tacops

I think you are correct in that the companies are simply trying to make more money, yet to me it seems to be through trickery.  I find myself changing brands more frequently or simply deciding I don't want the item after all.  Yeah, some might say I am stubborn.  Maybe so, but I just get aggravated when I notice that I am paying the same or more for less product.  Just look at the size of a "Family Size" bar of soap.  All of them are not much bigger than hotel size bars now.  We are told there is no inflation, bull.  I think it very odd that the price of groceries are not included in government inflation determination calculations.

When I feel like I am getting ripped off my inner curmudgeon raises his ugly head.  After tonight's trip to the grocery I once again am suffering from curmudgeon overflow.  On the bright side, my wife will probably not hit me up to go with her again for a while.  Anyway, I refer to the following as examples of how we as consumers are being ripped off: Cardboard sleeves inside toilet paper and paper towel rolls are bigger around reducing amount of sheets per roll. 1/2 Gallon of ice cream is now 1.75 or 1.5 quarts Coffee containers of any brand continue to shrink and price goes up (All containers for that matter) Five pounds of sugar is no more, now 4 pounds or less We all remember how big a Baby Ruth, or any candy bar used to be Re-configured containers with indention's as handholds or visual appeal which reduces content When was the last time you saw a 50 pound bag of dog food? These are just a few examples and what started this rant was I love Claussen Kosher dills pickles.  I picked up a jar tonight and realized that the pickle spears were "floating around" in the jar with about a half inch of juice in the bottom where the spears did not even reach the bottom. They used to be packed from lid to bottom and packed so tight you had to pull the first one out with a fork and had friction between the spears to do so.  It appeared that there were at least 4 to 5 spears missing from the jar.  I looked at all the jars and they were all that way.  I put them back.  Sorry to bother you all with my rant, but my wife was tired of hearing it.  

Ma'am, I salute you.

If I'm playing poker, I don't tell my competitor what I'm holding before I lay them on the table.  If playing football, I don't announce what play I'm going to run before I run it.  I never saw the sense in open carry in an urban environment.  I would much rather be underestimated than an opponent know what my defense levels are and come at me prepared to meet the threat.  I also believe in the 1st amendment but after many years I have learned that just because I think it, and have a right to say it, doesn't mean that it should be said.  Same applies to the 2nd Amendment which I also strongly support.  You may be able to OC but it doesn't necessarily make it the smart choice in some environments.  There again, if I am in a populated area it doesn't bother me to see someone OCing because if an armed assailant goes active I know I am not the primary focus.

Ok, when I read the title this wasn't exactly the first thing that came to my mind. :cool:  

took me three tries to see the video...the adds to the right kept grabbing my attention :nervous:

During that episode of evidence dumpster diving I also learned that if you need a lifetime supply of sample packs of dryer sheets, hand lotions, diapers etc. that usually come in the mail, apparently mail carriers prefer not to carry that stuff around.

Oak Ridge area

I look at something like this and wish it could talk.  I sure would enjoy listening...

OK I gotta share one of my stories...I was chasing a suspect one night that happened to run around behind the Post Office.  After I downed him and did the cuff-n-stuff I back tracked to check for any evidence that may have been ditched along the way.  Since he had run right past the dumpster behind the Post Office I did a quick look in the dumpster.  I noticed a lot and I mean a LOT of mail including magazines among other things.  On top was a "Mustang Monthly" magazine.  It just so happens that I was a subscriber to that magazine and had contacted them twice due to not receiving my magazines.  Imagine my surprise when I saw the address label on this one was my name and address.  I visited the Post Master the next day.  Never missed an issue after that.

I posted in an excitement induced haste before I realized that my response was somewhat exclusionary.  The corrected response is... That's kind of like a good hammer... every self-respectin', God and Country Lovin', Constitution supportin', law abidin', Freedom lovin' American should have one.  I in no way intended to leave out the Ladies that fall into this category.  I just got excited.

That's kind of like a good hammer...every man ought to have one. :drool:

Let me know when you have another litter, maybe one will follow me home and I can talk Momma into keepin' it :dirty:

I'll jump in here and ramble because I have been there done that.  My wife and I began doing the "Dave Ramsey" plan before there was a Dave Ramsey Plan.  Kudos to Ramsey though for what he says makes sense and he learned it the hard way.  One big thing, and I mean "BIG" thing is you and your spouse together must be committed to the end goal and have self-discipline.  Financial discipline is not for the faint of heart.  You must be willing to tell yourself no when you see, want and think you must have the new shiny.  When we financed our last house we asked for a printout of the amortization chart.  Each month we used highliters and paid each standard payment and then added up the next 4 to five months principle only amounts and added that.  This essentially shaved off 4 to 5 months of the mortgage each month.  It gets harder as the principle amounts grow and near the end we could only swing one extra month of principle.  We also applied lump sums as available such as tax returns.  We had a 15 yr. note we paid off in 3.5 years, and no we were not making a lot of money.  Lower middle class at the time.  Drove used cars we paid for in full at purchase and I did all my own home and auto repairs.  We were completely debt free for about 10 years with 800 plus fico scores.   We sold out and elected to bank a chunk and bought our current home with half down.  We had two kids at the time which we did not have going into the other house.  It took us 5 years to pay off a 15 year note in the same fashion a few years back.  We maintain an emergency fund, have two kids in college (that hurts) are debt free and have been for a good while.  23 % of my gross goes to 401k stable value until the market corrects from the unsupported highs it is currently riding.  When / if the market corrects and gets realistic I will dump into funds for growth. Still have 800 plus fico scores and still drive used vehicles and do my own repairs.  Dad always said, "Son, you can make a lot of repairs for the cost of one car payment".  In the beginning I had a work supervisor tell me I was "not smart" for paying extra on my first house.  He felt it was smarter to use the mortgage interest as a tax deduction.  He filed for bankruptcy the very next year.  I've never had enough deductions to justify itemizing. 

I just got through doing my taxes.  Like I haven't been "doing" taxes all year, every day.  I think I will just go to bed, that's about all I can afford right now.

  Naw, I'm not really that bad, I am as organized as I can be.  I'm set up much like Murgatroy described.  I just think it is time for another big box.

In reality, you described my set up as well...however I do have the coffee cup on the work bench with green fuzzies.

That depends...does a green sausage biscuit count as clutter?

Well, that would be one way to bring an end to the UN.

I'll jump in here...I built a 28x40 with 12/12 pitch attic box trusses which gave me a 16x40 room upstairs with 8ft ceiling and 4ft knee walls.  This is great storage and could be turned into an apartment if needed.  These trusses are self-supporting for the span so I don't have any support poles in the way.  I used a 4inch fiber mesh concrete  with wire mesh for the floor and and have no cracks after 12 years.  I had a block foundation that rose 24 inches above the floor and then 8 ft. stud wall construction giving me a 10 ft. ceiling.  I used 3 standard doors on the front and one 12 ft door on the rear for large items.  This also allowed me to "drive-thru" with my boat as opposed to backing in.  The interior walls are finished off with 4x8 sheets dry erase board (White Board) that does not collect dust and is an easy way to write down ideas and measurements.  This also reflects light very well and when it comes time to clean I use a swiffer to wipe down the walls.  Oh yeah, I had the floor poured with a 4 inch drop from back to front.  You don't notice the gradual drop and with the drop and the two feet of concrete foundation at the base of the walls, I can wash a car inside and the water flows out under the garage doors on the front.

I forgot what they cost when I looked at them to begin with, I have a Marlin Lever action already...I guess that is why I don't have one of these yet.  Maybe I will pick one up used.

I have the same questions and will watch this thread for answers.  I have been intrigued by this myself...

I just hope that those are the numbers provided as intel to our enemy in the event "that day" were to ever come. :cool:

I have been in the store 5 times over the years.  Three times at the original location and two at the current location.  Each time was not a pleasant experience and required a good amount of time before I decided maybe they were having a bad day and would give them another chance.  My last trip was about 4 years ago and I won't be back.  I have purchased many weapons and a lot of ammo and accessories over the years but but not from them, they will not get my business.  The owner and his wife are simply rude and disrespectful toward customers.  It wasn't so much a personal experience for me as it was seeing how they interacted with other customers while in the store.  It caused me to lose all interest in whatever inventory they had for I could easily get what I wanted elsewhere, and do.

When I was about 20 I gave my Dad a Case Kiowa fixed blade hunting knife in sheath.  I had the blade monogrammed for him.  Years later after Dad died my mother found the knife tucked away unused with a note that said "make sure Scott gets this."  It means a lot.