I can't talk to much about wiconsin and the comments people are making about teachers. I had to hide an uncle on FB , because he said Walker for President of FB status. One of his daughter is a teacher.

There is no logic in opinion - is there.

BTW, how to needle felt Angry Birds.

I had to hide an uncle on FB , because he said Walker for President of FB status. One of his daughter is a teacher.

I would be so, so tempted to point this out. Anyone who thinks government employees are overpaid compared to private sector counterparts is, at best, betraying serious ignorance.

I'm worried about a possible Federal government shutdown next week. By a quirk of law, my employer is funded by fees on the entities that we supervise ("regulate" is a dirty word) and not appropriations, so I'd wouldn't be directly affected. So, no enforced vacation. On the other hand, my paycheck continues and bills get paid.

But Hubs works for an appropriated agency. So the family income drops pretty substantially. At the time of the last government shutdown, Congress approved pay for government employees for the time of the shutdown. So government employees didn't suffer financially for the idiocy of The Powers That Be. And I'm far from assured that Congress would approve such an arrangement if something happens this time.

Sometimes it really feels like there is a concerted effort to create an uneducated underclass who can't question those in power.

Consuela, good thoughts for you and your mom.

Fingers crossed for your mom, and you, Consuela. I hope they figure it out soon, and that it's something healable/mendable.

I can see where that would be worrisome, Fred. I hope everything works out alright for your household.

My employer is mostly (~90%) funded by USAID and the CDC. I have no idea what will happen to us if the government shuts down. It probably depends on how long and how things are arranged when they re-open.

Sometimes it really feels like there is a concerted effort to create an uneducated underclass who can't question those in power.

You mean Fox News?

eta:

No, their efforts are towards creating an uneducated underclass who can't question the Republican Party.

Sometimes it really feels like there is a concerted effort to create an uneducated underclass who can't question those in power.

Sort of the crux of Dana Gould's joke.

I can see where that would be worrisome, Fred. I hope everything works out alright for your household.

Seriously. I wonder what affect it would have on the agency we work for. And my company. huh.

Best wishes for your mom, Consuela. I hope they can figure out what is up with her quickly.

Yeah, mr. flea is a fed and would be furloughed if the govmint shuts down. He makes 2/3 of our household income. On the plus side, if it happens I am making him do a TON of home improvement projects, the kind that are really cheap supply-wise but take a lot of labor (like, gravelling the driveway and building a retaining wall).