According to news reports (see newspaper article here), our own Senator Susan Collins is actually a co-sponsor of the "cash for clunkers" bill that will irrevocably harm all of us who enjoy the hobby of classic or antique cars. Apparently, Senator Collins has not heard from enough of you! And because of that, she may be unaware of the horrific damage this bill will create, while providing little, if any, benefit.
And that, my friends, is OUR fault, not hers. So, you get just one more shot at protecting your hobby:
Contact Senator Collins TODAY, and let her know the problems with the bill, and that you are against it, and she should reconsider her position. And have everyone you know contact her, as well. You may email Senator Collins right here...
Please take note: if this bill passes, it will soon become impossible to find any parts, and those found will be prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, it will be YOUR TAX DOLLARS that is used to accomplish this.
In case you missed it, more info on this, collected from SEMA, can be found on our earlier blog at http://hotkarz.blogspot.com/2008/12/congresss-plan-to-destroy-our-hobby.html
Thomas Jefferswon once said, "Every person gets the government they deserve." If we fail to stand and be counted, then we deserve to have our hobby destroyed. We will have brought it upon ourselves, and that would be something to be ashamed of.
'Nuff said...I hope...
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Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wildlife
No, this is not about Washington DC, though there is a lot of wild life down there. This is about God's little creatures of the wilderness.
Every morning, a large group of turkeys comes to our yard to feed. Every afternoon they return. And every evening, at dusk, six deer come to feed, and they return just before dawn.
They come because we share with our little wild friends. Each day I put out alfalfa, cracked corn, peanut hearts and black oil sunflower seed.
And every time it snows, and my neighbor sees me snow-blowing 250 feet out to the side yard, then clear a 100 foot circle so they have a place to feed, he thinks I've lost my mind. He still does not know why I plow way out there. He just thinks I like to blow snow.
So, yesterday as the winds drifted the snow and I had to go clear it, and he watched me blow snow some 250 feet from the house, he finally stopped to ask why, pray tell, do I snowblow my yard.
"How else can I get the tractor out here to mow the lawn", I replied.
I wonder if he is still wagging his head and mumbling to himself.
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Every morning, a large group of turkeys comes to our yard to feed. Every afternoon they return. And every evening, at dusk, six deer come to feed, and they return just before dawn.
They come because we share with our little wild friends. Each day I put out alfalfa, cracked corn, peanut hearts and black oil sunflower seed.
And every time it snows, and my neighbor sees me snow-blowing 250 feet out to the side yard, then clear a 100 foot circle so they have a place to feed, he thinks I've lost my mind. He still does not know why I plow way out there. He just thinks I like to blow snow.
So, yesterday as the winds drifted the snow and I had to go clear it, and he watched me blow snow some 250 feet from the house, he finally stopped to ask why, pray tell, do I snowblow my yard.
"How else can I get the tractor out here to mow the lawn", I replied.
I wonder if he is still wagging his head and mumbling to himself.
/
Monday, January 12, 2009
New Project Page
Hey, all! Hope you all are enjoying the winter.
We have just put up the second PROJECTS page. It contains about 70 pix of a '68 Mustang Convertible that is being restored. The car belongs to Connie Peacock, of Dresden, ME. The page shows pix of Phase I - tearing it down, then restoring many of the components.
Can't wait for Phase II, Connie. Better tell that lazy bum you're married to that he should get going...winter doesn't last forever, not even in Maine (though it seems like it at times).
Thanks for sharing pix of the project, Connie. Jim & Eric seem to be doing well. Bless y'all!
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We have just put up the second PROJECTS page. It contains about 70 pix of a '68 Mustang Convertible that is being restored. The car belongs to Connie Peacock, of Dresden, ME. The page shows pix of Phase I - tearing it down, then restoring many of the components.
Can't wait for Phase II, Connie. Better tell that lazy bum you're married to that he should get going...winter doesn't last forever, not even in Maine (though it seems like it at times).
Thanks for sharing pix of the project, Connie. Jim & Eric seem to be doing well. Bless y'all!
/
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's Early, But...
Just to let y'all know that a few of the car shows are already beginning to send in their info to be posted on the calendar. The first: The American Legion, in Naples ME. Wasn't much last year, but they seem to be doing it up right this time around, judging from the preliminary info they have sent.
Don't mind saying that those fine folks picked up a copy of our Complete Car Show Guide last fall, so I think we can look forward to a fine show in Naples this year.
As soon as info is specific and all settled, I will begin posting to the calendar. Meanwhile, if your club is getting their show info together, don't forget to let HotKarz.com know. We'll be happy to promote it.
See ya in the spring!
/
Don't mind saying that those fine folks picked up a copy of our Complete Car Show Guide last fall, so I think we can look forward to a fine show in Naples this year.
As soon as info is specific and all settled, I will begin posting to the calendar. Meanwhile, if your club is getting their show info together, don't forget to let HotKarz.com know. We'll be happy to promote it.
See ya in the spring!
/
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Silver Lining
The current economic conditions have hurt many. But even in a recession there is a silver lining that should not be ignored. Here are a few examples:
Sure, recession hurts. But for those who can act on the bargains a recession creates, there is wealth ahead.
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- Fuel prices are way down
- Airfares are bargain-priced
- Vacations - there are thousands of destinations that are going for peanuts. Some cruises as low as $49 per day
- Stocks of good, solid companies are now easily afforded by almost anyone, and bound to go up
- Home prices are way down, for those in the market
Sure, recession hurts. But for those who can act on the bargains a recession creates, there is wealth ahead.
/
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Barstool Economics
Thought this was worth sharing....
Bar Stool Economics, simply but effectively explained !!!!
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, based on what they pay, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before, with the poorest getting the most savings. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls , journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen
Ph.D. Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no further explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
/
Bar Stool Economics, simply but effectively explained !!!!
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
'Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, based on what they pay, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before, with the poorest getting the most savings. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls , journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen
Ph.D. Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no further explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
/
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Reflections
As I grow older, I often find myself thinking back on past events, and even relationships. Today I was reflecting on some of the great gals I have known.
Margaret - ah, sweet Margie! So cross-eyed she could stand on Wednesday and see both Sundays.
And I'll never forget the wild times with Raelene. Rae was so fat that when she sat around the house, she sat AROUND the house. But a heart of gold, like none other.
And then, of course, there was Edna. Eddie was really something. She was so ugly that I took her with me everywhere I went, just so I wouldn't have to kiss her goodbye.
But those days are past. Now I am very happily married to an absolutely wonderful little gal. And since she is reading this over my shoulder, I will say no more, except that I never had it so good.
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Margaret - ah, sweet Margie! So cross-eyed she could stand on Wednesday and see both Sundays.
And I'll never forget the wild times with Raelene. Rae was so fat that when she sat around the house, she sat AROUND the house. But a heart of gold, like none other.
And then, of course, there was Edna. Eddie was really something. She was so ugly that I took her with me everywhere I went, just so I wouldn't have to kiss her goodbye.
But those days are past. Now I am very happily married to an absolutely wonderful little gal. And since she is reading this over my shoulder, I will say no more, except that I never had it so good.
/
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