The Top 10 Reasons

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Archives for November 2008

The Top 10 Reasons To Not Text Message

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1. Over the past couple of years text messaging has become the new “in thing” for communication. I have not fallen into this trap…yet. Sure its only another $5 on my cell phone plan with T-Mobile but I already pay $50 a month to be able to communicate with people. Why would I want to pay more to be able to accomplish the same goal of sending communication.

2. How many times have you seen people who get in a text-a-thon with their friend and that same conversation ends up lasting 15 minutes waiting for them to respond when a quick 3 minute or less phone call would suffice.

3. What about when the message you are trying to send to your friend gets misinterpreted. The problem with this form of communication is that it is meant to be a short message but sometimes it can come off as being…short. We all hate it when somebody is short with us because it shows they do not want to listen or do not care. Its so easy to jump to conclusion on what somebody is trying to get at but it probably is not what the intended message is all about. This results in a phone call having to be made to clarify what the intentions of the last remark were. This adds on more time to a communication period which could have been easily reduced be half through a quick phone call.

4. Without being able to hear somebody’s voice you really can’t get a feel for what they are trying to say. Without hearing the tone of the persons voice its hard to tell if they are joking, being friendly, or being mean. Of course you can assume what they are trying to do and you are probably right some 83% of the time but what if your not. Here is a good example. Text “Hey Asshole” to any of your friends while keeping a straight face, a mad face, or a happy face. See if they can determine how you are trying to express yourself to them.

5. Everyone assumes that you have a texting plan. I don’t because I prefer to call. At first it started with my ex-boss at Quicken Loans. He texted me all the time and it cost me $.10 to receive or send a text. I informed him I did not have the plan but he kept doing it. So I told him for every text he sent me I would charge him $.25. To collect I would go by his desk and take from his loose change jar at least a dollar worth of change ahead of time and inform him he has a credit with me now. I informed him about the transaction and he was fine with it. Of course they implemented a policy where every person who was a Senior Mortgage Banker had to have a BlackBerry so this put the kabosh on texting because now we were receiving emails. This did not make me happy because now my phone bill went up $15 for that service.

6. The art of the conversation is going to be lost. Even I have noticed a slight decrease in how I can articulate with friends and family members because I am on the computer so much. There are some people who are quite better are texting than I ever hope to be and getting paid for it.

7. I like the idea of a short conversation but how many times have you texted somebody and what the conversation was about ended in a one to one exchange of text messages. Probably never. There always has to be at least 5-8 text messages relayed to end the conversation. Is this being effective or abusing what the text message is intended for?

8. Its rude…in a way. Its better than somebody picking up their phone when your out at dinner or in a public place. However, now since you must wait to receive a text back to inform the rest of the company you are with what the other person is doing it puts a hault to whatever the party was talking about. You can’t just move on because now you are distracted waiting for a return text message.

9. Even if you have your phone on vibrate it will be going off twice as much now as if you would have just called once. Remember that every conversation takes more than 5 texts to complete so your dumb phone is going to be vibrating all over the place up to a minimum of 5 more times distracting those around you.

10. Text messaging can bring down empires because now there is actual documentation of a message. Don’t think its a big deal. Ask the former Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick.

The Top 10 Reasons To Drive The Speed Limit

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1. Last week I was driving to Detroit Metro Airport for some out of town business. Driving on I-94 I noticed a bunch of police cars. It was a little strange to me because it was around 11:30am. I am use to the early morning speed traps and the after noon ones but not at 11:30am. It was a little much. Four Michigan State Troopers were parked about 1/4 of a mile away from each other. Of course one was sitting behind a guard rail far enough back where you could not see him until you past him. The next one was the chase car. He was pulling people over that the first police car had radared. The classic hide and go seek tactic.

2. Getting back from my trip the other day my girlfriend picked me up at the airport around 7:30pm. Driving back on I-94 the same thing was going on. We drove through two speed traps in a matter of 5 miles. Why the hell are all of these speed traps going on?

3. Today I received my answer. The Detroit News had a big article about all of the speed traps going on in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. It seems that Michigan has been voted as the worst state for speed traps by the National Motorists Association. Really, out of all 50 states Michigan came in at #1? I guess I can believe that because Michigan is the “Motor Capital Of The World.” Even today I noticed a small speed trap near Hayes and 17 Mile Road. One Clinton Township Police Officer was in a parking lot and another one was 1/8 mile up ahead with somebody pulled over.

4. Reading more into the article it states how the Police Departments have been writing more speeding tickets than in previous years. The reason behind it is to make up for loss revenues from property taxes with all of the foreclosed homes. Michigan is losing their butts out on both of those because of the economic crisis. The way I see this is that the local governments are working a little harder to keep their jobs now because they can’t just send you a increased property tax bill. So they tax you on your driving habits more than your car insurance company does.

5. Isn’t this ridiculous? Instead of actually solving real crimes we now have our cops out there looking to bust you for going 5 over. Maybe instead of having to make up for loss revenue the cities and counties need to revamp the way they collect taxes. It sucks how so many of the problems in the U.S all comes back to taxes.

6. I am not a fan of speed limits to begin with. Well at least on highways. In the city limits I understand there is some need for order but on the highway it should be up the user to decide how fast or slow they want to go. An accident at 70 mph or one at 100 mph is going to have the same result. If you can’t handle your car at 70 mph than you probably should not be worrying about other people driving at 100mph. You should get off the road and let somebody else drive.

7. Now, you are going to have to think twice about going to pass somebody on a local road or highway. Speeding up to pass somebody might result in you drving right into a speed trap. This comes with a guaranteed speeding ticket and a increase in your car insurance.

8. Utica Police Chief Michael Reaves said when he first started working as a cop 30 years ago it was not about increasing revenues. Now if his department does not produce any revenues they probably are not going to stay open. Isn’t that a bitch! I didn’t know that the Police were “in business.” I understand without revenue you can’t hire more police officers to protect the streets. Being a police officer is a risky job sometimes and it takes a unique individual to want to be one. I just wish they were not out there trying to write tickets just to keep their jobs because that’s what they are really doing.

9. Over my last 12 years of driving I usually drive the posted speed limit for the sole purpose of not having to pay a ticket. My friends hate when I drive because I go “so slow.” I always put the cruise control on at whatever the posted speed limit is just to make sure. Driving 5 mph faster is usually not going to make a difference in getting where I need to go. To combat faster driving I try to leave on time to make appointments. Its really that simple.

10. I know that by writing this its probably a bad omen. Even when I noticed the speed trap today I was doing 5 mph over because I was trying to pass somebody. From now on I think I am going to let people go by me and move behind them. I do not like supporting the local governments in this way. Especially knowing all of the troubles people in Michigan are dealing with. Maybe we do not need as many cops out there. If all they are doing is pulling people and not solving crimes then what good are they doing? Is speeding a crime? If so, then why does the Government allow car companies to produce cars that go faster than 70 mph? I’m baffled. Oh wait. Its because the Government needs me to go faster so they can get money to keep their jobs.

The Top 10 Reasons Why Unemployment Compensation Should Be Eliminated

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1. The State of Michigan has decided to raise the unemployment tax rate to all of the businesses in the state. The Detroit News reported it and it just shows how messed up things really are in Michigan.

2. Some 40,000 businesses all received a letter stating that they need to pay more into the fund to help cover the amount of money going out to unemployed workers. I know if I was a business owner how pissed I would be. They already own a business in a state where the economy is the worst in the nation.

3. The unemployment debacle is only going to get worse over the next year or so. GM, Ford, and Chrysler are all on the brink of going bankrupt and do you know how many more people are employed by them?

4. Interestingly enough, the Detroit News had another article interviewing the Mayor of Warren James Fouts. He said if any of those companies go under some 23,000 people work for one of the Big 3 or its suppliers. This does not include the 3 jobs which live off of the auto workers like a barber, auto mechanic, deli owner, or your friendly bartender. This is just for the City of Warren. So what happens to the unemployment fund now? Do we really think a company who is going under is going to be ale to put money into the fund to help with unemployment benefits for 20,000 of its ex-employees? Probably not.

5. The unemployment assistance program has good intentions. Its there to help people make their 30 year mortgage payments and to buy groceries. But what do you do when probably 10% of your states workforce is going to be unemployed within the next year? The State of Michigan can keep borrowing money from Uncle Sam but only to put itself deeper in debt. The unemployment benefits is starting to backfire in a extreme way right now.

6. I know a thing or two about unemployment. Since December of 2007 I have been out of work. I collected unemployment benefits for the first time ever this past year. Sure, it helped me get by but I did something most people do not do. I have this habit of saving money for times like this. I always make sure I have enough money saved for at least a years worth of expenses. Some people say its hard to do but I disagree. The way I look at it is I got back all of the income taxes I have paid over the last two years. I would rather of been working but I feel like I am back at square one now.

7. Since I am still looking for a job and my unemployment benefits ran out after the second extension I am starting to use my savings. Of course I do not want too but that’s what its there for. I am against the whole unemployment benefits to begin with. Its not that I do not want to help people its that the system raises taxes on business owners, employs people who provide no benefit to the economy. An economist would call people who work at unemployment agencies a “net negative” employee. Their job was created by taxes to pay out more taxes. I found some info that the State of Michigan let go some 8,500 unemployment agency workers last year.

8. The real problem is income taxes. We are so heavily taxed that these programs almost are a necessity. Our way of life revolves around taxes and its getting out of control. What the Governor Granholm should do is close down the Michigan Unemployment Agency all together. This would save millions of dollars a year in operating costs. Put money back into business owners pockets to re-invest in their businesses.

9. The only way this is going to work is with a change in mind set. If we get rid of unemployment benefits people are going to know they cannot have a seasonal job and collect in the winter. They will have to get out there and work. They will have to learn how to save for a rainy day. They will have to take more responsibility for their own lives and not rely on the Government to bail them out.

10. Imagine if we could get rid of income taxes all together. This way you had control of the money you earned. If you want to blow it all on stuff, then its your own fault. If you want to be responsible, then you are that much further ahead.