Journal Entries
Chocolate Shop Retreat
Posted Sep 23, 2010
Since I've gotten the shop lined up, I found out several things:
1) The costs figures keep going up. For example, construction costs alone have ballooned from the contractor's original ballpark figure of $15,00 to an estimate well above $47,000. $47,000 was just when I stopped counting.
2) We can't get a business loan without using the house as collateral.
3) The best loan I can get is adjustable, and Mr. Nerd and I find those terms unacceptable. Adjustable home loans are the reason so many people are loosing their homes.
4) I know what you're going to say: The SBA guarantees those loans. They do; I called and confirmed. But they don't control what the bank does, apparently. The SBA guarantees the loan to the bank. So if I default on the loan, the bank liquidates everything, the remainder is repaid from the SBA to the bank. That liquidation would include the house.
5) There are so-called micro-loans out there, but they are for loans between $1,000 and $5,000. That's not enough to buy a taco truck.
I have one last discussion with a different contractor today. I'm pretty sure I know what the answer will be.
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Latest reply: Sep 23, 2010
Chocolate Shop Progress
Posted Jul 17, 2010
I can't remember where I've written what, so I'll quickly recap what has happened in the past few weeks
After chasing all over town, I found a place. Well, didn't so much find it as I stopped ignoring it. You see, the shop is a bit small. Ok, it's very small. And it hasn't been upgraded in awhile. It has electricity, but no gas. It has a good roof, but needs a lot of plumbing. It has a bathroom, but no water heater. It is zoned correctly for a food business. The landlord is agreeable to letting me do a lot of remodeling.
Now, you might wonder, what landlord wouldn't want a tenant improving a commercial spot? Well, as it turns out, rather a lot of landlords won't approve any chances.
So far I've checked with the city utilities (I do need a grease trap), the fire department (I don't need a fire suppression system) and the building department (the building has community commercial zoning). I have an appointment with a kitchen designer next week.
In the meantime, I've been working on an online version of my chocolate shop and other preparatory work. One wall of our bedroom is covered with drawings of the shop with equipment.
HN
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Latest reply: Jul 17, 2010
California Statewide Primary Election - June 8, 2010 - The Skeptical Voter's Guide to Ballot Measures
Posted May 22, 2010
Glossy political advertisements accompany the arrival of spring. As sound bites drown out bird song, we California voters must sift through layers of obfuscation to determine which ballot measures to support and which to reject. A quick civics lesson and a healthy serving of skepticism can help a voter sort through ballot measures.
A measure has to follow one of two paths to arrive on our ballots. The traditional route is through California Legislature. The Direct Initiative Process lets any California voter can put an initiative or a referendum on the ballot.
First let's consider the traditional method of changing existing law. One or more legislators drafted a bill. Perhaps the bill languished in committee, perhaps it was altered as part of a compromise, or perhaps it was debated publicly and at length. Eventually the bill either died or was passed into law. In the bad old days, the wealthy and powerful would influence enough politicians to produce a favorable legal environment.
In 1911, the California Constitution was amended to permit voters the right to enact legislation. In theory, the Direct Initiative process gave each California voter equal footing with any member of our State Senate or Assembly. In practice, the amendment gave large corporations, powerful groups, and wealthy individuals a means to buy a particular legal advantage without having to purchase the whole politician.
Change the California Constitution to create an economic advantage for a multinational corporation? No problem. Corporate lawyers draft the bill. Corporate money pays signature gatherers to stand outside grocery stores and collect enough voters’ signatures to qualify the bill for the ballot. Corporate marketing departments plaster political ads on TV, radio, and the Internet, including social media. Corporate dollars even create fake grassroots organizations to promote the measure.
Fortunately, the Internet makes it pretty easy to follow the money trail. Start with the California Secretary of State (http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/). A couple of clicks later, and anyone can see who the big money donors are. Just compare the behavior of the ballot measure's major contributors with your family's and community's well-being.
I've already marked my absentee ballot. I won't say how I'm voting until June 9, but I will provide a special prize for the first person who replies to this journal entry with an accurate guess as to my vote on all five propositions. (To receive a prize, you have to supply a mailing address.)
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Latest reply: May 22, 2010
Meow meow meow meow
Posted May 2, 2010
She's unsteady on her pins, stumbling a bit on her way to her water bowl. this little cat who once could sit back on her haunches and bat at a string for a minute without putting down a forepaw.
Her arthritis makes it difficult for her to get into a regular cat box. I've replaced it with a very low pan, then surrounded the area with disposable hospital bed pads.
The vet said her kidneys are down to 15% function entirely normal for a cat of her estimated years. (She was rescued, then adopted.) We give her fluids subcutaneously three times a week.
She hasn't groomed herself in quite some time, so we've been combing her as much as she'll permit. Unfortunately, she still looks like a bit raggedy, for which I feel a little guilty, as she's a very pretty tortoise.
Elderly cats can get senile, and she gets lost in corners, yowling piteously in confusion. If either of us is home, we call to her or pet her to get her reoriented. If we're not at home, I'm fairly sure she just sleeps where she finds herself, lost or not. Sleeping accounts for at least 23 of 24 hours.
It's easy to know when a cat is in pain, it won't eat. Even if she doesn't have the appetite she once did, she's eating, so I know she isn't suffering yet.
Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just put her down. But she's still affectionate when she's awake, and takes pleasure in warm sun beams and being petted, so I'm tempted just to let Nature take Kitty in her own time.
HN
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Latest reply: May 2, 2010
I-Ching Calculator
Posted Apr 11, 2010
THE JUDGEMENT OF KING WEN:
57. MODEST ENTRY
The Most Successful Way, To Influence A Situation, Is With More Patient, More Gradual Effort. Gradual Influence Becomes A More Lasting Effect Than A Sudden Attack Have. Know, What You Want To Accomplish And Work To Him/It Consistently, But Polite Kind.
THE COMMENTARY OF THE DUKE OF CHOU:
Line 2: Which You Moderate From One Approach And From Consulting With Insightful Or Intuitive Individuals Can Profit.
Line 3: Case You Allege, Are, You, Better At Something, As You Are, Will Create More Difficulty For Yourself Only. This Could Lead To Humiliation.
Numerous calls, several walk-throughs, and even one application, and I still haven't secured a spot to convert to a commercial kitchen, so I can't open a chocolate shop. Yet.
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Latest reply: Apr 11, 2010
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