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Well looks like my paycheck stops friday...

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Well, it's pretty dire. Our incompetent government is going to shut down and my measly income is about to stop, leaving me without a way to pay my bills and most likely start selling the only things I have of value... My instruments... To pay my bills and continue putting gas in my truck to get to work every day. My brothers and sisters in the middle east won't be getting paid, and will have the added worry that their families are not taken care of financially and there is nothing they can do from a half world away.

How is this ok? What has America come to? Is anyone else is absolute desperation as their fates lie in the hands of the spoon fed? I've never been so afraid for my future. When I get my medical retirement here in a couple months, will I get my education and disability benefits or will those be gone too?

I've been playing my bass and cello alot to try to cope, but I just can't shake the thought that this is going to be a looong road to a solution because our politicians are all trying to get the last word in.

:/ hate to be a downer but I figure if ever there was a community to get my head back on straight, it's here.
 
Actually when I get out I am going to finish school and plan on attending medical school.

I'm not trying to fish for pity, but this really upsets me that I might have to give up the only things I really love because of a stupid shutdown that should have never happened.
 
I've found saving a little money for hard times works pretty well. They always come, and it's better to be ready. My 25+year career is in ashes due to the economy and other factors. Found a couple crappy jobs to get through until things improve. Don't give up, the sun will rise tomorrow.
 
Help the Canadian understand. Government shut down? :confused:



WAT-Frog.jpg
 
Maybe you should get a job at a more reputable firm.

J/K - I hope all works out well for you.

I hope they get my tax return deposited in my account before they shut down

They do need to trim down the government however, and maybe you and others wouldn't be facing possible loss of income. Anybody here think it's a good idea to spend YOUR MONEY on this stuff???

Government Waste: 20 Of The Craziest Things That The U.S. Government Is Spending Money On


#1 A total of $3 million has been granted to researchers at the University of California at Irvine so that they can play video games such as World of Warcraft. The goal of this "video game research" is reportedly to study how "emerging forms of communication, including multiplayer computer games and online virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft and Second Life can help organizations collaborate and compete more effectively in the global marketplace."

#2 The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave the University of New Hampshire $700,000 this year to study methane gas emissions from dairy cows.

#3 $615,000 was given to the University of California at Santa Cruz to digitize photos, T-shirts and concert tickets belonging to the Grateful Dead.

#4 A professor at Stanford University received $239,100 to study how Americans use the Internet to find love. So far one of the key findings of this "research" is that the Internet is a safer and more discreet way to find same-sex partners.

#5 The National Science Foundation spent $216,000 to study whether or not politicians "gain or lose support by taking ambiguous positions."

#6 The National Institutes of Health spent approximately $442,340 to study the behavior of male prostitutes in Vietnam.

#7 Approximately $1 million of U.S. taxpayer money was used to create poetry for the Little Rock, New Orleans, Milwaukee and Chicago zoos. The goal of the "poetry" is to help raise awareness on environmental issues.

#8 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs spent $175 million during 2010 to maintain hundreds of buildings that it does not even use. This includes a pink, octagonal monkey house in the city of Dayton, Ohio.

#9 $1.8 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars went for a "museum of neon signs" in Las Vegas, Nevada.

#10 $35 million was reportedly paid out by Medicare to 118 "phantom" medical clinics that never even existed. Apparently these "phantom" medical clinics were established by a network of criminal gangs as a way to defraud the U.S. government.

#11 The Conservation Commission of Monkton, Vermont got $150,000 from the federal government to construct a "critter crossing". Thanks to U.S. government money, the lives of "thousands" of migrating salamanders are now being saved.

#12 In California, one park received $440,000 in federal funds to perform "green energy upgrades" on a building that has not been used for a decade.

#13 $440,955 was spent this past year on an office for former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert that he rarely even visits.

#14 One Tennessee library was given $5,000 in federal funds to host a series of video game parties.

#15 The U.S. Census Bureau spent $2.5 million on a television commercial during the Super Bowl that was so poorly produced that virtually nobody understood what is was trying to say.

#16 A professor at Dartmouth University received $137,530 to create a "recession-themed" video game entitled "Layoff".

#17 The National Science Foundation gave the Minnesota Zoo over $600,000 so that they could develop an online video game called "Wolfquest".

#18 A pizzeria in Iowa was given $60,000 to renovate the pizzeria's facade and give it a more "inviting feel".

#19 The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave one enterprising group of farmers $30,000 to develop a tourist-friendly database of farms that host guests for overnight "haycations". This one sounds like something that Dwight Schrute would have dreamed up.

#20 Almost unbelievably, the National Institutes of Health was given $800,000 in "stimulus funds" to study the impact of a "genital-washing program" on men in South Africa.

Sure, a few of these a cool things to do but is it really the job of the federal government to use your money and my money to do it? And what about hundreds of thousands on offices and green projects for buildings that arent used? COME ON!!! I'm sure the next 20 or 40 or 100 items in this catagory are only SLIGHTLY less astounding. Write your representatives and senators and tell them to just stop being stupid with your money.

Invalid Link Removed
 
Small Change...:D
Check this..

How the US sent $12bn in cash to Iraq. And watched it vanish | World news | The Guardian

Maybe you should get a job at a more reputable firm.

J/K - I hope all works out well for you.

I hope they get my tax return deposited in my account before they shut down

They do need to trim down the government however, and maybe you and others wouldn't be facing possible loss of income. Anybody here think it's a good idea to spend YOUR MONEY on this stuff???

Government Waste: 20 Of The Craziest Things That The U.S. Government Is Spending Money On


#1 A total of $3 million has been granted to researchers at the University of California at Irvine so that they can play video games such as World of Warcraft. The goal of this "video game research" is reportedly to study how "emerging forms of communication, including multiplayer computer games and online virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft and Second Life can help organizations collaborate and compete more effectively in the global marketplace."

#2 The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave the University of New Hampshire $700,000 this year to study methane gas emissions from dairy cows.

#3 $615,000 was given to the University of California at Santa Cruz to digitize photos, T-shirts and concert tickets belonging to the Grateful Dead.

#4 A professor at Stanford University received $239,100 to study how Americans use the Internet to find love. So far one of the key findings of this "research" is that the Internet is a safer and more discreet way to find same-sex partners.

#5 The National Science Foundation spent $216,000 to study whether or not politicians "gain or lose support by taking ambiguous positions."

#6 The National Institutes of Health spent approximately $442,340 to study the behavior of male prostitutes in Vietnam.

#7 Approximately $1 million of U.S. taxpayer money was used to create poetry for the Little Rock, New Orleans, Milwaukee and Chicago zoos. The goal of the "poetry" is to help raise awareness on environmental issues.

#8 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs spent $175 million during 2010 to maintain hundreds of buildings that it does not even use. This includes a pink, octagonal monkey house in the city of Dayton, Ohio.

#9 $1.8 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars went for a "museum of neon signs" in Las Vegas, Nevada.

#10 $35 million was reportedly paid out by Medicare to 118 "phantom" medical clinics that never even existed. Apparently these "phantom" medical clinics were established by a network of criminal gangs as a way to defraud the U.S. government.

#11 The Conservation Commission of Monkton, Vermont got $150,000 from the federal government to construct a "critter crossing". Thanks to U.S. government money, the lives of "thousands" of migrating salamanders are now being saved.

#12 In California, one park received $440,000 in federal funds to perform "green energy upgrades" on a building that has not been used for a decade.

#13 $440,955 was spent this past year on an office for former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert that he rarely even visits.

#14 One Tennessee library was given $5,000 in federal funds to host a series of video game parties.

#15 The U.S. Census Bureau spent $2.5 million on a television commercial during the Super Bowl that was so poorly produced that virtually nobody understood what is was trying to say.

#16 A professor at Dartmouth University received $137,530 to create a "recession-themed" video game entitled "Layoff".

#17 The National Science Foundation gave the Minnesota Zoo over $600,000 so that they could develop an online video game called "Wolfquest".

#18 A pizzeria in Iowa was given $60,000 to renovate the pizzeria's facade and give it a more "inviting feel".

#19 The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave one enterprising group of farmers $30,000 to develop a tourist-friendly database of farms that host guests for overnight "haycations". This one sounds like something that Dwight Schrute would have dreamed up.

#20 Almost unbelievably, the National Institutes of Health was given $800,000 in "stimulus funds" to study the impact of a "genital-washing program" on men in South Africa.

Sure, a few of these a cool things to do but is it really the job of the federal government to use your money and my money to do it? And what about hundreds of thousands on offices and green projects for buildings that arent used? COME ON!!! I'm sure the next 20 or 40 or 100 items in this catagory are only SLIGHTLY less astounding. Write your representatives and senators and tell them to just stop being stupid with your money.

Invalid Link Removed
 

That's bad, but at least it wasn't my tax dollars or your tax dollars:

"The memorandum details the casual manner in which the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority disbursed the money, which came from Iraqi oil sales, surplus funds from the UN oil-for-food programme and seized Iraqi assets"

The list I posted came right out of your pocket and my pocket. Both of our posts ought to have everyone who pays taxes seething mad, writing letters, and voting those responsible out of office, regardless of their politics.

How the hell do you shut down the Military? While folks are still deployed? Government? It's not gonna happen!

The mechanics of the shutdown exempt the Military and some other government entities. Our elected officials are political animals, and aren't quite that stupid. Almost, but not quite.
 
Ok, I HIGHLY doubt you will have to sell off your life's belongings for two weeks of delayed pay. In the past it has always been retroactively paid and you won't lose your house or car by making a late payment.

I work as a contractor for uncle sam, I will get paid regardless.

Even if Congress decides not to pay the two weeks (couple days whatever) of pay, if you are having to sell you prized possessions you need to see a budget counselor.

Sorry for the harsh input, but even if it does shut down it won't be for long and there is at LEAST a 50% chance you will retroactively paid.

Just pay some bills late, move on.

These doom and gloomers are getting too much TV time.
 
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