POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

Small Businesses Like Mine

I have long struggled with the fact that I don't fit well into Large Corporate environs. I have worked for huge companies - and small companies - and find I am better suited toward the small ones. It is not important why this is so, but it is so. This is, in part why, over the Summer, my long-time friend and colleague and I purchased a business. This is not the first time I have tried my hand as an entrepreneur - but it is the first time I have had the professional pedigree to make a real go of it. So, I am excited (though nervous) about the prospects for 2010. In all manner of speaking, it will be a decisive year for us.

If one thing is for sure, I know why small businesses often fail: it is a serious grind to grow one. Payroll and bills come in unforgiving intervals. And no employee gives a rip that clients are sitting on their checkbooks dealing with the same economy we are. But it still seems a little worth it. To build a place of my own. It seems kind of worth it. And, if we can make it, I might be able to have a couple nickels to rub together by the time my eldest sets off for college (presuming she can get a scholarship and a student loan). I am allowed to dream.

Now, besides the weekly challenge of cash flow (can't pay anything with receivables), a small business owner has to spend time and money complying with the various governmental entities that seem to have a keen interest in the gravy train they are on - at the expense of the businesses they regulate. I can't tell you how many hours in a year are devoted to helping the government help itself to my hard work.

But still, the dream persists to grow our small company from the 4 of us to something more. We can't do it without the disciplines the four of us cover as a team. We just can't. The nature of our business is such that it requires specialists - and to do what we do the way we do that stuff, requires significant experience. So, each of us has some 10-12 years in the fields in which we specialize. But still it seems worth it to invest sweat equity (that is, not earning near what the market would pay for any of us) so that the business might prosper. So that we might have a place where we don't have to work for some Baby Boomer shithead (no offense to the Boomers, but the ones I have worked for, to a one, just suck... they are the last of the hold-outs who cling to the old ways of olden-day-style-management). So that we might have a place to call our own. A place that young sharpshooter pros will like to work and grow.

But the government seeks to kill businesses like mine. We cannot afford to offer "affordable insurance" to our employees. Hell, none of the partners has insurance. So, how can I offer something I myself cannot afford? I can't. So, this gets me to thinking: I might be able to afford carrying coverage for myself - especially if I am criminally-liable if I fail to get coverage - if I let one of our employees go.

Is this what the Progressive-Soroses want? They do not understand what they are doing. None has worked in the private sector. None has grown anything, risking it all, in order to realize their unlikely dreams - and invariable employing others (sharing their hard-earned rewards).

Where do they think jobs come from? And do they not realize what they are about to do to the economy in so passing such an atrocity. Mark my words - lifetime employment provisions - such as in Europe - are not far behind.

As much as I hate to work for a large, unwieldy, inefficient, and gluttonously-wasteful corporations, a government job is not sounding too bad at present. Or maybe a subsidized sofa-sitting job. The Dole I think they call it. At least I could catch up on my daytime dramas. Ahhhh - the Gravy Train - the New American Nightmare.

You're killing us, Soros Administration. Just. F**king. Killing. US.

Enoch_Root

AKA. Bobby Donn Brubaker (the most popular man in Mesa, AZ), the Umbrella of Terror, Jack Ketch.

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Weather Would Be Crazy to Obstruct Bill

Harry Reid: Oh, no! No recess for you, Joe Lieberman. What are you reading?
Lieberman: It's a CBO report. It's really fascinating. It says that the costs of ObamaCare are actually going to be . . .
Reid: Put that thing down, and vote in favor!
Lieberman: I don't like single-payer health care. I don't want to be a Progressive.
Elves: Joe doesn't want to be a Progressive!
Reid: A fiscal conservative?! Liberals are supposed to wiggle their ears, eat the shit sandwiches we serve them, and vote for what we tell them to. Now finish up, or you'll be late for Obama Worship! *slam*

Lieberman: Oh, what's the use? I'll never be good at Obama Worship. I'm . . . Independent!

Ho-ho-ho, ho-ho-ho,
We're Obama's elves!

Obama: Whatever.  I give the best gifts. *leaves*
Valerie Jarrett: Oh, he's just got a bug up his ass because Chavez mocked him. I thought you guys sounded terrific.

Ah, such is the life of an Independent.

But don't worry: Valerie will have Obama all jollied up by Christmas time! It's always the same. Not like that year it snowed in Washington, DC, and Health Care was cancelled by Republican Obstruction . . .

What? You've never heard of Republican Obstruction? Well, pull up an iceberg and let me tell you the story!

You know Daschle, Pelosi and Nadler and Sanders,
Leahy, Kanjorski, and Cooperson Anders,
But do you recall the most famous Se-na-tor of all?

[musical interlude]

Brrrrrrr . . . it freezes my nutsickles even to think about it!

To be continued . . .

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Dear Congress

Nuke the EPA.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Ahmadinejad Blasts Capitalism

Following in the footsteps of Hugo Chavez' rousing denunciation.

Apparently, the Prophet was unaware of the evils of capitalism, but one really must cut him slack for having lived in a comparatively unenlightened time. It is indeed a telling historical fact that Islam has never evinced imperialist expansionism, nor harbored such ambitions.

Envy doesn't breed happiness. I'm sure that they'll be much happier now.

In case you missed Hugo.

And guys, don't forget to get your significant other a pap smear, a pre-paid abortion, or a divorce gift certificate this year.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Oh, Death! Where Is Thy Lock-Box?

When I was a young man, plowing my daddy's field
Behind a mule, under the unforgiving sun,
Little did I dream that one day I'd invent the internet,
Or that Love Story would be written about me.
Later, George Bush stole the election,
And I grew fat and a beard, teaching somnolent students,
Political science at Princeton, till I
Latched on to this climate holocaust business.

My stupid falcon's not listening to me.
Doesn't it know I'm trying to save its ungrateful ass?

Papier mache-headed puppets march, spoiled children
Wave communist flags, and everywhere the Danish cops
Brandish nightsticks in the falling snow.
Phelim McAleer won't leave me alone.

What rough beast slouches off to Copenhagen to be born?
It looks like a polar bear. Albatross.
Lock-box.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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And Now, For Your Viewing Pleasure:

Sooo I started writing a post about my disastrous, disturbing, depressing visit to the local humane society. It all started because my dad saw this video clip and thought maybe we should get a kitten.

Rather than recounting the entire experience, let me just say that despite a considerable amount of funding, it appears the humane society here is mismanaged to the point I would say that "humane" is a misnomer. I don't want to suggest animal abuse; I believe the lady who runs the place cares for them in her own way. Perhaps cares for them too much to let them go, resulting in a ridiculous amount of animals living in that building.

So instead of getting a kitten, dad said perhaps we should just wait for baby raccoon season and get one of those instead.

Falahime

Falahime Blah blah blah, Wyoming, blah blah, massage therapist, details cars, used to sell beer, blah blah, hunts big game. That’s about all there is to me; I’m pretty simple.

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James Arthur Ray Emails Guy He Killed

Motherfucker.

From: James Ray [mailto:jamesray@jamesray.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 12:34 PM
To: james.shore@gmail.com
Subject: High Velocity: Living Your New Mindset

High Velocity E-Zine

Living Your New Mindset

Dear James,

James Arthur Ray We know that the unconscious mind cannot distinguish between something that is "real" in material form and something that is vividly imagined. Because your mind thinks in pictures, you must create a mental picture of yourself living your new life mindset.

Lots of success programs tell you what to do, but only the Harmonic Wealth Weekend shows you how to think and create the life you really want...

Remember, thoughts are powerful and the unconscious mind is their obedient servant. Like the Genie in Aladdin's lamp, the unconscious mind says, "Your wish is my command." It begins to create whatever you think about... or worry about.

Don't confuse it by staying on track one day and lapsing into doubt or negativity the next. Give the Genie clear instructions, and you will soon be living your new mindset. To shape your future, you have to be ready and able to shape your mindset.

To your continued wealth and happiness,

Light speed.
James Arthur Ray
President/CEO
James Ray International

P.S. Conventional wisdom is wrong again... Balance is bogus! Only harmony yields happiness and real wealth... Join me for two full days of complete immersion into insights and technologies that are guaranteed to help you achieve true Harmonic Wealth® in all areas in your life: Financial, Relational, Intellectual, Physical and Spiritual.

Reserve your seat early! Click for dates, locations and more information...

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Where Did the Love Go?

Obama love, specifically. In New York City. It's probably still there in a really strong way, but it didn't seem like that to me just a few days ago.

Here is some evidence of the old love, still there, but fading a little. These signs are on the same side of the street, within two blocks of each other.

Not a big deal really, I just love that the Super's door is doing the advertising. Also impressed that they snagged one of the "cool" vintage-y campaign stickers.

This window is awesome. You not only get a couple of O family pics, but also kill two birds with one lovely stone by featuring Obama with Rangel! Genius. Oh, and a sarcastic McCain Obamicon to rub it all in. Notice he's even separated into his own WINDOWPANE! Racist.

Literally a day after I took these pictures, I saw and heard two things that were a little surprising to me. First was on the C train. On a packed downtown subway car there was a dude pontificating about the evils of Obama, to no one in particular, he was just giving a free lecture. His rant was centered on the economy, and general doomsday funtimes. He was an older gentleman, not super crazy looking or anything, but for sure eccentric. He preached for about 3 stops, then left us with this warning: "You just wait. Wait until you see what happens. I give it two years. I told you it was the end. And it's all your fault for voting for that self-righteous child." There was finger-wagging, and he disappeared.

A few hours later, in Union Square: large circle of well-dressed young men on the sidewalk, with one shouting statements and the others basically responding in agreement, even an "amen" here and there. I assumed it was religious in nature and almost ignored it. But as I was walking by I realized it was an anti-Obama circle. Very anti. They were really into the idea of getting him impeached or something, and this was because he was "effeminate", part of the Illuminati, and he is "evil masquerading as the Savior." Okay, so it was kind of religious in that sense.

Would never have thought of mentioning these two things, except that in the past witnessing events like this would've been accompanied by seeing at least 5 street vendors selling products with the President's face plastered all over. But 'twas not the case. I don't see those hardly ever. Also, you'd think both subway guy and circle of men would be right-wing stereotype white males, but they weren't. They were very Obama-esque. Only in the sense that they came from Hawaii, just like him.

Dahlhalla

Dahlhalla is a professional troublemaker and classical musician living in New York City. Schooled in Seattle (with Liz Mair), and college-d in San Francisco (where she played with the Grateful Dead once, no joke). She truly lives the plots of several telenovellas on a daily basis. Yeah. Just ask any anonymous blogger you know. Currently dating her way through the former Bush Administration, Dahlhalla is gathering enough material to hopefully post more than once every other month. But until then…OMG SHOES.

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