Budget Cutbacks Leave Family Without Power/Heating

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iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
1
0
So you're saying poor people shouldn't have entertainment? There's no indication they have cable, or even that the TV is in working order. I'm not sure where you got the $520 figure from. But for the sake the arguing lets say the do have cable, many apartments include it in the monthly rent. So it's very possible that cutting off the cable won't save them a dime. Also, selling the TV & Xbox would result in what a few months of gas & electricity?

That's not going to do anything about solving their problem of not being able to afford to pay the bills. Somehow ATOT's acting like selling a shitty DLP that's probably only worth about $250 will magically fix their problems. It would be like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. The TV and Xbox could be old, so it's not like they're living beyond their means with a ton of of brand new shit. I see 2 items that's all.

I can't judge them one way or another simply because I see a TV and an Xbox controller. But I'm smart enough to know selling the TV will leave them without a TV and won't "help" them.
Sell the TV & Xbox would definitely help them get off their lazy ass and get some exercise, and maybe a job instead of vegetates in front of it.

I haven't have cable for almost 20 years and strongly believe that motivates me to be more active than the average person. And, only recently I own TVs.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
So you're saying poor people shouldn't have entertainment? There's no indication they have cable, or even that the TV is in working order. I'm not sure where you got the $520 figure from. But for the sake the arguing lets say the do have cable, many apartments include it in the monthly rent. So it's very possible that cutting off the cable won't save them a dime. Also, selling the TV & Xbox would result in what a few months of gas & electricity?

That's not going to do anything about solving their problem of not being able to afford to pay the bills. Somehow ATOT's acting like selling a shitty DLP that's probably only worth about $250 will magically fix their problems. It would be like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. The TV and Xbox could be old, so it's not like they're living beyond their means with a ton of of brand new shit. I see 2 items that's all.

I can't judge them one way or another simply because I see a TV and an Xbox controller. But I'm smart enough to know selling the TV will leave them without a TV and won't "help" them.

without fail, the hood advocate makes his appearance.....it's comical now
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
You have obviously never been that cold/hungry before because if you had been you would know exactly what selling the television and the xbox would do. It would cause you, in the short term which is the only thing that matters when you are cold/hungry, to not be cold/hungry anymore. It doesn't matter if its for a week or a few months it sure beats the hell out of being hungry.
tru dat. I once paid $5 for a bottle of water. five fucking dollars. That's what being thirsty makes you do. Holding onto your plasma TV and xbox means you're not really that hungry. Being incredibly obese is another sign that you're not hungry... or not that kind of hungry since obese people are always "hungry" in a sense.


The up side is that she can use her xbox to heat the room. My bed room is heated by a 6 core AMD computer. The vent from the furnace is blocked and I turn prime95 on or off to control the temperature. I run 4 threads of prime95 small FFT at night to keep the room temperature just right :thumbsup:


l2 hydroponics in your closet, it ain't just for marijuana
economics fail. 1 closet full of marijuana will buy you 10 closets full of food. If you start selling cocaine, you can buy food and the energy bill ;)
 
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QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,553
834
126
without fail, the hood advocate makes his appearance.....it's comical now

Macon GA isn't what I would call the hood, but whatever you say. What's comical is the people in here bitching about the TV & Xbox. If she sold them she'd be back asking for assistance 2 months later.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
So you're saying poor people shouldn't have entertainment? There's no indication they have cable, or even that the TV is in working order. I'm not sure where you got the $520 figure from. But for the sake the arguing lets say the do have cable, many apartments include it in the monthly rent. So it's very possible that cutting off the cable won't save them a dime. Also, selling the TV & Xbox would result in what a few months of gas & electricity?

Go get a book from the library. There's entertainment. It is a reasonable conclusion that they have cable or some similar service; if not, then perhaps Netflix or Blockbuster. It is a very safe conclusion that the TV is functional. For the mathematically challenged, $10/week * 52wks/yr = $520/yr. Damn, that's some really tough math! If, as you would like to assume, they do have cable with the apartment cost, then I cannot fault them for that - but I can fault them for possessing such a large and expensive television. Yes, selling the TV and Xbox would be a temporary measure, but it's better than nothing. Would you rather have your precious television/cable/xbox/whatever in a cold apartment, or a few library books in a warm apartment? That's an easy call.

That's not going to do anything about solving their problem of not being able to afford to pay the bills. Somehow ATOT's acting like selling a shitty DLP that's probably only worth about $250 will magically fix their problems. It would be like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. The TV and Xbox could be old, so it's not like they're living beyond their means with a ton of of brand new shit. I see 2 items that's all.

Ah, so you've now concluded exactly the type of the television and its value. I find your assessment of such to be absolutely ludicrous, but that aside, it does not matter. Sell it so you can stop freezing; but as long as you own it, you sure as fuck don't deserve to be helped by taxpayer dollars. We're seeing a small corner of the room, but I see at least one game sitting on the floor loose, I suspect that there are one or two pieces of a surround system visible - if not, perhaps an ottoman and still another piece of electronics, and the Xbox, if working, isn't really "old" as long as it works. It's still the currently produced Xbox.

I can't judge them one way or another simply because I see a TV and an Xbox controller. But I'm smart enough to know selling the TV will leave them without a TV and won't "help" them.

Yes, it will help them. It might pay for heat for a month, or maybe two. That's a help.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Macon GA isn't what I would call the hood, but whatever you say. What's comical is the people in here bitching about the TV & Xbox. If she sold them she'd be back asking for assistance 2 months later.
Maybe one of her room mates will find a job in those 2 months and can contribute to the bills. :whiste:
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
We've done that in NY. George Soros donated money supposedly for school supplies for children on medicaid, and the govt. kicked in $170 million in addition. The problem is that Soros wouldn't qualify what the donation was for and the way the govt. regs were written that meant the same thing.

It amounted to $200 per kid between 3 and 18 no questions asked. Ipods, HDTVS, alcohol, smokes- Flew out the doors. ATM machines were emptied. High end sports shoes went.

Know what didn't? School supplies.

It was all over the news. Cameras were at Walmarts showing the stock flying off the shelves. Best Buys too.

Our illustrious Gov. Paterson said it wasn't true, that it was all anecdotal.

Yeah.
Ugh... I remember that. The system is broken. : /
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Macon GA isn't what I would call the hood, but whatever you say. What's comical is the people in here bitching about the TV & Xbox. If she sold them she'd be back asking for assistance 2 months later.

Seriously? Like any place, it has a ghetto 'hood. Multiple, in fact. Saying Atlanta "isn't a ghetto 'hood" is misleading for the same reasons. It's not, but it certainly has 'em.
 
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CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Seriously. Sell TV, pay bills. If you can afford a 55" television and an Xbox 360 (I see the controller on the lower shelf of the TV stand), you don't need my tax dollars. Hope she freezes.

Umm... the whole console and another controller is plainly visible just above the electric heater off to the right (not on the TV stand). Has the silver trim too (they didn't get the cheap Core/Arcade and went with the Premium/Pro).
 
Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
0
So you're saying poor people shouldn't have entertainment? There's no indication they have cable, or even that the TV is in working order. I'm not sure where you got the $520 figure from. But for the sake the arguing lets say the do have cable, many apartments include it in the monthly rent. So it's very possible that cutting off the cable won't save them a dime. Also, selling the TV & Xbox would result in what a few months of gas & electricity?

That's not going to do anything about solving their problem of not being able to afford to pay the bills. Somehow ATOT's acting like selling a shitty DLP that's probably only worth about $250 will magically fix their problems. It would be like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. The TV and Xbox could be old, so it's not like they're living beyond their means with a ton of of brand new shit. I see 2 items that's all.

I can't judge them one way or another simply because I see a TV and an Xbox controller. But I'm smart enough to know selling the TV will leave them without a TV and won't "help" them.

yes, that's exactly what i'm saying (through him). whether you are poor or not, there are priorities in life and entertainment is way below necessities.

and any apartments that provide cable are OPTIONAL.
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
22
81
LOL, that TV. Is it like 50"?

I'm the sort of person who would probably sacrifice heating for internet, but I wouldn't complain about it because it would be something I decide to do (and it would be worth it). But I am in California, so I don't really know what cold is.

67 degrees is cold. anything lower and we're talking freezing body parts here.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
The government should put out an iphone app to simplify the process of applying for welfare. Every person who applies using the iphone app gets blacklisted because they have enough money to buy an iphone :D
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,960
8,204
126
My bed room is heated by a 6 core AMD computer. The vent from the furnace is blocked and I turn prime95 on or off to control the temperature. I run 4 threads of prime95 small FFT at night to keep the room temperature just right :thumbsup:

You should fold instead running Prime95. No point in wasting clock cycles. You benefit with heat, and everyone else benefits through important research.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
You should fold instead running Prime95. No point in wasting clock cycles. You benefit with heat, and everyone else benefits through important research.

Folding is too much of a pain in the ass to turn off. To stop prime, I just click the icon and close it. To turn off Folding, I need to go into system management, then into services, then manually turn off up to 6 services. I suggested on their forum several times that they should get their shit together and make it simple like Prime95 is. 1 exe file --> 6 threads.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,960
8,204
126
Hmm.. I never had trouble with the f@h client. I start/stop it using the tray icon. It's a bit more of a PITA in Linux, but noting too terrible.There's other organizations too. You could checkout the stuff that uses boinc. I'm not personally familiar with using that, but it's probably easy to use.
 

coloumb

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,069
0
81
Wow - I probably should go try and get some assistance if this lady with all of those expensive components in the picture is complaining and needs assistance?

I still own a 27" tube tv that I purchased about 10 years ago.
I still own a Sega Dreamcast.
I don't have a DVR/HDTV either.

I should drive on down to the local state office and apply for assistance so I too can have a nice flat screen tv, xbox360 [with kinect] and upgrade my Comcast to HDTV. Oh while I'm at it - I should see about dying my hair and start taking up smoking!!

/smirk
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
So you're saying poor people shouldn't have entertainment? There's no indication they have cable, or even that the TV is in working order. I'm not sure where you got the $520 figure from. But for the sake the arguing lets say the do have cable, many apartments include it in the monthly rent. So it's very possible that cutting off the cable won't save them a dime. Also, selling the TV & Xbox would result in what a few months of gas & electricity?

That's not going to do anything about solving their problem of not being able to afford to pay the bills. Somehow ATOT's acting like selling a shitty DLP that's probably only worth about $250 will magically fix their problems. It would be like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. The TV and Xbox could be old, so it's not like they're living beyond their means with a ton of of brand new shit. I see 2 items that's all.

I can't judge them one way or another simply because I see a TV and an Xbox controller. But I'm smart enough to know selling the TV will leave them without a TV and won't "help" them.

You have obviously never been truly hungry before. If you had been, selling the TV and Xbox would have been a godsend at that moment in time because you wouldn't have been hungry anymore.

BTW, a flat panel big screen TV and Xbox and internet are not required for "entertainment". I got by with a 19" w/ bunny ears (given to me for helping a bud move) and a deck of cards ($1-$2). Furthermore, entertainment is completely irrelevant if you are hungry or cold. Entertainment is one of those things we call a "luxury". If you are in danger of freezing or starving and you are watching TV or playing a video game you deserve to starve or freeze. Personally, I would be spending all of my time doing whatever was necessary to no longer be hungry or freezing but thats just me.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
BTW, a flat panel big screen TV and Xbox and internet are not required for "entertainment".

I don't even own a TV anymore. Even though I have a good job and lots of extra money kicking around, it's just hard to justify blowing $500 on something I'm doing fine without.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
Macon GA isn't what I would call the hood, but whatever you say. What's comical is the people in here bitching about the TV & Xbox. If she sold them she'd be back asking for assistance 2 months later.

Then in 2 months I would feel she was truly in need and I would have no problem helping her in anyway that I could.

This debate is truly a testament to how good the "poor" have it in the USA. We are literally arguing if they should have High Def television, a $300 gaming console, internet, cell phones, etc... I would have been in heaven if I had that stuff back when I was "poor". Hell, I remember being happy as hell when I got a new (semi-used) deck of cards that a buddy got from the Casino (they punched holes in them and gave em away after relatively few uses). My 19" TV I got for free sat on a milk crate that I splurged and bought a piece of cloth to cover so that it didn't look like a milk crate.

My "stuff" might have been crap but I was able to scrape enough together to keep the lights on and some sort of food (usually mac&cheese or raman noodles). Every now and then my friends and I would splurge and BBQ something. I wonder what she is eating tonight? I bet its not just mac & cheese.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
I don't even own a TV anymore. Even though I have a good job and lots of extra money kicking around, it's just hard to justify blowing $500 on something I'm doing fine without.

That is a personal choice and I definately see your point. Different things have vastly different value to each of us. If she values TV, Xbox, and I-net more than heat and food so be it. Don't expect me to give a fuck that she is cold or hungry though.

If the story had read "woman sells most of her non-essential stuff and is still cold/hungry" I would give a fuck.
 
May 11, 2008
20,202
1,149
126
6ftx6ft? R U SRS? If you were somehow able to take in a full harvest EVERY SINGLE DAY, perhaps. Also, poor people and people living in cities usually don't have "yards" at all and local government usually prohibits any serious farming without being in an area zoned for agriculture. You can have a typical garden with some flowers, herbs, and maybe a row of tomatoes and corn.

I agree i was a bit optimistic. But filled in with bread and eggs , you can get pretty far. And then you can actually eat a modest amount of the bad food and still stay thin and reasonably healthy.

EDIT:
That local government of the US is not so free is it ? A guess it has to do with the shortage of water.
But i always see huge suburbs with huge gardens. Space enough i would think.



l2 hydroponics in your closet, it ain't just for marijuana

I never grown my own supply to be honest. Never desired to smoke that much. And what i bought to smoke i gave away in a happy evening. "What you buy tonight, you end tonight " was a good premise to live by, especially when my friends and i bought a lot :) . Those days where fun. N64 mario kart racing with 6 people where number 3 and 4 would have to give up their controller and number 1 and 2 where fighting for first place. Smoke, booze and after that go the local dancing to dance and women hunting.

I wish i was 92 again...


I have not smoked a single joint for at least 7 or 8 years.
It bored me and the people i used to hang out with, displayed to much repeated behavior. Making the same mistakes over and over again, did not want to improve but stay on the same point and complain about everything. After that, never had the company good enough to smoke a joint with. The only people (which i share the same mentality with by the way) i would smoke with gave it up too because of the desire for children which they now have. We will one day have a smoke again, probably together with a small glass of best and at least 20 year old single malt Scotch whiskey but all in good time ^_^.
 
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