Lyon County commissioners will have their work cut out for them with the 2012 budget this year.
Early numbers reflect a 10.5-mill increase, commissioners learned during their action session on Thursday. A mill in Lyon County currently raises $227,000 making the mill increase about $2 million. This number reflects all requests made by all departments. To get the mill levy down to an acceptable number, commissioners will have to cut somewhere.
Dan Slater, county controller, said the current number is unacceptable. That 10.5-mill increase includes the 3.5 mills Newman Regional Health requested last week. The hospital stated they needed the money to fund major capital purchases.
Slater said revenue numbers are better than they have been for a number of years. However, expenses are up, too.
“Where we are is not acceptable,” Slater said. “There has to be some cuts done. I don’t envy you guys.”
Slater said the county likely will file an extension on the deadline when the budget is due.
Representatives from the Flint Hills Community Health Center/Lyon County Health Department requested level funding for 2012 during Thursday’s meeting. Will Rogers, interim executive director of the center, said despite increasing costs incurred by the center, they are requesting the level funding.
Rogers said most people have been touched by the services of the Flint Hills Community Health Center/Lyon County Health Department in some way such as water inspections, child care center inspections and a host of other services.
This year the health center is budgeting a break-even budget for 2012.
In other business:
Approved displaying historical surveying equipment at the Lyon County Historical Society.
Mark McKenna, facilities manager, discussed the removal and replacement of a compressor for the TRANE intellipack chiller at the jail. Commissioners approved the item.
Commissioners approved a request from Tammy Vopat, county clerk, for a replacement computer that is used for elections. Commissioners approved the request.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I hope these commissioners know what's going on in the world.
http://lenox8081.wordpress.com/2011/0...
July 22, 2011 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.gcnlive.com/listen.php
July 23, 2011 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Raising taxes with a declining job market and population? Common sense must be on vacation.
July 23, 2011 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
goodoleboy, you got it right, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc...
July 23, 2011 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
WHY IS IT, that when normal thinking people take on the job of elected office they seem to lose the ability of common sense thinking?
It's not just the county. Our city, state, school board, hospital, and the worse, the FEDS just have to stop. Stop and think of who were elected to represent. " We the people" means all of us. Not just those who are working in government.
We have all cut back the last few years, we still are. So have most government employees.
OUR GASOLINE HAS GONE UP.
OUR FOOD HAS GONE UP.
OUR SUPPLIES HAVE GONE UP.
OUR UTILITIES HAVE GONE UP.
Our paychecks HAVE NOT gone up.
Some no longer have a paycheck..
So what does the average citizen do?
WE CUT! AND CUT! AND CUT!
AND WE MAKE DO.
So please forgive me if I don't feel sorry for you and the decisions you must make. We have had to make them already, and so should you.
If it means cutting popular programs that are not essential or cutting staff, that is YOUR JOB!
Make do with what you have, make your department heads do with what you feel is available. If they can't or wont, find someone who will.
BUT PLEASE.
Quite complaining about how hard your job is doing the budget and do it.
AND STOP RAISING TAXES!
July 23, 2011 at 7:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
The best way to start the process is to tell all departments to submit flat budget requests only.
July 23, 2011 at 7:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
GOOD IDEA STEVE. AND NOW FOR THE NEW WORLD ORDER.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO24Xm...
July 24, 2011 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-CrNl...
July 25, 2011 at 12:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Out of 105 counties in Kansas.
LYON COUNTY IS RANKED 89th IN PER CAPITA INCOME @ $15,724.00.
July 25, 2011 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Lyon County LOST
6.2% OF IT'S POPULATION
in the last ten years.
Shouldn't the counties budget reflect that?
It is time for the commission to put away the rose colored glasses.
July 25, 2011 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Good post, Steve. Yes, the average Emporian cannot possibly afford a tax increase when we see our own incomes dwindling with inflated prices in every area. Add to that the fact that the feds say pensioners will receive no raise because the cost of living index has not risen. Yeah, sure. "You lie!"
Good suggestion for department heads to only file new budgets that are flat. However, we must feel for them because they too are dealing with inflated prices. A piece of equipment or even a ream of paper costs them more today than last year.
But we are all in this together and we must ALL budget wisely and that means not asking for things we can't afford right now.
As for the hospital and their request for funds to purchase new equipment, why can't we have a giant fund raiser. If the Clint Boyer gold tournament can raise $300 thousand, why can't we as a county come up with some kind of idea to raise funds for Newman's equipment?
Where I'm from in Hawaii, there are several major hospitals that operate smoothly on state of the art equipment. Most of it is purchased through their auxiliaries on their annual fund raisers which raise millions.
Why can't we do that? It would be a county wide effort. There's got to be somerhing we can do.
Okay, here's something that will bring on the attacks: If we paid for the courthouse earlier than expected, why can't we find a way to funnel those funds that went to pay for the courthouse to the hospital equipment fund? That's my suggestion and I'm sticking to it. Fire away, I don't give a rat's behind.
Here's something else. It behooves all of us to make that hospital the best medical facility possible. Make that possible and you will see people coming to town to visit their relatives who must be admitted there. There's some "tourist" trade dollars for you.
Hey, Lyon County, put your money where your mouth is and let's all get together and raise the funds for Newman's equipment.
Let me be first. Somebody arrange an auction and I'll donate one of my quilts. I'll find other quilters to do the same. These quilts fetch $700 and up. I said up.
The fabric in my quilts are fine quilt shop quality that run $9 and $10 a yard.
Now, somebody else come up with stuff of their own for an auction. New stuff, please, none of your junk. Please.
Frankly, I can't believe the Newman's auxiliary hasn't done something big and spectacular like this. But, let me dispense with negativism for a little while so we can get this puppy going. It could even be an annual event.
How about sometime in late September when all the heat is gone? Hey Dan Slater, can the county pay the auctioneer's fees? Be better than having to come up with three hundred grand.
That's my suggestion. Build on it you people of the plains, you Lyon County lovers of conservatism.
C'MON!!! I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!
July 25, 2011 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
create, i think it's a great idea! no trashing here...
July 25, 2011 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moderator (anonymous) says...
FYI: http://www.emporiagazette.com/chats/2...
July 25, 2011 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
scarlett, which part of the idea do you like best? Using court house sales tax monies to purchase equipment or the auction? Or both?
We must get to a point where we can take care of ourselves and not constantly ask the government to help us with every little thing. We must stop draining the tax coffers.
OMG, I sound like a Republican. Please don't tell my mom and dad. They're gone now, but they both told me, "Just because you're moving to Kansas does not mean you become a Republican." No, Ma and Daddy, I'm an Independent. Not to worry.
July 25, 2011 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
moderator,
Thank you very much for providing that link to the Diamonds and Denim group raising money for the hospital. I didn't realize they had this group.
So now, if this group is so active, why are they collecting so little money? $28,000? $35,000? Sorry, in light of one golf tourney that brought in $300,000, I think those amounts are drops in the bucket. Why aren't they more active and why aren't they earning more?
Sorry to be a wet blanket, moderator, but those amounts seem so puny. It would seem that more effort is needed by the Denim and Diamonds group if the hospital is still asking for three hundred thousand from the county.
July 25, 2011 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create,
Diamonds and Denim group did raise quite a bit for an Emporia area fundraiser. The money raised at Clint Bowyer's auction was mostly out of town corporate money. Very few in Emporia area could afford those items.
The $300k figure also includes Clint's personal matching amount of over $150 K.
The best thing about his fundraiser is he brought a whole lot of out of towners into Emporia for a weekend of fun and games. I hope everyone was nice too them.
July 25, 2011 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Keep in mind: 1 mil is $1 more tax for $1,000 of assessed evaluation.
So Newman's request alone will cost my 78 yo mother $245. She's on Social Security.
How does Newman suggest she pay for this?
July 25, 2011 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chalkrocks (anonymous) says...
railroadhorn--
Your mothers house does not have an assessed value high enough to warrant a $245.00 increase.
There is a big difference between appraised value and assessed value. The assessed value is 11.5% of the appraised value. So in order for your statement to be true regarding your mother in law her house would have to be assessed at $70,000 or appraise around $608,000.
July 25, 2011 at 2:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
chalkrocks
could be a farm ?
July 25, 2011 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chalkrocks (anonymous) says...
There are very few places that would have a $245.00 tax increase for 3.5 mills. If railroadhorns mother by chance is one of those few and she really does own something so valuable, I am sure a measly old $245.00 tax bill doesn't phase her much.
July 25, 2011 at 3:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
chalkrocks,
A lot of people do not realize the difference between assessed and appraised value when trying to figure out what these increases cost.
For example the county has these figures on this random home.
Appraised value: $172,600.00
Assessed value $19,802.00
X156.503 levy
At last years mil levy that tax owed was $3,053.08 approx.
So far the school board says no increase, the hospital wants 3.5 and the city NEEDS 3.5 more, just to service debt.
July 25, 2011 at 3:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Well, I stand corrected I guess. Her value on her tax info on the Lyon County web site shows $69600.
July 25, 2011 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
We need the old Gazette writers. They never used to run a tax story without saying how much the mill rate incrase was going to cost an average taxpayer especially since we're up to 7 mill increase already altogether.
Even if it's $24 it will have to come from her food or energy budgets. Or all of us kids will have to keep giving her more. She's just getting priced out of Emporia. That's my point.
July 25, 2011 at 3:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
railroadhorn,
I knew exactly what you meant. Even a $24 increase , for someone living on a fixed income, it is truly hard.
But the people raising the taxes have never had to deal with that problem, so it is hard for them to grasp it. One need only to look at the all the pay day loan places in town to realize it. Evidently all of our commissioners don't drive those routes to work.
July 25, 2011 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chalkrocks (anonymous) says...
So it looks like her tax bill would go up $28.00 this year in order to approve the hospitals request.
Steve is right though. Others are "needing" money as well. So $28 one time...yeah she can maybe do that. But $28 to the hospital, $28 to the city, $28 to the county....all that begins to add up. And, normally once that money starts to be collected it miraculously finds uses elsewhere the subsequent years.
July 25, 2011 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
create, why not both? i have forgotten, but what is that extra tax to pay the courthouse, being used for now? if its going toward rocks then put it towards the hospital.
another stoopid question i have. is jodi heermann related to kent heermann? and how much is newman paying her? just wondering?
and maybe a newman auction is a good idea....
July 25, 2011 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
btw i've seen both the rocks now. the one merchant is hidden behind other signs, so it is a waste, the other on is on the wrong side of the road and disappears in the other things around it. so it is a waste also. as always this is just my oipnion!
July 25, 2011 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
the other on hwy 50 that is
July 25, 2011 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I took my daughter around to see both of those when she was here visiting me last week. All she did was shake her head. "Who plans these things, Mom? What a waste of money which was too damn much to begin with." She is an executive with a large retail company. As she looked around town she explained many things to me about what retail companies look for when considering locating in an area. The scouts do look at infrastructure and they do look at sidewalks and streets. One thing they definitely look at is the ratio to population proportion of payday loan places. I won't go into everything else. Too depressing, but she was using not only fresh eyes, but business experience as well.
There you have it from an out-of-towner.
BTW, did anyone hear that loud scream around 5:30 today? That was me. The kid who delivered my pizza couldn't make change. A grown kid 17 or 18 years old couldn't make change. I just can't deal with paying taxes to a school district that produces a kid that can't make change.
July 25, 2011 at 5:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
O.K. here is a mathematical/accounting question for you.
I have a cousin, a farmer, who has a 1000 acre farm, he is 78 years old and his farm is appraised at $2200 per acre.
So, as I see it his tax assessed value right now before any mil levy increase, using the 11.5 % formula, would be an assessed value of $ 253,000 .
Now, can anyone, afford the amount of tax that would be due on this property, even before any raise in the mil levy ?
FYI, an appraised value of $ 253,000, would mean 253 X $ 156.503 mil levy = a tax payment of $39, 595.259 and if it increases another possible 10 to 15 mils would mean another $ 2530 to $ 3800 additional tax dollars he would have to pay.
July 25, 2011 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
create,
If you took away all of the fancy computer controlled, scanning registers at the retail businesses, such as WAL-MART, etc. most of those cashiers could not make change either.
Man has become to dependent on the non-living electronic brain to do his " Thinking " for him/her .
Making/Counting change without a calculator, computer or anyother mechanical device is so easy, anyone should be able to do it.
July 25, 2011 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
meth, ummm wow. that all gets passed down to the consumers. wait til bread is $10.00 a loaf.
create, i heard you all the way up here!!!!
basic math should be required to get that job!
July 25, 2011 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
create, i need go get off topic for a minute....
can you freeze fresh tomatoes, and what is the best way to do so?
July 25, 2011 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
Why do you think Ly'in County lost 6.2 % of it's population!
And I predict that it will be losing more and more and more!
Cut back, reduce or layoff!
Just like we have all had to do!!!!!!!
July 25, 2011 at 7:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
scarlett01_98
Wash them and just freeze them whole in ziplock freezer bags. When you thaw them out run cool water over them and the skin will come right off. At least, that's how we do it.
July 25, 2011 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create,
you were a teacher once. So the next time you run into one of these kids who can't make change, TEACH THEM. They will appreciate it.
July 25, 2011 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
methusla,
Good Morning.
Your example of the farmer owning that section may be a little off. I'm not sure but I think agricultural land is appraised and assessed differently . Crop land is assessed differently than pasture land and so on. But that 1000 acres would not be taxed based on purchase or appraised price. Any farmers on here to let me know for sure?
July 26, 2011 at 6:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
scarlett01_98
try this link for your "maters":
http://www.ehow.com/how_2045549_prese...
July 26, 2011 at 6:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
scarlett,
Yes, you can freeze fresh tomatoes. I do one of two ways. I rinse whole ones and place in zip lok bags. They freeze solid and when held under running water, the skin pops right off. Use those in stews and chili. I don't care for them in salads, however.
To save space, I have also chopped them up in a food processor or blender before putting them in a zip lok bag. If you don't peel them, you get a lot of peel in the finished product, but it all floats to the top when you add it to a soup or stew or chili and you can either skim it out then or leave it in as extra fibre. The peeling is where the anti oxidants are anyway.
Lucky you for getting maters. Mine are not producing in this heat and the flowers are just drying up and falling off. I'm about to lose them all except for the one I have on the patio in a big pot. Big beautiful leaves shading the large tomatoes hanging in clusters. Everytime I water that baby, I use water with a little bit of Miracle Gro in it. I think I'll just do several pots like that next year. My eggplants and peppers are also in big pots on the patio and doing beautifully too. So much easier.
July 26, 2011 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Steve,
Once a teacher, always a teacher. Teachers don't retire, they just find other ways to make assignments.
Hey, I did try to teach the pizza delivery kid how to make change. It would have only taken me a few minutes, but he was in an incredible hurry, and only paid attention for a moment before he ran off shaking his head.
It is difficult to convince someone that to make change, all you have to do is add.
Yes, methusla, you're right, those cash registers today do the work of change making. At one time, many errors in change making occurred and that's why those machines were invented.
I don't think any cashier or pizza delivery person should be hired unless they know how to make change without the use of a calculator or register.
July 26, 2011 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
steve corbin and create, thanks for the hints. i'm gonna do that. in the last 2 weeks i've given away at least 100 lbs of maters. the neighbors are starting to hide from me.
on the change note by the pizza guy, a couple of weeks ago a middle school teacher was asked: what is 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1x0=?
his answer was 16
ever wonder who is teaching the teachers?
July 26, 2011 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
wow scarlett, you guys must be irrigating. Honestly, my maters went belly up last week, and even then, all the flowers have been falling off earlier than that. Gotta change my methods for next year.
Your neighbors are truly lucky and don't even know it. Tomatoes are high dollar in the farmer's market too.
July 26, 2011 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
yes they know....
how did you like that math question? it was enlightening to me... what do you think?
July 26, 2011 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
the therapy dept at newman is lucky also...
July 26, 2011 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I liked your math question very much, scarlett.
0
:)
July 26, 2011 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
The State of Kansas released new Census figures today as part of the redistricting effort, lowering the March data by 14,000 people. Guess how many fewer Lyon County got -- 1,152?
Here's the adjusted figures:
2010 33,690 32,538 -1,152 -3.42%
From an earlier Gazette story, "Lyon County’s 2010 Census population is 33,690, which is down 2,245 from 2010, a drop of 6.3 percent."
Make that down -3,397 with today's adjustment. Not sure how much of that is from Emporia. Probably a lot since it's mainly adjusting for students who live elsewhere and military people.
Story and the report is at Kansasreporter.org
July 26, 2011 at 9:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The number is probably higher railroadhorn, I would say it is a conservative estimate at best. We are a few more bad ideas away from the point of no return.
July 27, 2011 at 4:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
create, i knew it was 0 the instant i saw the trick question. my observation to everyone is a middle school teacher got it wrong! who is teaching the teachers?
that is a 3rd grade math question.
July 27, 2011 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bluebonnet (anonymous) says...
Create,
I was pretty good at math, but I can't remember the rule... Isn't it true that the answer would be zero if all the ones were in parentheses, but since they're not, the "X 0" only applies to the "1" that it sits directly next to? So the answer would actually be 15?
July 27, 2011 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
bluebonnet,
Even if all those numbers were to add up to 15, that 15 would still be multiplied by 0 so therefore the answer would still be 0.
BTW, I am an English teacher. We love to run away from numbers. LOL
But we do know simple functions like making change. And algebra. Reccchhhhh!
July 27, 2011 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Malique (anonymous) says...
create,
Why do you pay for pizza with cash? You probably make a phone call to order too... Nowadays, most reasonable people order/pay for pizza online. The delivery guy is probably thinking you are the uneducated one because you are so ineffecient. Not to mention it is dangerous for the delivery person to carry cash/change. Do them a favor and get with the times.
July 27, 2011 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Real funny, Malique !
What you gonna do when your tablet batteries are dead?
You do know that ordering online also involves phone or cable line usage? Unless your using your neighbors unsecured wireless service.
Paying with a credit card? For pizza? Safer for the delivery person maybe, but opens you up to a greater chance of identity theft.
People need to learn to count without the aid of cash registers or computers.
July 28, 2011 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Speaking of getting with the times and being more efficient.
These newfangled phones and pads are so great. How did we make do without them? I see people everyday, tap-tap-tapping, texting their friends all the time,
Sometimes a 15 minute text exchange could be shortened to a minute by just touching 1 button and speaking to each other.
On the other hand, texting keeps all of us within earshot range from hearing the details of someones bad date or the hemorrhoid surgery that uncle Joe had. ;>)
July 28, 2011 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Malique,
You've gone a long way to find an excuse for not learning how to make change. Just swipe the card. Wow!
You must belong to the put-everything-on- the-credit-card-then-pay-the-minimum-due- at-the-end-of-the-month generation. You've been running us all into the poorhouse. Tell you what, bud, if I can't afford to pay cash, I don't buy it.
Besides, even if you are using a debit card, the company you buy from still has to pay a fee for the service. Guess who pays for that? Are you telling me prices don't have built in fees because you people who swipe, swipe, swipe are the cause? Now all of us have to pay the higher price as a result. Thanks a lot for getting with it.
Oh wait, you've probably never heard of the pay cash concept in your swipe-the-card world.
Me get with it? You're costing all of us a ton with all your modern appliances and tap-tap-tapping BS.
Tell you what, bud, LEARN TO MAKE CHANGE AND PAY YOUR CREDIT CARDS OFF.
Electronic devices galore are keeping foreign countries alive since they are the ones manufacturing all that stuff you adore. The modern golden calf!
July 28, 2011 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
malique,
what ever are you gonna do when the electricity goes out.
a little side note, when boeing is building a current version of air force one, they HAVE to make all calculations by hand with pencil and paper. no calculators,or such devices are allowed.
in college, my teachers mantra was learning it all by hand, because if you can't do that way, how are you ever gonna do it with a machine?
get with the times!
July 28, 2011 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
oh malique, yes i do have an engineering degree, and i was using a hand held computer before you were born. i also used early versions of the internet 25 yrs ago.....
July 28, 2011 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
create, off topic,
omg! we planted 4 seed potatoes, in march. this morning hubby dug almost 30 lbs of potatoes! i'm lovin' it!!!!
July 28, 2011 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
OMG scarlett, I'm so glad to hear that. Very impressive! Ask your hubby what his secret is. I'm having my soil tested before long. I think I'm lacking something. Honestly, for the first time ever, my stuff has not done well and I don't think it's only the heat.
July 28, 2011 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
create,
we tilled in lots of peat this year. i think i just got lucky with the garden. noone else around us got anything. or maybe god is compensating me for all the broken body parts, who knows....
July 28, 2011 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thanks, scarlett. Ordinarily I till in peat, but this year I did not. Peat sure would have helped retain moisture too. Gonna do that next year.
July 28, 2011 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
welcome create,
them 'taters are THIS big
( )
( )
( )
lol!!!
July 28, 2011 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
ewww what happened! not what i typed!
July 28, 2011 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Malique (anonymous) says...
Create,
I didn't intend to insult you or hurt your feelings. I was simply stating that the pizza delivery kids don't have to count change very often anymore, so they're out of practice. Back in the day, kids were forced to count change because there wasn't a more efficient way to do business and that kept their skills sharp.
Quite frankly, I don't appreciate your hostility. I usually use a bank card or online check. (or PayPal which comes out of my bank too) I do have credit cards, but I pay those off after cashing in on the associated rewards. If a pizza joint wants my business, they better offer a way to order online. It's not my fault they are charged a fee by the CC companies. If they don't find that option to be profitable, they can discontinue it and subsequently lose my business. "The customer is always right", they say.
July 28, 2011 at 9:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
malique,
quick..... what is the sq root of pi?
try to do that without a computer.... i know the answer without a machine.... that's the beauty of math, and pencil and paper. try it sometime.
July 29, 2011 at 5:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
scarlet01_98
The square root of PIZZA pi?
July 29, 2011 at 6:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I don't want to pile on Malique. They have their opinion and they are correct in the way things like ordering a pizza and such are done now.
For a business to accept credit or debit cards there is a charge to the business, and it can be quite substantial.
Naturally this cost is passed onto the consumer, (one way or another). After starting to accept cards at my business, their usage has grown to overtake real cash tendered sales. If the trend continues, (it will), there will no longer be any need for the bank tellers to take my deposits.
The one good thing I have learned about taking plastic is I don't have to worry about bad checks. We don't even take them anymore.
But we still need to learn how to count change when dealing with the public.
July 29, 2011 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
"...kids don't have to count change very often anymore, so they're out of practice."
Sorry malique, counting change should be no different than riding a bike or typing. Once you learn how, you should never forget it regardless of whether you use it often or not. The problem is, kids aren't learning how to make change to begin with. Perhaps I shouldn't have blamed the kid, I should just blame parents and schools.
Still, strange how kids can remember how to type, ride a bike, or text with all those strange character combinations that "mysteriously" end up in their school essays yet they can't make change.
Further still, if I were a pizza delivery kid, I would make it my top priority to learn how to make change just in case some old lady handed me cash.
When I was 15 years old, I started my first real job. It was in a drug store and I clerked for the pharmacist who taught me how to type labels for prescriptions. To do so, I had to learn how to interpret all those strange symbols and Latin shortcuts you see on a prescription form. It was like learning an entire new language. But I was a diligent kid and I learned it. Even today, I still remember what all those scritch scratches say.
Diligence is its own best teacher.
Yes, I know doctors today just fax their Rx's to the pharmacy. Just as many write them out, however.
Hey, you didn't insult me. I just get very angry when I see young people who have the world in their hands not take advantage of learning even simple tasks. Anyone who works with money should be able to make change. Have you ever been in a grocery store when the cashier was young and the electricity went out?
Our school kids continue to score lower than many, many other countries on scholastic tests. Why? They can memorize the words to a new popular song in nothing flat, yet they can't remember an algebra formula to save their butts?
Whose fault is that?
I'm a teacher, malique. And I know one thing for sure. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
July 29, 2011 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Malique,
Counting change, out of practice !
Math skills are used in your everyday life, each and every day of your life and at times, kids kids are not going to have a calculator or computer to do the life skills required of them to live their lives .
Man has almost come to the point of " Total Dependence on the Machine " ! Then what ? Will/is that going to be the end of man as an independently thinking " being " or will man just become more and more unhuman ?
What is next ? Machines, educating humans ? Oh, that right, that is already being done, its called a " computer ", as most of the children of today rely on that electronic to do their school assignments, ( educating ) for them !
Out of practice, is a lame excuse at best or possibly the truth at worst and that is really sad.
July 29, 2011 at 7:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
steve!
somehow i just knew you were going to ask that question! but i do agree with meth and my college teachers, if you don't know how to use the fastest computer ever made, which is your brain, then how are you going to use a machine? and how do you know that machine is correct? malique still waiting for your answer....
July 29, 2011 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
oh opps i meant to type steve corbin, don't want any confusion...
July 29, 2011 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )