What about This???

I want to put folks to work. Now that I'm unemployed, it's a good time to really get into this.

I have a great GREEN idea!

Take the throw away clothes that they can't sell at thrift stores and make them into rugs, bags, and seat cushions.

I was reading and article in the back-section of Mother Earth News online about frugal living, making do and living on less. One of the ideas was to use everything more than once.

Living on Less

I volunteered at the local Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store while I was doing my "Sweat Equity" for my home. I worked a lot in the clothing department. There was a lot of stuff we couldn't use - clothes that just ended up in the trash. Torn, dirty, stained, and so on. Not that it could be used by someone else, but it truly ended up in the landfill.

Why not use that material and make something useful out of it??? It would keep it out of the landfill, and keep our floors warm and decorate our homes.

Rag rugs sell for a mint! Have you noticed? Even the ones in big-box stores. And that stuff is all new material. It needs to be made: loomed, spending petro-fuel to make it. Why not use something that's already been made?

This whole idea would put 10+ people to work, keep stuff out of the landfill and recycle, and create a usable, beautiful object.

I talked to the head of the thrift store, and he sees no problem. They have to pay to take it to the dump, and this way they actually get to sell it - (a 50-gallon trash bag) to me to make into something.

It supports them, it keeps stuff out of the landfill, makes a beautiful object, gets people working....

About the people - they don't have to be hi-brain folks, but a couple need to be a bit specialized. I'll start by washing all the stuff, to remove any dryer sheets, softeners, cigarette smoke, and pet dander.

I can hire moms at home for a lot of it - making the clothing into strips and braiding it up. That can all be done by moms with little kids at home. They can do it while watching TV.

Sewing the strands together will be a little more specialized. I'll need a couple of heavy-duty sewing machines. Then, I'll need somebody to ship the finished items out to the buyers.

Sales can be handled on the internet or by catalogs. Colors will vary, but fabric content will be matched as closely as possible. That will take a little bit of training. Nothing about this is hard. It gives people jobs. It makes something nice.

Do you think we stand a chance???

I'm accepting rag clothing now, and I'll post a prototype photo as soon as I have a sample made up.

Unemployed Again...

I've joined the 20-25% of unemployed workers who don't/can't collect unemployment benefits.

I lost my position on Thursday - not completely unexpected, but unpleasant news nonetheless. It is a little scary, because the company is not based in the US, and does not pay into the unemployment benefit system. I can't collect because there is nothing on file for the last 2 years. No employment on file. Great!

They've given a small severance package, and as long as I'm frugal, I can make it till May 1 - Barely.

So, I'm de-compressing this week - maybe next as well. I'll work on my home, clean, prep, update the resume, and so on.

Then, I'll go to looking.

I will mention that I've already got one thing on Monday that may lead to a position in April. Timing was good on that one...


On another topic, I heard God yelling at me this morning to get OUT OF BED and GO!!!

I had the clock set for 10:am. A friend called at 10:30, and then a fellow actually knocked (not using the doorbell) very loudly at 11. So, I got up, showered and got to luncheon with my friend.

The fellow was an evangelist for a local Baptist church. If that wasn't God telling me to get up, I don't know what was. So, I ended up going to McKay's and picked up 4 books. I still have a little more credit with them.

So far, a good day.

I'll finish pulling stuff out of the way to move my dresser, and next week I can begin putting my craft room together.

My neighbor had a great idea, too -- Instead of putting down flooring when I pull the carpet in the living room, have the concrete finished in the color palette I want. A lot cheaper than flooring, but I won't get to put the heated floor system on it. Rugs work...

Democracy is Dead

The great American Democracy Experiment has died.

Strong words, right? But it's true. The Supreme Court has determined that a corporation has the same human rights as you or me. They just have more money to protect their rights.

I've wracked my brain to come up with a business that would put people to work. The things we are good at are finger-pointing, placing blame, complaining, putting "me first" and a lot other members of the 7 Deadly Sins. We break the 10 Commandments at will. It's just "inconvenient" to follow the rules.

Anything we can make, another country can make cheaper, faster, and sell for less than we can afford to. Our "Standard of Living" has priced us out of the business of making a living.

We let untold numbers of humans and animals die in New Orleans. It still has not been rebuilt. I doubt it ever will be.

I'm truly sick at what's happening in this country. We've legislated ourselves out of a way of life.

There was an entire generation that was never allowed to learn what it's like to fail. They were given "awards of attempt" for being in class. The worst was made to feel better than the best. Ayn Rand wrote a book called "The Fountainhead" that perfectly explains this phenomenon. These kids were never allowed to face disappointment or a broken heart. How are these (now adult) people supposed to succeed in life? How are they supposed to face disappointment? With a gun?

We wonder why the economic recovery is not happening. We complain about the government handouts to keep the place going, and the tax burden it places on all of us - but without these handouts, there would be a complete breakdown of society. Yep, we can't pay the tax burden. Nope, we have no jobs - and we aren't likely to anytime soon. Yep, the place is going to hell in a handbasket....

We are all helping it to happen. Get of your F-ing ass and do something! Quit pointing fingers and make something! Get that cell phone (made in China) out of your ear, turn off that computer (made in India) and get out there and get your hands dirty. Learn to fail! Learn to succeed! Think and use that brain of yours before it turns to mush! Plant a tree instead of cutting one down.

Question authority! Who says??? Why???? Who made you God???

Think about what you are doing. Think a couple of generations beyond your immediate needs. Stop taking that anti-depressant, put the candy away, stop drinking soda that destroys your health, and get off your ass. Do something!!!

Nobody reads this blog. It's too bad. I just might have something to say.

New Activities....

Online Businesses....

I met a couple of ladies from the same hosting company as myself, and we are getting together to develop our sites a bit better and bring our webhost to the community.

This truly is a great opportunity to develop an online business....

For a small amount of money, you get the same tools as companies that want $5K or more - and the domain belongs to you - it isn't a subdomain or something that has no worth. You can market your site in many ways, including Google Adsense, which makes a tidy sum if your site is in the right niche.

The process of developing your site is like getting an MBA in a box. The same course is sold at universities all over the world, and we want to bring the course here. It's only 13 weeks long, but it's quite intense!!!

Man! Is it ever intense!

So, the three of us will be bringing the opportunity to folks around our area. Even if we offer the classes at the local senior center, it doesn't matter. The point is that folks can augment their incomes and possibly even quit their day jobs.

In this economic world, this is a an opportunity not to be missed.

I hope any local readers will at least check it out.

Doing the Right Thing

I was shopping at Walgreens last week. I have to get my shampoo there, as it's cheaper than anyplace else, and it's very hard to find.

So, I'm doing some shopping, and I get through the check-out, get to the car, and discover something on the bottom rack of the cart. I had a choice - take it back in and pay for it, or put it in my car and accept the gift.

I stopped right there and said to myself "the right thing to do is..." and I walked back to the store and paid for it.

There was no question that I had to do the right thing. It was strange. I guess I've gotten a lot better than I used to be. That stuff was expensive! It was a laundry additive I like.

The cashier was impressed. I just felt better inside.