Trip Report

[Carcounter]

Notes, I'm really not conflicted, and DB I know we have a say-in the people we elect, but I just wish someone would be honest and tell people that they need to become more self sufficient and stop depending on someone else for their well-being. Not one person running for president is saying this. I guess Trump comes the closest. I do own my own business and have been working since I was 15. Almost 50 years now. I honestly don't think I've done anything special. That's why I sound conflicted, I guess. I just don't understand why people give up and don't even try . I'm an engineer, so basically I'm a linear thinker, not much artistic talent in these bones. I'm learning finally that not everyone is a rational thinker. Another example are these kids and the Heroin epidemic. How do they start down this road knowing that it is not going to end well?

[notes1]

cc, many people are two faced. older folks want less government spending, but don't touch their SS. young people are not accepting obamacare. they do not like the governemnt telling them what to do, but some are in favor of socialism. they do not like the idea of extra for health insurance, to cover older folks, with more health problems, but, they do not mind asking working people who are paying taxes, to pay more, so they can get an even cheaper college degree. we have become a society that does not demand folks take responsibilty. that is why they give up. instead of being told to get off their butt, when things are bad, they are being told it was not their fault and others will pay for their well being. you and i are of similar age. there have always been folks who needed assistance. but, back in our day, they did not march and demand more stuff from others. they did not want the world to know they needed help. they had too much pride in themselves. that is the missing ingredient, people are not proud enough to force themselves to make it on their own.

[DaBurglar]

cc, many people are two faced. ........................................we have become a society that does not demand folks take responsibilty. that is why they give up. instead of being told to get off their butt, when things are bad, they are being told it was not their fault and others will pay for their well being. you and i are of similar age. there have always been folks who needed assistance. but, back in our day, they did not march and demand more stuff from others. they did not want the world to know they needed help. they had too much pride in themselves. that is the missing ingredient, people are not proud enough to force themselves to make it on their own. You don't want to hear this.......I (once again) actually AGREE with a lot of what you say (certainly the spirit with which it is intended.....I HEAR what you are saying, and in principle, "being self sufficient" and solving your own problems and what not IS the right thing and the way to go.......but then you ask these rhetorical questions like "why should I pay for someone else's mistake or irresponsibility?"  etc etc, and that totally derails everything.)  <please pause and ruminate on where I said "I agree in spirit with you">You are NOT supposed to fix other people's problems, and you are NOT being asked to compromise your values, etc.   But in an unfair and unequal world stuff is going to happen that you can't control and that must be dealt with in some way, by someone.....you did not cause your neighbor's problems, but if your neighbor does not get help, your neighbor is going to be in deep trouble, and THAT will impact you in ways you cannot see or fathom, YET.....it is about the "Social Contract" we all sign (figuratively) when we live as a civilized society.     We are obligated (to a certain extent) to take care of one another, simply because to NOT do so does impact us directly....... you say you are for helping those who CANNOT help themselves.....fine, who exactly are these people?  who qualifies or determines this?  and then, who actually DOES the helping?You speak of years ago, people did not complain or demonstrate or march, when people simply "grinned and bore it"......what's your point here?   People need to just shut up and take it?    Take what exactly?    Do you honestly believe that if you were one of these people who was afflicted with, or the victim of something that you'd have the same attitude, relying on your "pride"?What I am now going to tell you is NOT to thump my own chest or crow, but to help you understand why I myself feel as I do...I was born in 1967, with a bone disease that was actually pretty rare and unknown at the time.....I was diagnosed when I was 8 months old, in the dr's office when he went to turn me over and my leg just "snapped"....after consulting a specialist they determined I had Osteogenesis Imperfecta....they sat my parents down and told them a very sobering and BLEAK account of what lay in store for me and the type of life I would "probably lead".    I would be an invalid, requiring a lot of care and attention they told my weeping parents......since my disease was almost always hereditary, they were baffled that NO ONE in either side of the family previously reported having this disease (which means my actual condition was even more rare and unusual, the result of a genetic spontaneous mutation.)Much to my benefit, my folks did not just concede the game.....they vowed, as much as possible, that I would have a normal life, starting with as normal a childhood as possible.....but one huge thing loomed:  Medical bills and cost.  My dad was recently out of the Air force from Vietnam and was looking for work....when I was diagnosed, his search now became much more complex, since he now REQUIRED decent health coverage for the many expenses that were certain to follow.   Trouble was, most insurance back then were extremely fickle about covering ANY pre-existing thing, and quite frankly, "Congenital diseases" (i.e. from birth) is about as PRE Existing as you can get!       The first 3 years of my life therefore, were frought with much anxiety as every time i fractured a bone (doing the simplest most normal of activities) my parents had to cough up money to have it treated.......In 1970, I was introduced to "Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children" (it is now simply called Shriners Hospital, they dropped the "crippled" moniker).....this practically saved my life and my folks, since it was totally "free" back then......this now meant for the next 18 years until I reached 21 I would be cared for and my condition managed with the best possible care......until the mid 1970s when a lot of these so called "Give away" and welfare programs and assistance programs came into being, there was NOTHING available to people/kids like myself EXCEPT organizations like Shriners, or St Judes, but as we all know such entities are extremely limited in their scope and reach, and it is a total crapshoot if they can reach the right people/kids who need them.   I was TOTALLY blessed that I happened to live and grow up within 10 miles of the Shriners Hospital in Springfield.Thanks to Shriners, however, I grew up as "normal as possible"; but I still endured a couple dozen fractures, countless surgeries and hospitalizations to fix and correct the various problems my disease presented, and wound up spending over 30% of my 4 years of high school (aged 14 -18) in a hospital bed, often taking exams the day after major surgery, etc.   I missed out on a lot of stuff, but I still was able to graduate on time from on of the better public schools at the time, in the top 5 of a class of 280 kids, and was accepted into a school that (according to Donald Trump) is the "best in the entire world".....After graduating in 1992, despite still being permanently disabled requiring a wheelchair and continued medical care that involved significant monthly costs, I found a job working for a large corporation on the west coast.   Because of my skills, degree and overall aptitude, the JOB paid well enough to cover my medical expenses and living expense, and I did well for the next 15 plus years.At no point did I ever (as I easily could have and qualified for, and for which I STILL QUALIFY FOR TODAY!) fall back and simply rely on people like YOU (via the government) to carry me and provide for me....BUT I DID HAVE HELP ALONG THE WAY, in the form of (1) assistance from both the state and federal government for my college education  (2)  The state of Massachusetts paid for my wheelchairs when I was a student which allowed me to get out and go to school and ultimately get a job and keep it!So there.......

[FAA]

Can't wait for the next Trip Report.

[notes1]

So there.......
 such a nice way to end a revealing post. i typically do not respond to yor posts directly, because it is pointless and i am not interested in your version of a history lesson. i will make an exception in this case. everyone brings their life experiences into their decision making process or how they develop their opinions. this is normal, it can be benefical and also a hazzard. i/m/o, you make the same 2 mistakes everytime a discussion comes up such as this. you assume that just because someone calls for less government spending or more personal responsibility, they are uncaring, uncharitable, greedy and even racist. you also assume that tax dollars are being spent wisely. both these assumptions are wrong. i suggest you google, 'charitable giving by political parties' , and you will find numerous sources that support the fact that conservatives give more per capita than liberals.  whether it be a $43m gas station that the military built in iraq or the fact that SS disability program is about to go bust due to abuse, there is wasteful spending.      i have a question for you. you have a signifcant handicap and face challenges i cannot imagine. you have not only survived, but succeeded. why are you so hesitant to demand the same drive and effort by others, who have lesser obstacles. why are you willing to blame those who smoke and are overweight (i agree), for their own created problems, but do not hold those who drop out of school, have multiple kids out of wedlock, absence of fathers, for causing their own demise.

[DaBurglar]

[DaBurglar]

[QUOTE=DaBurglar]
So there.......
 such a nice way to end a revealing post. i typically do not respond to yor posts directly, because it is pointless and i am not interested in your version of a history lesson. i will make an exception in this case. everyone brings their life experiences into their decision making process or how they develop their opinions. this is normal, it can be benefical and also a hazzard. i/m/o, you make the same 2 mistakes everytime a discussion comes up such as this. you assume that just because someone calls for less government spending or more personal responsibility, they are uncaring, uncharitable, greedy and even racist. you also assume that tax dollars are being spent wisely. both these assumptions are wrong. i suggest you google, 'charitable giving by political parties' , and you will find numerous sources that support the fact that conservatives give more per capita than liberals.  whether it be a $43m gas station that the military built in iraq or the fact that SS disability program is about to go bust due to abuse, there is wasteful spending.      i have a question for you. you have a signifcant handicap and face challenges i cannot imagine. you have not only survived, but succeeded. why are you so hesitant to demand the same drive and effort by others, who have lesser obstacles. why are you willing to blame those who smoke and are overweight (i agree), for their own created problems, but do not hold those who drop out of school, have multiple kids out of wedlock, absence of fathers, for causing their own demise.[/QUOTE]Notes1,  I am going to post a response to this in a thread that you can read at your leisure and respond (Or not) as you choose.....I will label the thread simply "Response to Notes1" ......  as I have said in the past to you, I have a higher opinion of YOUR posts and arguments that you have of mine, which seems to move you or impact you NOT AT ALL......so be it.Nice response by the way.......

[FAA]

Nice short session last night. I hit two $19 quads in under an hour at adjacent machines. Now that's hospitality. This fortuitous event turned $25 FP into $80. I won $5 on a quick craps hit and decided to terminate matters before the usual give back cycle back at the machines. Progressive was $1100, which made it hard. But I was not in a giving mood.

[olds442jetaway]

See...pretty soon you won't need the pocket safe. We all can do it. Sometimes we just need a little push. In my case, it was the Mrs. More like a shove however.

[FAA]

I hit another two adjacent quads today! Three and two coin hits. Progressive up to $1130, as all whiffed yesterday. I won $30 at two craps tables and got buzzed on a beer. It spurred me to try 9/5 dollar JOB on a machine a girl gave up. Potential disaster. My $20 went to $15. Then a nice $25 quad to double my money. $135 won day all told. Safe is dormant in my bag.