grayhair

1 hour ago, Vladislav said:

Happy B-lated B-day!

Thank you Sir!

Interesting story Billy T.  I don't have a trailer for thieves to jump onto, however, unless they really get the drop on me in my car, they may get a .45 ACP welcome, either wad cutters or hollow points depending on which clip I shoved into my Kimber 1911 that morning.

3 hours ago, Dirtymilkman said:

It'll also have a built-in soft serve ice cream machine, it'll come with a trained driver, it has a stable built in for the unicorn that comes with it and the exhaust will shoot out bubbles and rainbows. 

Yeah, and without that big, old-tech, stinky, non-green diesel engine under the hood there will be plenty of room for the optional cotton candy machine.  And should the cotton candy machine ever need service that can be handled at any of those 300 hydrogen refueling stations...

The trailer will need to be buffed out and maybe new carpet too just to make it homey.

On 7/13/2017 at 10:46 AM, HeavyGunner said:

I agree there are many ways to skin a cat. I would love to go do a job I enjoy more but then the reality of excellent bennies (medical, eye and dental along with a pension and a 401k) I would be giving up would leave me in a crummy place as far as health insurance etc. This is where im coming from when I say a lot of people didn't/don't plan for retirement. I'm not getting to work my dream job but the trade off is I make excellent money for our area with excellent bennies which allows me to save more and hopefully retire from this job in 10-15 years

Sounds like a good plan and situation.  With good pay, good bennies, paid vacation and holidays, 401K match, what's not to like?

...

44 minutes ago, Truck Shop said:

                                          There is the factor of most employers are happy that some people are staying in the job market that should be looking to retire. Although most wouldn't admit it.

                                          The common sense factor of older workers comes into play here. The owner of my company is constantly gripping about where did all the good drivers go.  And

                                          he is really worried about replacing the two others in the shop along with me. We are a old crew in the shop, I'm 61, Jeff is 62 and Gayle is 72. We are all farting dust.

 

                                            Truck Shop

 

                                            

Yes there can be some strange dynamics in the workplace.  Many employers do value the abilities and wisdom of their older employees.  However they can become reluctant to increase salaries of those same older employees commensurate with their value to the company.  i.e. "Why should we pay old Ralph X when for that same amount we can hire two younger guys full of piss and vinegar?"  "Where's he gonna go anyway?  He is old."   Unfortunate but it is a discussion that happens a thousand time a day in hundreds of companies.  The way of the world I guess. 

7 minutes ago, HeavyGunner said:

I would have to think that with 1/3 of Americans between 65-69 that are still working most are only doing so because they cannot afford to retire because they did not plan/save for retirement. 

Yes true but maybe a little more complicated for some of us oldsters.  Pension plans that went bust.  People laid off or fired after putting in 19 years.  Wage increases that didn't keep pace with inflation.  And then there is the cost of providing for your children.  (I put two through college.)  If you have kids then you know about parenthood expenses.  And even today for us retirees, dental and medical insurance that don't begin to cover the costs you may experience.  I've got dental work coming up.  My AMG Mercedes-driving dentist quoted me $1800. for a root canal plus another $1600. for the crown to save one of the molars I use to chew.  So that'll be a $3400. tooth.  My dental insurance will pay about 50% only.  Aagh.  What's geezer to do?  Keep on working maybe... 

42 minutes ago, mackey58 said:

Yea I was 21 percent interest yep you got your opinion  and I have mine just like Nixon sucked off the jobs to China 

Yes, you were hosed by the high interest rates of the Carter years. Presidents don't set interest rates but their policies influence rates.  Once Reagan came into office, look at what happened to rates...

The wife and I like Vegas for the restaurant choices, a restaurant for every mood...

If we're having delusions of grandeur, then we like Nobu in Caesar's Palace.  (Gonna cost at least a couple of hundred to get out of the place.)  Then I adjourn to the cigar lounge also in Caesars and have a Macanudo and a couple of Drambuies. (Wife hates the smoke though.)

If we did OK at the tables and we're feeling pretty good, then we like Tao in the Palazzo.  Still gonna cost a couple of hundred there too.

If we're doing just kinda OK at the tables, then maybe the Jasmine in the Bellagio, watch the fountain show from your table... 

Or more likely, we lost much of our money at the craps tables and therefore eat at the McDonald's next door to Harrah's. 

On 6/30/2017 at 8:11 AM, j hancock said:

If you leave Vegas with a small fortune, it means you entered Vegas with a big fortune.

Yep.  But there is another way...

Question:  How do you make a small fortune?

Answer:    Begin with a large fortune and use that fortune to start up an airline.

2 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

Billy, the Ford Flex is a modern woody*, the perfect surf mobile.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/19/business/la-fi-mo-auto-ford-flex-california-20121018

* http://www.carponents.com/content/surfs-up-with-the-woodie-one-of-americas-most-iconic-cars-176

I've heard the Flex is going to be discontinued in 2020.  The sales volume just isn't all that great.   Explorer unit sales volume is 9 or 10 times that of the Flex...

"US sales of the Ford Flex were up  just over 13 percent to 17,034 units through the first nine months of 2016 – still a small fraction of the Explorer’s 163,913 US sales over the same period. Its quirky, boxy styling resonated with some, but kept it from appealing to an audience as wide as that of the Explorer."

Read more: http://fordauthority.com/2016/11/ford-flex-to-get-the-axe-in-2020/#ixzz4ldVkvWV2

On 6/30/2017 at 11:59 AM, TeamsterGrrrl said:

Bulldog, as a consumer and a Ford shareholder I'm on both sides of the issue... As a shareholder, I love the F series pickups and the SUVs! As a consumer, Ford hasn't even been able to sell me even a Fiesta.

I had a 2016 Ford Explorer company car lease vehicle before I retired.  That was a really nice vehicle, pretty loaded and one could be had off the dealer lot for about $31K.  Not cheap. but in my opinion a relatively good deal in the day of $100K Escalades, $50K Tahoes, and $70K Suburbans. 

1 hour ago, BillyT said:

I'll bet that the people who manufacture the slot machines know how to win on one! I will also bet that those same employees sign a written document forbidding them from "playing" the slots they build!

Yo Billy T, ain't gonna happen.  Maybe in the old days, but not today.  The regulation and security of the machines, at least those in Nevada, is incredibly tight.   Whatever cheat method we can imagine has already been tried and thwarted.  The technical requirements for slot machines is incredible.  Check out this link.  Scroll down to the "Technical Standards" section.

  http://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=269#techpolicies

Wow!  Looking good!

10 hours ago, TeamsterGrrrl said:

I didn't write the article.

OK.  Understood.