Good debt...bad debt...tooth fairy debt...is there a difference???

I could sit here and quote a bunch of meaningless numbers to you about how many Americans are in over their heads with all sorts of debt. We get it...the economy is in a recession. Who's to blame? Banks and Wall Street are greedy SOB's who aggressively seek to make loans they know cannot be repaid. People are greedy SOB's for seeking loans they cannot afford and living on credit cards they cannot pay off each month.
I've been reading a lot lately about credit scores and types of debt and I've come to one conclusion: Debt is debt. They say good debt is when you have something to show for it: a student loan, a mortgage. Bad debt is when you have nothing to show for it: a credit card. Well guess what? Whatever the case, we owe. They tell us to worry about our credit score. Why? So it will be easier to acquire more debt? How many people feel enslaved or overwhelmed by the thought of owing more money than they make in a year? What about 10 years? Has anybody ever analyzed a mortgage set up before? I remember my parents telling me that on a 400 thousand dollar house over 30 years they would pay about 750 thousand to pay off the mortgage. Granted 400 thousand is a bit excessive, but really? 350 grand? Really?
Imagine we lived in a world where nobody ever got into any kind of debt whatsoever. Granted this would probably drastically change the lifestyles of everyone, but would we really even need banks in that case? Imagine cash was only ever the accepted form of payment for anything. We would no longer be slaves to the institutions that support our excess. We would instead be slaves to our own desires and limits. We'd sacrifice, but we'd also be free.
Guess the banks really are to blame...as is our fault for depending on them.

Make your own for less than 10 grand!!!

Respect should be earned...yes I'm talking to you old people

My tenure as a casino dealer has taught me a few things about dealing with people. Sometimes during our breaks us dealers get together to blow off steam about the frustrations of customer service. It seems table games are a no win situation (imagine that). Yet it's also mostly a no win situation for us as well. I will admit that as of this writing I am 25 years old, and I don't really know that much about anything. Hell, I've been living in Iowa for 15 years now. If not for my Dad, I wouldn't have seen nearly as much of the world as I have. But I do know that the majority of people who gamble are the most whiny, dishonest, immature crybabies I've ever seen. Whiny because they love to let you know how unfair it is that you didn't bust on that sixteen. Dishonest because I've almost never seen anyone return an overpaid bet or stopped payment on a winner when in fact it was a loser. Immature because of the total lack of respect they seem to have for anything. Pleasant, honest gamblers are out there (God bless you people), but unfortunately not enough to be of influence.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard the specific phrase "I've been playing this game longer than you've been alive." WOW!! AWESOME!! You've been gambling for more than 25 years. So...after two and a half decades, have you still not figured out that the game is stacked against you; that mathematically it is impossible for you to win? OK, maybe you even accept that whatever money you gamble you're gonna lose. Does this mean that since you've been losing for more than 25 years that you're entitled to tell dealers how to do their jobs? Apparently since you insist on bending or breaking the rules or procedures, dealers adhering to company policy are incompetent because they will not risk discipline to accommodate your shenanigans.
GROW THE FUCK UP!!! You're 40-70 years old!! The world does not owe you lordship because you've survived for this long. There are billions of people like you who aren't aggressively demanding subordination. And guess what? They're the ones getting what you so badly crave. Some people gamble to have a good time. And some people gamble because they're lonely seeking a feeling of importance. You know who you are. Respect is a privilege, not a right. Give it, and you'll be surprised with the results.

Athletic Victory Celebrations

I can often escape the trials of life by indulging in tennis matches on ESPN or Youtube. I must admit I've seen some amazing things, unbelievable things. Yet I can't tell you how often my enjoyment is spoiled by the victor's reaction to their own feats. There is a noticeable difference in what seems to be the two types of excitement the players have once the point is won.
The first is one of genuine happiness. This naturally is the favorable reaction because it's easy to identify with. Player does something amazing. Player is awarded the point for it. Player is pumped, psyched and ready for more. Fans are happy. We want more. What more is there to say? Amazing displays of athleticism are what sports are all about.
Then there's what I call the dominance act. The player does something extraordinary. They all of a sudden stop, look at their supporting fan booth, and stand upright while pounding their fists on their chest like they're King fucking Kong or something. I've seen several players make this reaction and it's about exactly the same for all of them. It's like they've gone to the same "Become A Pompous Asshole" school of acting. Seriously it sickens me. I've seen some of these people off the court and they may even be likable people. But it's really hard to respect someone who acts so immature, not to mention how easily forgettable their feat was. I swear, if not for instant replays I'd forget what even happened.
You're paid hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars for being professional athletes. You certainly are athletes. Now let's be professional.