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Archive for April, 2008

Credit Crunch? (Only when I crumple up the applications..)

25 Apr

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with my mailbox. The love part comes when there’s a squarish orange or red envelope inside packed with varying flavors of electronic entertainment. (Netflix and Gamefly!) More likely, there will be a community coupon mailer, some bill statements (all of which are paid online) and generally a metric ton of pre-approved credit card applications. This country is supposed to be in the midst of a credit “crunch” where people will are having problems securing lines of credit, but I guess that doesn’t apply to to credit card offers. Granted, we have pretty good credit, but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

I don’t care so much about the fact that credit card companies earn their money on the massive fees generated by consumers making late payments, or that interest rates are pushing the upper 20% boundary for most offers. If you want more on that an angle, check out the movie Maxed Out; although I warn you, it might be depressing to realize how much debt the average American has piled on. That aside, this particular rant is focused on the sheer volume of material that enters my mailbox, passes through my hands, into a shredder and is dumped directly into my recycling bin.

This might be common knowledge to the general public, but it finally caught my eye on a recent offer. There’s a toll free number, (888)-567-8688, that you can call to ”Opt-Out” of receiving these mailbox cloggers for the next 5 years, very similar to the “Do Not Call” registration to protect you from telemarketers.  It’s a completely automated process took around 5 minutes to complete, but it will probably save around 50+ lbs. of paper material needing to be recycled in our household this year.

I’ve never been accused of being especially eco-centric, but I’m starting to like the idea that some of the things that annoy me tend to annoy the planet too. Selfishly motivated good deeds still qualify as “good”, right?

What’s my next target? The yellow pages and ads-only-inserts.. Seriously, when was the last time you used the yellow pages? (WIth the caveat of being “satisfied” with the results of whoever you called?)

Just as I thought….

 
1 Comment

Posted in Money

 

On becoming a father, a worldview askew..

10 Apr

You know how it is that when you’re interested in something for the first time, it suddenly becomes apparent how ubiquitous that particular object really is? Like shopping for a car, once you pick a Make/Model, you start to see it absolutely everywhere. I guess it works the same for Fatherhood. All of a sudden I’m surrounded by pregnant people and I’m finding myself checking out the design elements of strollers as they’re wheeling past me. It’s definitely a strange feeling, but oddly enough a completely welcome one.

I just find it absolutely amazing that things I’d never even thought about for 95% of the time I’ve been occupying space on this planet are starting to crowd out the status quo. Heck, without even trying, my brain has begin to focus less on the latest electronic gadget and more on the latest infant-centric electronic gadget. (After all, one’s brain can be rewired only so far..)

What do they call that feeling? You know, the one where you’re constantly having to learn new medical terms, research consumer safety ratings, reevaluate your financial plans, restructure your home’s layout and just generally grow the heck up.

Oh yeah.. Parenthood..

Cooking Cub Side Note: Our recipes and gallery for Cooking Club Russian are up and running. If you’re a fan of the Motherland sneak a peek, otherwise go about your business capitalist-pig-dog! Thanks go to Greg for a great food idea and allowing us to invade his home with a little post-communistic beet, cabbage, pickes and vodka laden goodness!

 
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Posted in Baby

 

Sallee Superchili

01 Apr

1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped, seeds removed
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin powder
1 handful fresh oregano
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
8 dried apricots, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp yellow mustard
16 oz tomato sauce
2 lbs veggie meat crumbles
1 tbsp corn starch
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup beer

———

Heat oil in large cast iron skillet. Add onions and jalapeno pepper and cook until the onion is transparent.
In a crock pot, combine all remaining ingredients (mix the corn starch into the water first). Add the onions and pepper.
Set crock pot to high for 1 hour, then low for 2 hours.

 
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Posted in Chili, Main Dishes

 
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