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Post by dgriffin on Oct 16, 2008 9:16:07 GMT -5
Patchwork NationHere's an interesting map of the US to play with. From the Christian Science Monitor, each county is colored by what (someone) thinks is a particular community group. (Oneicda County is a "Service Worker Center.") You can zoom in and out on counties, see a daily blog from each community type, learn what voters the candidiates are focused on by following their campaign stops by community type. www.csmonitor.com/patchworknation/
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Post by frankcor on Oct 16, 2008 10:20:04 GMT -5
Thanks, Dave! I have it in my Favorites now.
"Hotels, stores, and restaurants galore are the landmarks of the 278 counties in this group. "
How about government employees?
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 16, 2008 12:20:49 GMT -5
How about government employees? They're everywhere, they're everywhere! Come to think of it, isn't that all of us? Well, maybe I should speak for myself. As a Social Security recipient, I'm a government employee and have a monthly check to prove it. I don't get a parking spot or attend the Christmas Party, but they let me work at home. Each day I monitor the temperature and wind speed and, if any official should call me up, I'm ready to report those numbers and give an opinion on them. I write dumb letters to newspaper editors ... well, not really, but this forum probably counts ... and so participate in the body politic, in solidarity with millions of addled old farts everywhere. I show up at town meetings and complain about taxes, noise and newcomers. I attend school board meetings and tell young couples they should look into birth control. At church, I entertain impure thoughts about the choir director. She's hot for her age. I've been called many names while playing my role ... from misanthrope to curmudgeon to dirty old man. But I consider myself to be in service to my country, finally laying down the daily duties of the work place and now able to assume my true calling in life ... being an insufferable know-it-all.
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Post by frankcor on Oct 16, 2008 13:59:17 GMT -5
Fortunately for all of us, employees in your role are exempt for the provisions of the Hatch Act that bar federal employees from engaging in political activities. Keep up the fine work, Dave!
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Post by Ralph on Oct 16, 2008 16:08:47 GMT -5
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Post by Clipper on Oct 16, 2008 16:56:25 GMT -5
I am glad that the Hatch Act doesn't cover political opinion and activity by retiree's. LOL. I would have been in jail a long time ago, and the mere pittance that YOU all pay me monthly would not have made the bail, LOL.
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Post by frankcor on Oct 17, 2008 12:04:01 GMT -5
Enjoy that $63 raise, Clipper. You earned it.
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Post by kim on Oct 19, 2008 7:48:26 GMT -5
I live in a monied burb?
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 19, 2008 13:01:15 GMT -5
Compared to Stittville, I guess. My county comes up "emptying nests." (Do you like my avatar today?)
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Post by kim on Oct 19, 2008 19:38:54 GMT -5
My zip code is actually in the poor part of town. There are, though, some very wealthy areas in this city. Here are the demographics for my zip code: www.city-data.com/zips/27405.html Check out some of the other zip codes, though, especially 27455. Those people have money coming out of their ears! Yeah, nice avatar. ;-)
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 19, 2008 19:50:08 GMT -5
Kim, City-data.com is a great site. Thanks for reminding me where it is. Wow! Your age distribution is quite low. Are you all college kids in that zip code? It's interesting ... your population density, while low, is five times my town here in the Catskills. But your average housing cost is half. You sure you want to come back to New York?
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Post by kim on Oct 19, 2008 19:59:04 GMT -5
My city has a population of almost 250,000...it's a decent size city! And the houses to tend to be a lot cheaper here than in other parts of the country, which is why I have a 2600 square foot house that I'd never have been able to have in New York! And yeah, people in this part of town DO seem to be pretty young. I feel like an elder every time I venture out! I got to my son's class and I'm typically one of the oldest parents...it's kind of funny.
As for coming back to NY, I'd love to, but I haven't because of financial reasons. I really would not have the same standard of living up there than I do down here, and that's truly sad.
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Post by Clipper on Oct 19, 2008 22:32:19 GMT -5
You're kinda cute for AN OLD FART, HAHAHAAHA! Ya carry it well, LOL. I can't believe that you are one of the "older" parents of students in Stephen's class. Gee, when I chat on line with your mom on her blog,or on yours, about having met with you and Ken, I think of you as "kids". You are only a couple of years older than my son.
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Post by kim on Oct 20, 2008 7:12:50 GMT -5
It amazes me how many people I meet who are in their 40's who are already grandparents. I feel way too young to be a grandparent! Whew!
Although, I keep finding out just how old I am...I heard a commercial the other day for a place that helps women who are trying to get pregnant. They wanted healthy women between the ages of 18 - 35 to donate eggs. HOLY SHIT! I'm too friggin' old to donate an egg! Not that I would have, but still...THEY THINK MY EGGS ARE TOO OLD!
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Post by Clipper on Oct 20, 2008 8:18:00 GMT -5
You think you are old? Too old to donate an egg?? Just try and envision the raucous laughter if I were to show up at the sperm bank to donate. They would probably tell me that there was very little call for dinosaur sperm, hahaha! They would probably give me a copy of AARP magazine, with a picture of Phyllis Diller on the cover, usher me to a bathroom with a little cup, and then stand outside the door with the defibrillator handy, hahahaha!
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