -0400, "h" <tmclone@searchmachine.com>
wrote:

>

>>
>Nope. I own the vehicle but I DO NOT INSURE IT. He does. I could insure it,
>sure, but since my mother gave it to me (was my dad's, but he died) and I've
>never needed it, DH decided he wanted it, so he uses it. Therefore, he
>insures it. Otherwise, I'd have 3 insurance policies (car, van, DH's car)
>instead of just two. I don't mean to argue, but here in NY, insurance is on
>CARS, not DRIVERS. Sorry, but that's how it is here.
>

Here in Illinois driver age and driving record comes into play.
Zip code and sex too.
Assuming the same car and the same address an 18 year old driver in NY
with many speeding tickets on his record pays the same insurance
premium as a 35 year old woman with no violations?
If so, your insurance companies are run by real nice folks.
Or the good drivers are paying in for the bad drivers by state
mandate. I've heard that NJ has a "no fault" style of insurance.
And complaints about costs.
My liability only insurance - a kick above the law's minimum - is
about $250 a year. When my son was 18 his liability only was about
$1000, now it's near mine.
He's over the magic age of 25 now, and has a good driving record.
My daughter paid about the same as my son at 18, but she had full
coverage, that is collision, theft, etc.
It's always been a little chore to figure out how much the kids pay,
because we are all insured on all four cars.
I was paying $228 for my car and $248 for my wife's car before the
kids were insured, but those numbers went up when the kids could drive
those cars.
I just total the yearly insurance costs and subtract what I was paying
before. The kids split the remainder cost.

--Vic


== 7 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 5:11 pm
From: "h"

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:f32g1694nvadgi2002odaha5hgmu984kk2@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:27:26 -0400, "h" <tmclone@searchmachine.com>
> wrote:
>>Nope. I own the vehicle but I DO NOT INSURE IT. He does. I could insure
>>it,
>>sure, but since my mother gave it to me (was my dad's, but he died) and
>>I've
>>never needed it, DH decided he wanted it, so he uses it. Therefore, he
>>insures it. Otherwise, I'd have 3 insurance policies (car, van, DH's car)
>>instead of just two. I don't mean to argue, but here in NY, insurance is
>>on
>>CARS, not DRIVERS. Sorry, but that's how it is here.
>>
>
> Here in Illinois driver age and driving record comes into play.
> Zip code and sex too.
> Assuming the same car and the same address an 18 year old driver in NY
> with many speeding tickets on his record pays the same insurance
> premium as a 35 year old woman with no violations?
Nope. They insure each car based on the primary driver/owner(if relevant).
They want to know who will be the primary driver, and that's how they insure
the car. If you have a lot of tickets the same car will cost you a LOT more
to insure than it costs me (no tickets of any kind ever, 52 year old female
home owner) and I pay about $495/year for each of my vehicles. No collision,
but since I've never had an accident that was my fault in over 30 years of
driving (rear-ended while stopped at a traffic light once) I've had it,
since I only buy used cars for $5k or less. No-fault in NY pays whether
you're the idiot or not, which bugs me, since I'm sure it costs safe drivers
more money than it does at-fault drivers.


== 8 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 6:02 pm
From: Shawn Hirn


In article <hv6iu4$89p$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
"The Henchman" <yup@yup.org> wrote:

> "Mark Ratner" <RidgemontRat77884@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:a8fdf3dc-3dbd-4dc4-989b-f90fb14c731d@i31g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
> > Hello.
> >
> > I don't own an automobile but will be renting a car soon for a trip.
> > The fact that I don't own a car means that I don't have car insurance,
> > either.
> >
> > I looked at car rates through priceline, and I see that Priceline
> > offers $11 a day for collision coverage. Should I get this? Would that
> > be all the insurance I'd need in my case?
> >
> > Or am I better off getting the insurance that the rental company
> > offers?
> >
> > Do I need both collision and liability coverage?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
>
> Your credit card MAY offer free auto rental insurance. Ask them. If they
> do, you have to pay for the car rental with that card.

No credit card offers liability insurance for car renters, but many
offer CDW coverage.


== 9 of 9 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 6:04 pm
From: Shawn Hirn


In article <hv6147$6iu$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
George <george@nospam.invalid> wrote:

> On 6/14/2010 11:08 AM, h wrote:
> > "Mark Ratner"<RidgemontRat77884@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:a8fdf3dc-3dbd-4dc4-989b-f90fb14c731d@i31g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
> >> Hello.
> >>
> >> I don't own an automobile but will be renting a car soon for a trip.
> >> The fact that I don't own a car means that I don't have car insurance,
> >> either.
> >>
> >> I looked at car rates through priceline, and I see that Priceline
> >> offers $11 a day for collision coverage. Should I get this? Would that
> >> be all the insurance I'd need in my case?
> >>
> >> Or am I better off getting the insurance that the rental company
> >> offers?
> >>
> >> Do I need both collision and liability coverage?
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >
> > You don't need any. Insurance is on a vehicle, not a driver. The rental
> > company has insurance on their vehicles, so you're covered. You don't have
> > to buy their extra coverage, either. You're all set with just the rental
> > agreement.
> >
> >
>
>
> Auto insurance is on a driver not the vehicle. Ever wonder why they are
> so interested in your driving record, age and who else might drive the
> car? Additional coverage such as comprehensive is on the vehicle.
>
> http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/non-owners-policy.html
>
> And the OP doesn't have to buy the collision coverage but like all
> insurance they need to know if they can afford to pay out of pocket. If
> they damage the car they would be liable for the damage plus loss of use.

And if the OP causes physical damage to anyone, including his or her
passengers, he could be wiped out financially without liability
insurance.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: The Americanization of the World
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/6f48285144a7baef?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:02 pm
From: Forrest Hodge


On 6/15/2010 7:17 AM, Derek C wrote:
> On Jun 13, 6:56 pm, Forrest Hodge<f...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On 6/13/2010 12:46 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>>
>> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
>>> ecent surge in American culture over the world, a few
>>> countries like France and Germany are making plans to slow
>>> Americanization. By raising taxes and tariffs on foreign companies and
>>> investors, these countries are making it harder for American companies
>>> to profit overseas. Also, in Israel, a cultural rebellion is taking
>>> place. The Israeli government, in an attempt to slow down
>>> Americanization, now requires their radio stations to devote half
>>> their airtime to Hebrew songs (6). These are only the exceptions to
>>> the rule of American globalization, though. Americanization is now in
>>> full swing and sees no end in sight, particularly because many
>>
>> So the other countries are taxing/legislating their people into getting
>> to them to do what the government deems is best, not what the people
>> actually want. Sounds about par for the course across the pond.
>
>
> <entering anti-American rant mode>
>
> Personally I would rather starve to death than eat the fat filled
> rubbish they sell in Macdonalds and Burger King etc. No wonder there
> are so many grossly obese US citizens, and it's not only because they
> tend not to cycle very much. I am also trying to wean myself off tooth
> rotting Diet Coke. The average American consumes 20 times as much
> energy as the rest of the World's population.
>
> The UK has pretty much bankrupted itself supporting the unsanctioned
> and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which we have had no
> thanks whatsoever. President Obama is currently slating a major
> British Company for oil spill that could have just as easily happened
> to a US Oil Company. That oil would have been partly used to supply
> the US with all its huge, gas guzzling, SUVs
>
> <end anti-American rant mode>
>
> Derek C

You act as there aren't that many overweight people in Britain. I
believe that you guys aren't that far behind us in terms of fatness. It
could also be argued that the UK bankrupted itself by being the
welfare/nanny-state champion of the world. Taxation in Britain is high
to say the least. Britian's military budget is only 2.5% of the GDP Vs.
4.7% for the U.S. Whilst social welfare programs come in at around 26%
of GDP Vs. 19% for the U.S.

It seems that your welfare system is more to blame than the military
spending.


== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:47 pm
From: "His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-
Hammock"


On Jun 15, 4:02 pm, Forrest Hodge <f...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On 6/15/2010 7:17 AM, Derek C wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 13, 6:56 pm, Forrest Hodge<f...@hotmail.com>  wrote:
> >> On 6/13/2010 12:46 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>
> >> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> >>> ecent surge in American culture over the world, a few
> >>> countries like France and Germany are making plans to slow
> >>> Americanization. By raising taxes and tariffs on foreign companies and
> >>> investors, these countries are making it harder for American companies
> >>> to profit overseas. Also, in Israel, a cultural rebellion is taking
> >>> place. The Israeli government, in an attempt to slow down
> >>> Americanization, now requires their radio stations to devote half
> >>> their airtime to Hebrew songs (6). These are only the exceptions to
> >>> the rule of American globalization, though. Americanization is now in
> >>> full swing and sees no end in sight, particularly because many
>
> >> So the other countries are taxing/legislating their people into getting
> >> to them to do what the government deems is best, not what the people
> >> actually want. Sounds about par for the course across the pond.
>
> > <entering anti-American rant mode>
>
> > Personally I would rather starve to death than eat the fat filled
> > rubbish they sell in Macdonalds and Burger King etc. No wonder there
> > are so many grossly obese US citizens, and it's not only because they
> > tend not to cycle very much. I am also trying to wean myself off tooth
> > rotting Diet Coke. The average American consumes 20 times as much
> > energy as the rest of the World's population.
>
> > The UK has pretty much bankrupted itself supporting the unsanctioned
> > and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which we have had no
> > thanks whatsoever. President Obama is currently slating a major
> > British Company for oil spill that could have just as easily happened
> > to a US Oil Company. That oil would have been partly used to supply
> > the US with all its huge, gas guzzling, SUVs
>
> > <end anti-American rant mode>
>
> > Derek C
>
> You act as there aren't that many overweight people in Britain. I
> believe that you guys aren't that far behind us in terms of fatness. It
> could also be argued that the UK bankrupted itself by being the
> welfare/nanny-state champion of the world. Taxation in Britain is high
> to say the least. Britian's military budget is only 2.5% of the GDP Vs.
> 4.7% for the U.S. Whilst social welfare programs come in at around 26%
> of GDP  Vs. 19% for the U.S.
>
> It seems that your welfare system is more to blame than the military
> spending.

I think the Medical Industry is helping to break down America's
economy more than any welfare state.

Their share of GDP is the highest, and you can't even put them on a
diet because they are really powerful.


== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 2:27 pm
From: Forrest Hodge


On 6/15/2010 4:47 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> On Jun 15, 4:02 pm, Forrest Hodge<f...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On 6/15/2010 7:17 AM, Derek C wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Jun 13, 6:56 pm, Forrest Hodge<f...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 6/13/2010 12:46 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>>
>>>> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
>>>>> ecent surge in American culture over the world, a few
>>>>> countries like France and Germany are making plans to slow
>>>>> Americanization. By raising taxes and tariffs on foreign companies and
>>>>> investors, these countries are making it harder for American companies
>>>>> to profit overseas. Also, in Israel, a cultural rebellion is taking
>>>>> place. The Israeli government, in an attempt to slow down
>>>>> Americanization, now requires their radio stations to devote half
>>>>> their airtime to Hebrew songs (6). These are only the exceptions to
>>>>> the rule of American globalization, though. Americanization is now in
>>>>> full swing and sees no end in sight, particularly because many
>>
>>>> So the other countries are taxing/legislating their people into getting
>>>> to them to do what the government deems is best, not what the people
>>>> actually want. Sounds about par for the course across the pond.
>>
>>> <entering anti-American rant mode>
>>
>>> Personally I would rather starve to death than eat the fat filled
>>> rubbish they sell in Macdonalds and Burger King etc. No wonder there
>>> are so many grossly obese US citizens, and it's not only because they
>>> tend not to cycle very much. I am also trying to wean myself off tooth
>>> rotting Diet Coke. The average American consumes 20 times as much
>>> energy as the rest of the World's population.
>>
>>> The UK has pretty much bankrupted itself supporting the unsanctioned
>>> and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which we have had no
>>> thanks whatsoever. President Obama is currently slating a major
>>> British Company for oil spill that could have just as easily happened
>>> to a US Oil Company. That oil would have been partly used to supply
>>> the US with all its huge, gas guzzling, SUVs
>>
>>> <end anti-American rant mode>
>>
>>> Derek C
>>
>> You act as there aren't that many overweight people in Britain. I
>> believe that you guys aren't that far behind us in terms of fatness. It
>> could also be argued that the UK bankrupted itself by being the
>> welfare/nanny-state champion of the world. Taxation in Britain is high
>> to say the least. Britian's military budget is only 2.5% of the GDP Vs.
>> 4.7% for the U.S. Whilst social welfare programs come in at around 26%
>> of GDP Vs. 19% for the U.S.
>>
>> It seems that your welfare system is more to blame than the military
>> spending.
>
> I think the Medical Industry is helping to break down America's
> economy more than any welfare state.
>
> Their share of GDP is the highest, and you can't even put them on a
> diet because they are really powerful.

The medical industry in this country is indeed powerful. It will be
interesting to see how the universal health care idea plays out. You can
bet that some doctors may not be interested in seeing patients on the
government-run health insurance plan if the plan doesn't pay out as much
as current private-sector insurance plans do. If doctors and medical
companies don't budge, then the cost of the government plan (as a whole)
will just go up. And that could easily mean more taxes.

I don't see why there couldn't have been an opt out policy where a
person could forgo the public health care (in an instance where the
person already has health insurance coverage from their job, or are
already on a private plan that they are happy with), and in exchange get
a tax break for whatever their contribution to the system would've been.
Seems that would be fair to everyone.


== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 2:37 pm
From: "His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-
Hammock"


On Jun 15, 5:27 pm, Forrest Hodge <f...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On 6/15/2010 4:47 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>
>
>
> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> > On Jun 15, 4:02 pm, Forrest Hodge<f...@hotmail.com>  wrote:
> >> On 6/15/2010 7:17 AM, Derek C wrote:
>
> >>> On Jun 13, 6:56 pm, Forrest Hodge<f...@hotmail.com>    wrote:
> >>>> On 6/13/2010 12:46 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>
> >>>> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> >>>>> ecent surge in American culture over the world, a few
> >>>>> countries like France and Germany are making plans to slow
> >>>>> Americanization. By raising taxes and tariffs on foreign companies and
> >>>>> investors, these countries are making it harder for American companies
> >>>>> to profit overseas. Also, in Israel, a cultural rebellion is taking
> >>>>> place. The Israeli government, in an attempt to slow down
> >>>>> Americanization, now requires their radio stations to devote half
> >>>>> their airtime to Hebrew songs (6). These are only the exceptions to
> >>>>> the rule of American globalization, though. Americanization is now in
> >>>>> full swing and sees no end in sight, particularly because many
>
> >>>> So the other countries are taxing/legislating their people into getting
> >>>> to them to do what the government deems is best, not what the people
> >>>> actually want. Sounds about par for the course across the pond.
>
> >>> <entering anti-American rant mode>
>
> >>> Personally I would rather starve to death than eat the fat filled
> >>> rubbish they sell in Macdonalds and Burger King etc. No wonder there
> >>> are so many grossly obese US citizens, and it's not only because they
> >>> tend not to cycle very much. I am also trying to wean myself off tooth
> >>> rotting Diet Coke. The average American consumes 20 times as much
> >>> energy as the rest of the World's population.
>
> >>> The UK has pretty much bankrupted itself supporting the unsanctioned
> >>> and immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which we have had no
> >>> thanks whatsoever. President Obama is currently slating a major
> >>> British Company for oil spill that could have just as easily happened
> >>> to a US Oil Company. That oil would have been partly used to supply
> >>> the US with all its huge, gas guzzling, SUVs
>
> >>> <end anti-American rant mode>
>
> >>> Derek C
>
> >> You act as there aren't that many overweight people in Britain. I
> >> believe that you guys aren't that far behind us in terms of fatness. It
> >> could also be argued that the UK bankrupted itself by being the
> >> welfare/nanny-state champion of the world. Taxation in Britain is high
> >> to say the least. Britian's military budget is only 2.5% of the GDP Vs.
> >> 4.7% for the U.S. Whilst social welfare programs come in at around 26%
> >> of GDP  Vs. 19% for the U.S.
>
> >> It seems that your welfare system is more to blame than the military
> >> spending.
>
> > I think the Medical Industry is helping to break down America's
> > economy more than any welfare state.
>
> > Their share of GDP is the highest, and you can't even put them on a
> > diet because they are really powerful.
>
> The medical industry in this country is indeed powerful. It will be
> interesting to see how the universal health care idea plays out. You can
> bet that some doctors may not be interested in seeing patients on the
> government-run health insurance plan if the plan doesn't pay out as much
> as current private-sector insurance plans do. If doctors and medical
> companies don't budge, then the cost of the government plan (as a whole)
> will just go up. And that could easily mean more taxes.
>
> I don't see why there couldn't have been an opt out policy where a
> person could forgo the public health care (in an instance where the
> person already has health insurance coverage from their job, or are
> already on a private plan that they are happy with), and in exchange get
> a tax break for whatever their contribution to the system would've been.
> Seems that would be fair to everyone.

I believe Germany has such a system.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: I have been blessed
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/a98b48c0b4a02cde?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:13 pm
From: Jim A


On 06/15/2010 08:41 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> I know that in the Christian culture of domination over Nature it
> doesn't mean much, but I have been blessed with a couple of trees in
> my backyard. I said blessed because I didn't plant them, just put a
> hammock between them and voila! The Movement of Tantra-Hammock is
> born.

Why not take you hammock with you?

http://www.pedersen.info/en/Pedersen_en/Models.html


--
www.slowbicyclemovement.org - enjoy the ride


== 2 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:24 pm
From: "Bill Sornson"


Jim A wrote:
> On 06/15/2010 08:41 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
>> I know that in the Christian culture of domination over Nature it
>> doesn't mean much, but I have been blessed with a couple of trees in
>> my backyard. I said blessed because I didn't plant them, just put a
>> hammock between them and voila! The Movement of Tantra-Hammock is
>> born.
>
> Why not take you hammock with you?

Maybe next he'll tell you about a successful bowel movement.

Bill "vindicated plonk" S.


== 3 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:24 pm
From: "His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-
Hammock"


On Jun 15, 4:13 pm, Jim A <j...@averyjim.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 06/15/2010 08:41 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>
> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> > I know that in the Christian culture of domination over Nature it
> > doesn't mean much, but I have been blessed with a couple of trees in
> > my backyard. I said blessed because I didn't plant them, just put a
> > hammock between them and voila! The Movement of Tantra-Hammock is
> > born.
>
> Why not take you hammock with you?

Where, where there's no mosquitoes?

I already found a solution against the blood-suckers, but I want you
to think what would have been my best strategy.

== 4 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:30 pm
From: "His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-
Hammock"


Hey Jim, you live in former Roman territories (assuming you live south
of the Hadrian's Wall), why you think this happened?

Rome: Why Jesus abandoned an Empire that embraced him?

Many reasons are cited for the fall or Rome, including the embracing
of Christianity, but why did Jesus himself drop a whole Empire that
stood firm while being Pagan?

"It was Gibbon's belief that Christianity was an important
contributing factor to this. As a result of embracing the Christian
faith to a greater or lesser degree, the populace became less
interested in the worldly here-and-now and more willing to wait for
the rewards of the hereafter."

http://www.helium.com/items/1122918-causes-of-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-effect-of-christianity-on-roman-empire

This Jesus is sure mysterious in his ways, and as soon as he has an
empire, he dumps it overboard. Are we taking notes to be applied to
the Modern World?


------------------------------------------------------

THE WISE TIBETAN MONKEY SAYS

"Empires are good for nothing, and so is Jesus"

http://webspawner.com/users/BANANAREVOLUTION

== 5 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:52 pm
From: Jim A


On 06/15/2010 09:30 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> Hey Jim, you live in former Roman territories (assuming you live south
> of the Hadrian's Wall), why you think this happened?

I live east of Offa's dyke too!

> Rome: Why Jesus abandoned an Empire that embraced him?
>
> Many reasons are cited for the fall or Rome, including the embracing
> of Christianity, but why did Jesus himself drop a whole Empire that
> stood firm while being Pagan?
>
> "It was Gibbon's belief that Christianity was an important
> contributing factor to this. As a result of embracing the Christian
> faith to a greater or lesser degree, the populace became less
> interested in the worldly here-and-now and more willing to wait for
> the rewards of the hereafter."
>
> http://www.helium.com/items/1122918-causes-of-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-effect-of-christianity-on-roman-empire
>
> This Jesus is sure mysterious in his ways, and as soon as he has an
> empire, he dumps it overboard. Are we taking notes to be applied to
> the Modern World?

Nope. If I had a hammock in my garden, I'd be on it too!

--
www.slowbicyclemovement.org - enjoy the ride


== 6 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:57 pm
From: "His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the Movement of Tantra-
Hammock"


On Jun 15, 4:52 pm, Jim A <j...@averyjim.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 06/15/2010 09:30 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
>
> Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> > Hey Jim, you live in former Roman territories (assuming you live south
> > of the Hadrian's Wall), why you think this happened?
>
> I live east of Offa's dyke too!

You are a lucky one. If it wasn't for Jesus, you'd probably be taking
orders from Rome now.

>
>
>
> > Rome: Why Jesus abandoned an Empire that embraced him?
>
> > Many reasons are cited for the fall or Rome, including the embracing
> > of Christianity, but why did Jesus himself drop a whole Empire that
> > stood firm while being Pagan?
>
> > "It was Gibbon's belief that Christianity was an important
> > contributing factor to this. As a result of embracing the Christian
> > faith to a greater or lesser degree, the populace became less
> > interested in the worldly here-and-now and more willing to wait for
> > the rewards of the hereafter."
>
> >http://www.helium.com/items/1122918-causes-of-the-fall-of-the-roman-e...
>
> > This Jesus is sure mysterious in his ways, and as soon as he has an
> > empire, he dumps it overboard. Are we taking notes to be applied to
> > the Modern World?
>
> Nope.  If I had a hammock in my garden, I'd be on it too!
>
> --www.slowbicyclemovement.org- enjoy the ride

See, I'm in the Slow Movement but you are not in the Hammock
movement. ;)


== 7 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 2:06 pm
From: Jim A


On 06/15/2010 09:57 PM, His Highness the TibetanMonkey, Creator of the
Movement of Tantra-Hammock wrote:
> See, I'm in the Slow Movement but you are not in the Hammock
> movement. ;)

Unfortunately I only have one tree in the garden, and it's a 6' high
mountain ash - not strong enough to support a hammock. Can I 'adopt' a
couple of trees instead? Come to think of it my godmother adopted a
tree for me, so I only need one more!

--
www.slowbicyclemovement.org - enjoy the ride

==============================================================================
TOPIC: What's the most overpriced used item you've seen for sale lately?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c0e087b29491fbfd?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 1:51 pm
From: Al


On Jun 15, 2:37 pm, Ohioguy <n...@none.net> wrote:
>    My wife and I were driving back home yesterday when we heard a
> program called "Trading Post" on the radio.  Some guy called in with 22
> 8 track tapes - country music - said he wanted 100 bucks!
>
>    I was amazed, truly.  I could see him getting maybe $10 or $20 from
> the right person, but these weren't shrinkwrapped or anything like that,
> and he didn't mention any rarities.
>
>    What's the most overpriced thing you've seen lately?

I saw a vintage pink girl's Schwinn bike at the SA for $200. I realize
these have collector value, but I'm all about functionality. They also
had a men's 26" department store level bike for $120. It's amazing how
differently garage sales and entities value things. That's part of the
fun of garage sales. You can sometimes make assumptions about pricing
from the early things you see. You still have to check it all out as
that special item could be back there.

"Trading Post" sounds like the Canadian station AM800 show.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: "5 Places to Retire On Social Security Alone"
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/e36c1faf947e7496?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 4:50 pm
From: aesthete8


http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20100614/ts_usnews/5placestoretireonsocialsecurityalone

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Krogers ice cream recalled for undeclared tree nuts
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/765e745551181665?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 5:24 pm
From: zeez


http://con.st/10007794

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Krogers ice cream recalled for undeclared tree nuts.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/cf739924fba87ece?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jun 15 2010 5:28 pm
From: enough


http://con.st/10007794


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