Lifes Little Thoughts

This Recession is here to Stay Part 2

Andy Ash — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:10:23 +0000

After the Great Depression, there have arguably been four successive generations: the World War II generation, the “baby boomers”, the “X” generation, and now the “millennials”. Since then, the American economy has consistently expanded with occasional recessions. Economic policy in this country, whether public or private, has always assumed that the next generation will always be more numerous than the current. This has created a “pyramid scheme” approach to the economy.
For the first time since the Great Depression, the current tax paying and consuming generation does not outnumber its predecessor. Because of this, there are fewer consumer dollars to be spent and less income to be taxed. In short, the economic engine that drives the country is no longer a V-8, but has been reduced to a V-6. The good news is that the millennial generation has been estimated to be even larger than the baby boom generation. However, we are a good 10 years away from the oldest members of that generation entering the workforce and injecting much-needed octane into our indebted economy.

This Recession is here to Stay Part 1

Andy Ash — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:04:59 +0000

The economy will not recover fully from the current “economic downturn” for at least a decade. With that in mind I would recommend improving your home instead of moving. Call these guys for a great deal on home improvement. For the past year, the experts have been struggling to agree on an explanation as to how and why this happened. Some have pointed directly to the collapse of the housing market as the primary cause of the recession. Others have fingered the recklessness of Wall Street. These theories have one thing in common; they ignore the big picture.

Why I Teach Part 2

Andy Ash — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:56:56 +0000

While a handful of teachers may behave that way, I find the majority to be dedicated professionals who teach because they love teaching. Why? Perhaps it’s because we teachers are an idyllic sort. We believe in passing on knowledge to the future. For me however, the reasons are infinitely more selfish.

For me, teaching is all about the look on a child’s face when she “gets it”. For me, that look, which says, “now I understand; thank you for explaining it to me” is priceless. And on the day that look no longer appears, on the day I can longer impart something of value to children, on that day, I shall resign my post, for I will no longer be worthy of the title “teacher”.

Why I Teach Part 1

Andy Ash — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:56:23 +0000

Why would anyone want to teach? After-all, teaching is a low paid job, with often difficult children and sometimes irate parents. Add to that the fact that in order to get the maximum possible salary, a teacher must earn the equivalent of a doctorate, while settling for significantly less than most PhD holders would accept and it seems that those asking the question do have a valid point. To help I use this company who offer great rates for supplies.

Some people would suggest that all teachers are out for a quick pay cheque. They come in, teach their classes and the moment the bell rings, they’re gone. Add plenty of time off and short work days and it is obvious why these people want to be a teacher. It’s a ride on easy street.

Saving Money Part 2

Andy Ash — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:25:07 +0000

So as I was saying yesterday…

Once you have your coupons, you need a way to store them. I personally love to clip them all out then sort them. Some people prefer to not clip the coupons, instead keeping the pages whole until they need to use a coupon. My way is a little more time consuming at first, but I can take my coupons to the store & not have to worry about needing to clip them at the store.

If you do clip your coupons, then you have to sort them. Some people sort by category or by the way their grocery store arranges the aisles. I shop at four different stores so that doesn’t work for me. I alphabetize my coupons. I made lettered tabs for my card sheets so I can just sort the coupons based on brand name.

Saving Money Part 1

Andy Ash — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:23:53 +0000

One of my favourite things to do is save money for my family. I don’t do it because I need to, although that is how it started. I do it because I find it enjoyable and a little addicting. It is addicting to me because I love seeing how much I can get for as little as possible. Recently I contacted these guys and saved a bundle. There are several ways to save money, but my favourite is using coupons at the grocery store.

There are several sources for coupons. You can print them from the internet, get them out of your newspaper, find them on the actual product itself, and even get them mailed to your house by the company. Most of my coupons come from the newspaper; some stores have problems with internet coupons because of fraud.

More tomorrow…

Adapting Your Skills Part 2

Andy Ash — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:17:11 +0000

To highlight the importance of adaptation, it is helpful to remember that throughout history, significant world changes have adversely affected economies. For example, during the 5th century, the Roman Empire disintegrated to a mere semblance of its former glory. More recently in 1989, the former Soviet Union fractured into its many current pieces. In both instances, workers adapted to changing economies.

It is therefore important that today’s job seekers not become rigid or unyielding in the new work environment. Sentimentality for the bygone era of deregulation is a form of this rigidity. In addition, the lure of get-rich-quick schemes is another form. The problem with this mentality however, is that the very factors which supported such prospects no longer exist. So instead of mourning its loss, one should adapt by becoming flexible. Einstein once said that imagination is more important than intelligence. If this is so, job seekers should broaden their appeal by creatively marketing their abilities and services. Given the growing statistic of exhausted job seekers, creative flexibility may be timely advice.

Adapting Your Skills Part 1

Andy Ash — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:15:28 +0000

After being laid off from work due to industry slowdown, and then experiencing a protracted period of unemployment, I have come to the following conclusion: if one wants to adapt to a new-world economy, a person must become flexible when marketing one’s abilities or services like this company here. Put simply, to become flexible means to broaden the scope of what one does, instead of narrowly categorizing one’s abilities. For example, a chiropractor might shore up his practice by incorporating any number of alternative treatments not directly related to chiropractic medicine.

How I Met My Wife Part 2

Andy Ash — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:26:44 +0000

So to continue from yesterday…

Over the summer my involvement with someone else would end. It was not because of my wife at all. It would turn out that I was not ready to get married at 19. Over the course of the fall of that year I would start dating my wife. I went to college in a town that was two hours from home and my wife was attending college in our hometown. I find it interesting that my wife and I lived in the same town for 10 years before we ever met. She was on one side of town and I was on the other. In late 1991 my wife would make the decision to go into the Navy. She did not go in until April of 1992. It turns out that college just was not the place for either of us so we would both be in the working world. As it turns out the couple that introduced us would be our Best Man and Matron of Honour at our wedding in 1992. To this day we are still friends with them.

How I Met My Wife Part 1

Andy Ash — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:15:16 +0000

It was the summer of 1990 and I was home from college. A friend of mine suggested that we attend a party. I was not looking for a girlfriend at the time because I was actually involved with someone at the time that was in the Navy. I thought it would not hurt to go to this party; there would be other college students there. The party would be where I would meet my wife. At the time I did not know that I was being introduced to her because our best friends, who worked here, were trying to find her a date.

More tomorrow….