Hey, black lives matter! More than anybody else's...

As of 6/21, the average LASERS benefit was 27,516/year. The pension is a 401(a). It is not subject to state income tax. Many members also have a 457(b), which is superior to a 401(k). Many also have other monies from IRA's, 401(k)'s, other 401(a)'s, 403(b)'s and other retirement vehicles, along with just regular investing in savings, stocks and bonds, etc. Some have Social Security, but that is often subject to WEP or in their spouse's case, GPO. A few, especially teachers in TRSLA, have annuities. Also, some huge factors in retirement are debt load, monies from rental property or real estate sales and the lifestyle of the retiree. Simple 401(k) balances may not be the best yardstick for how well someone does in retirement.

@Horace said in The Descent: I am sure she will accept this gracefully, learn from the experience, course correct, and move on. You're a kind man, Horace (sorry for saying "man," that was presumptive of me). Thank you for being gracious.

Pretty much any problem in society is solved by the use of violence or the threat of violence. Chew on that one...

@Jolly said in On Growing Old: @Horace said in On Growing Old: @Jolly said in On Growing Old: Move to the Gulf South. It's the closest green you'll get compared to England. Mind the heat, humidity and skeeters, though... What do you think about Houston? We're visiting there in a couple weeks to scout out neighborhoods. The residents must be furious at people like me, driving up home values and property taxes. The taxes are 3+% there and the home values have doubled in the past couple years, from what I understand. Like everything else, Houston has good points and bad points. Any big city is way too urban to me. As Texas cities go, I've always liked Dallas, Austin and San Antonio a bit more than Houston. OTOH, Houston is a very diverse city with lots of different cultures, bleeding edge healthcare, and lots of entertainment possibilities. Texas has no income tax, but watch out for property taxes. Another huge thing to consider is flooding. Houston gets tropical storms and hurricanes. If it's flooded before, it will flood again. Ain't no fun cleaning out a home that's had even a foot of water in it. Property taxes will be a permanent burden if I move. Here in CA my assessed and taxable home value can't rise more than 1% per year from where I bought it, which was near the bottom of the real estate crash. And the % is low on top of that. My property taxes, should I move to a home in TX of the same market value, would increase 5-fold. I have to imagine long-time homeowners in these popular areas of TX are being priced out of their homes. They don't have California's proposition 13 which caps the assessed value increases.

Greenville rocks. So does Asheville. Savannah's great but for different reasons. Charleston can go piss up a rope.

@Jolly said in Fit: Plain ol' gatorade works. We noticed that years ago during two-a-days or hauling hay. If you're doing enough exercise to warrant taking electrolytes, then you almost certainly need the calories. There's no way I'd ride the bike without taking something with sugar in it.

@Jolly said in Hard Times Food: I'm a sucker for an Irish Stew. Love it. Will also use a pack in the crockpot and make a gravy for one night when we don't have time to cook. Alternatively...The cajuns love to make a pork gravy to eat over rice, using pork stew meat. Floured cubes of meat into very high heat with butter or olive oil. Sear them cubes! Set aside. 1/2 beer (can be cheap stuff), 1/2 broth in a pot with cut up onions, celery, peppers and carrots. Add the meat back in about halfway through with some pepper and maybe paprika if you're fancy. Simmer awhile. That's how I do mine. I could eat the crap out of that almost every day.

Hair raising.

Those statistics seem to imply that a person might have some responsibility for shooting. My understanding is that the gun is responsible.

Joy-less: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/joy-behar-claims-u-s-laws-will-change-when-black-people-get-guns/ar-AAYg5de?bk=1&bk=1&ocid=msedgntp&cvid=327800bd0ebd4e3e8b72f9a3922c6f6b

Whatever that is, someone actually built it, with bricks and everything.

Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of YorkLancaster!