Seven Thousand Dollars 1998 Mentality In 2022

$7,000 was in my savings account at the beginning of 1998. I graduated from San Jose State University in Dec 1997. I share my thoughts in bullet points below:

*Guilt spending is my attitude, behavior, and conscious anytime I want a good either by necessity or by desire. I continue my 24/48 Rule waiting 24 hours to buy a splurge good or service under $100 or waiting 48 hours to buy a splurge good or service $100 and over.

*Black Friday 2021 was another boring Black Friday which can be good. I purchased two pairs of running shoes, two board games, underwear, and replacing outdated items in the first-aid kid. I sold older board games I lost interest on eBay to make room on the game shelf and to help pay for the two board games. I didn't purchase a new tablet. I didn't purchase a new phone to replace my old phone going six years in 2022.

*Obviously, my savings are going down. Financial discipline is high. Monthly financial statements are checked carefully.

*Be grateful for what I own. Take care of my personal goods such as clothes, computer, laptop, phone, and books. Take nothing for granted. There is no neglecting maintenance. Maximize the life cycle for all durable goods and accessories. Make the best for what I have.

*I'm also grateful for living in my parent's house. I do my share of household maintenance.

*Find the sales. Buy on sale.

Also 2008 Feeling In 2022

I got the 2008 feeling in 2022. I was a business analyst at Cisco working as a contractor. There were days I did nothing. The days I did something my assignments were completed quickly because I developed an efficient and an accurate system. In addition, there were uncertainty which contractors' contracts were extended or were terminated. Cisco renewed contracts every fiscal month instead of every fiscal quarter starting in Oct 2008. My contract was terminated in Nov 2008. There was a news article published in 2009 Cisco employed no contractors.

There was economic uncertainty because of the real estate bubble. The bubble popped and the stock market collapsed in Sep 2008.

The uncertainty feeling is back. There is economic uncertainty. When is the next recession coming? Late 2022 or 2023. How long is the inflation? Is there hyperinflation or stagflation? There is pandemic uncertainty. When does the COVID-19 global pandemic end? Cases decrease. People talk about the pandemic ending. People behave pre-pandemic. Restrictions loosen. Mandates end. Time passes. Cases increase. Restrictions tighten. Mandates begin again. Mandates end. Repeat.

The 2008 summary feeling "whatever happens, happens" is back in 2022.

And 2009 Attitude In 2022

My attitude is like 2009. I'm a beginner again. I learn new life lessons. I experience new experiences. I reinforce past life lessons. My opinions and my beliefs are confirmed. I consume new goods minimally. Fun is carefully checked. More responsibilities are completed. Focus is stronger. Structure is reinforced.

I apply today's life from everything I learned, acquired, and experienced from Oct 4, 2008 to Dec 31, 2021.

Update On A Past Blog

I wrote a blog Unemployed Borrowed Time on Apr 27, 2018. I'm long-term unemployed. Nobody on planet Earth knows when my clock stops. My life is over when I'm out of time. No food. No clothing. No shelter. No support. Luck eventually runs out. Ironically, bad luck can't last forever for which I find a job. There is a defined borrowed time.

I finished reading Dewey by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. I mentioned Dewey in the Instant Bullets Blog Nov 11, 2017 written on Nov 11, 2017. The book was on my wish list from the bullet point Top Ten New York Times Books Best Seller list in 2008. I finished the other book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho on Feb 2018.

Too Few Competent People

I wrote past blogs there are too few opportunities to satisfy the too many people. Here are three blogs on the topic: The Size Of The Pie Is Still The Same on Jun 23, 2016, Expect More Sad Days For More People on Feb 16, 2019, and Too Many People on Jul 19, 2019.

A different perspective on too few opportunities to satisfy the too many people is too few competent people out of the too many people. Be honest. 90% of all circle of friends, 95% of workplace departments, 92.5% of all families, 95% of small businesses--almost every groups of people professional, family, acquaintances, friendships, and gatherings--there is at least one incompetent person. The reader knows them. The reader identifies them. Frustrations are arisen. Headaches are caused. The reader wishes they're out of his or her life.

More managers and leaders should adapt the NASA astronaut recruitment process. There are no minimum or maximum recruits to become astronauts for every recruitment class. If there is one recruit competent to become an astronaut, then he or she is recruited. If all recruits are competent to become astronauts, then all recruits become astronauts. If no recruits are competent to become astronauts, then the recruiting class recruits zero astronauts. More managers and leaders should adapt the late Steve Jobs' accountability is strictly enforced. Jobs fired 25% of the senior managers and executives when he went back to Apple in 1997. Anyone on Jobs' bozo list was fired.

On the contrary, most companies and organizations need people. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Desperation moves rarely work such as professional sports. Workers are needed to fulfill responsibilities. Many companies and organizations accept the bare minimums. Get the job done is top priority. Anything else is secondary. Anything else is ignored. Sometimes less than the bare minimums are acceptable; for example, retail jobs and customer service. A sixth grader can direct a customer to the correct aisle. A high school student can document a customer's complaint. There are plenty bare minimum people for companies and organizations to hire. The reason explains why their hourly wages are low. Basic economics. The supply exceeds the demand. Unfortunately, there are incompetent people at white-collar jobs including jobs requiring the highest education in medicine and law. How? Don't ask me. They slipped through the cracks. The hiring manager smoked something. The executive played the politics card. God only knows the truth.

Who's at fault for more incompetent people? One answer is blame the system. Today's Information Age more time, more learning, more training, more resources, and more expenses are required to complete more jobs and more responsibilities. It's nobody's fault. Life is getting harder. Another answer is blame the past generation. I wrote a blog on Did The Greatest Human Generation Doom Their Grandchildren And Their Future? on Mar 14, 2019 saying our parents and grandparents focused more on making our lives easier and focused less on teaching us hard work and determination. Timing and luck are a third answer. Were we at the right place and at the right time to meet a person, read an article, or watch a show to inspire us, to teach us, or to awaken us to find our strengths to become competent and successful? A fourth answer is the Information Age lifestyle. There are more people in the present compared to the people in the past lacking social communication skills, eating unhealthy meals, practicing poor work habits, and spending too much on the screens. The last possible answer is clique and obvious. People change for the worse.

Another Life Blog

There are speed bumps on the roads. The roads are oily. There are detours. There is a wrench jammed in the machine. A screw is loose. The squeaky wheel must be greased. Spend a dime today or spend a dollar tomorrow. Minutes now or hours later. Insert any life idiom. Insert any life catch phase. Insert any life saying.

An adult daily life is not get up, go to work, go home, and go to sleep. A child's daily life is not get up, go to school, go home, and go to sleep. There are meals. There are responsibilities. There is taking care of one's body. One problem is solved. Another problem is clear and present.

A person must practice maintenance. Maintenance is routine. Maintenance is infinite learning. Use your brain or lose it. Use your body inside and outside or lose them. There are priorities. Problems are inevitable. Ignoring problems don't solve by themselves; although, there are exceptions.

I can write the blog in bullet points. The point is the same. Readers who comprehend today's blog our commonality is maturity and responsibilities. Additional commonalities are upgrades, replacements, out with the old and in with the new for equipment or durable goods. Out with the old and in the new applies to human beings, too. Let's be friends.

I'm reminded by the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell wrote companies promoting connections, complex work functions, and workers have autonomy are the three factors for the best workers. Satisfying work. The reward matches the effort.

Non-Scientific Principle Of Uncertainty

The Uncertainty Principle was thought by the German physicist Werner Heisenberg in 1927. The principle or indeterminacy principle states the position and the velocity of an object can't both be measured exactly at the same time. On the one hand, it's easy to measure both the position and the velocity of a car. On the other hand, particles such as photons and electrons are small in mass the uncertainties become significant. The position of a particle is determined and the velocity is less precise. The velocity of a particle is determined and the position is less precise.

The website Caltech What Is the Uncertainty Principle and Why Is It Important? explained the principle using a moving roller coaster: The rollercoaster . . . serves as an analogy for how the uncertainty principle works at scales much smaller than this. When the rollercoaster car reaches the peak of the hill [or the top of a climb], we could take a snapshot and know its location. But the snapshot alone would not give us enough information about its speed. As the rollercoaster car descends the hill, we can measure its speed over time but would be less certain about its position. The uncertainty principle is a trade-off between two complementary variables, such as position and speed.

I disregard the science version of Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle for today's blog. I apply a common knowledge version. The uncertainty principle is nothing is 100% known. Nothing is 100% certain. Nothing is 100% definite.

I remember a classmate I met in Math 30 Calculus I when I attended San Jose State University (SJSU). The classmate and I took two more classes together Computer Science 46A Programming I and Math 32 Calculus III. He was a former US Marine attending SJSU under the GI Bill. I believe he was trained in computer programming while enlisted. He knew calculus and programming before attending classes.

I connect the uncertainty principle and my classmate's attitude when taking exams. My classmate answers "no" every time I ask him if he's ready for the exam. He was never ready. He was never prepared. He might have forgotten a chapter. He could experience a brain freeze. The professor could change anything on exam day. There was always an unknown.

The uncertainty principle applies to anything and anytime in life. There are limits in preparation. Tomorrow is unknown. The future is unknown. It's common knowledge. It's common wisdom. Life may not be finite; however, there are boundaries.

Update On A Past Blog

I thought about a ma and pa store called D&J Hobby And Crafts Store which was like Fry's Electronics which opened in 1971 and closed in 2011. The store name was shorten to D&J Hobby when the founding owner's son choose to reopen the store at a different location in 2013. D&J Hobby was a store selling crafts, radio controlled cars and airplanes, dolls, books, board games, models, robotics, arts, sewing, jewelry, woodworking, toy trains, and much more hobby and crafts supplies. The store was known for always in-stock inventory and knowledgeable staff.

Unfortunately, the store closed in 2015 due to competition and bad luck. The store couldn't compete with online stores and big box retailers. The store was robbed multiple times. Insurance was too expensive due to higher deductibles. Rent was too expensive.

I remember the last time I shopped at D&J Hobby And Crafts Store. I purchased a bottle of red paint for an anime cosplay accessory. The store was dead. No customers. Empty shelves. It was like the final days of Fry's Electronics before it went out of business. In contrast, before online stores, D&J Hobby And Crafts Store was the Fry's Electronics for hobbies and crafts. The store was loud. The store was busy. Employees helped customers. There were lines at multiple departments waiting for employees to help them or pay their goods. Shelves were stocked with everything.

I never shopped at D&J Hobby.

There were few memories at D&J Hobby And Crafts Store. I purchased paint for figurines, paint for die-cast cars, role playing game books, and dice. I browsed the store one random day to browse their board games at a year I forgot. Store was dead. On the other hand, there were many memories at Fry's Electronics. I shared the top memories in the blog Top Ten Plus Four Equals Fourteen Fry's Electronics Moments written on Feb 25, 2021.

Life Lessons And Life Reminders

Blogger's Note: May is pic month. I'm catching up posting pics from my smart phone. Enjoy!

Life lessons from the Special Forces Rangers and Deltas mission in Mogadishu, Somalia in Africa take nothing for granted and one moment can change the narrative. A reminder on ceiling fan rotating direction. A reminder on home prices going up year after year. A reminder on cooking pancakes. If I needed a reason for missing newspapers, then it's fewer pics for pic blogs.

Retail And The Brave

Blogger's Note: May is pic month. I'm catching up posting pics from my smart phone. Enjoy!

Life comes down to two choices in many situations which is do it or don't do it. Macy's bring back the old selling toys again. The old must be out. The failures must be out. Blood stains must be out. The most secured retail store must be Wal-Mart. Read Black Hawk Down from bravery stories and, perhaps, daily life wisdom. Consumers do the math comparing Costco and another non-member retail store.

Relationship Advice, Life Advice, Relationship Wisdom, Life Wisdom

Blogger's Note: May is pic month. I'm catching up posting pics from my smart phone. Enjoy!

Any problems start from the top in an organization. Life advice turn off toilet water hoses during extended household absence. Replace toilet water hoses every five years. Respect must be earned. Ask the question with a deeper mindset, "Are you hiring?" The old and the ugly must be removed. Avoid the weak self-esteem people. Play the best board games. Fuck it, let's read The Beatles Get Back.

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog April 2022

California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. The easing pandemic restrictions is one reason positive rates are increasing. COVID-19 global outbreaks and lockdowns continue. Apr is the fastest month in 2022; although, the last week slowed down.

Mon Apr 4. All Google employees worked under their hybrid plan. Employees work in the office three days a week and two days remotely. Employees moved to a lower cost of living region could be paid less.

Wed Apr 6. The Center For Disease Control (CDC) said US immunity levels are high from vaccinations, boosters, and prior infections. The high immunity levels provide protection against the omicron variant BA.2. However, BA.2 was responsible for 72% of all positive cases. BA.2 was responsible for 1% of all positive cases in Feb. Fortunately, hospitalization rates were the lowest since the start of the pandemic. A surge was unexpected.

Thur Apr 7. The California Department Of Public Health updated guidelines for students and teachers in schools. No quarantine for asymptomatic cases regardless of vaccination status. The department recommended mask wearing and testing if anyone was exposed by someone who tested positive.

The San Francisco Bay Area counties were the highest COVID-19 infection rates in CA. San Francisco county was the highest in the state with 13 positive cases per 100,000 residents. San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Marin counties were the next largest. Cases increased because of the state reopening and continued testing.

A few top US government officials in Washington, D.C. tested positive: Speaker Of The House Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, First Lady Press Secretary Michael LaRosa, and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Sun Apr 10. 27% of the US states reported increasing cases. The omicron variant BA.2 was the leading cause.

Mon Apr 11. Philadelphia was the first major city to reinstate mask mandates starting Mon Apr 18. Cases increased 50%.

The omicron BA.2 variant was highly contagious. Hospitalization rates increased in some states.

The US State Department ordered all non-emergency government staff in Shanghai to leave due to a COVID-19 surge.

Wed Apr 13. 56 students from a group of eight grades at a school in Marin County tested positive after an annual trip to Washington, D.C. The majority of the students were vaccinated. Half of the students were boosted. Mild symptoms.

American University and George Washington University reinstated mask mandates because of positive cases increased in Washington, D.C.

The CDC extended federal mask mandates on all public transit including planes, trains, and buses to Tue May 3.

My allergy sickness began.

Thur Apr 14. CA Governor Gavin Newsom delayed a vaccine mandate for school children. The mandate starts Summer 2023. The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) didn't authorized vaccines for children between 5 and 16 years old. Currently, the FDA authorized vaccines for the age group under emergency use.

75% of CA population vaccinated. 66% of CA population between 12 and 17 years old vaccinated. 34% of CA population between 5 and 11 years old vaccinated.

CA residents exposed to someone tested positive for COVID-19 and showing no symptoms no longer need to quarantine. The five day quarantine was eliminated. Testing was recommended three to five days after exposure.

The FDA approved the first COVID-19 breathalyzer test called the Inspect IR. The breathalyzer must be administered with a trained operator. Results waiting time three minutes. A molecular test should be used if the Inspect IR returns positive.

Fri Apr 15. Experts were concerned the omicron variant BA.2 30% more contagious rate increase hospitalization rates. The rates increased in the Northeast. Experts believed the US case numbers were underreported because more people tested at home without reporting positive cases. Some people skipped testing. The surge should be minimized because more people are vaccinated.

Stanford University reported COVID-19 can remain in an infected person after infection. The university studied stool samples from infected people. Infected people shed the virus weeks or months in their waste. COVID-19 could infect the gut causing gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Sun Apr 17. A COVID-19 loss of smell researched the noses, nerves, and brains of 23 people who died of COVID-19. Researchers led by pathologist Cheng-Ying Ho of Johns Hopkins University concluded that inflammation caused the loss of smell and taste. COVID-19 patients experienced damage to their nasal mucosa, their vasculature, and significantly fewer olfactory axons which carry smell signals to the brain. The loss of smell and taste could cause permanent damage. Anti-inflammatory drugs treatments could prevent damage to taste and smell senses.

Mon Apr 18. Errand day at the post office, Costco, and Safeway. Costco was busy at the 12:00pm hour. Costco was closed on Easter Sun must be the reason of the high number of customers.

A federal judge struck down the CDC mask mandate for public transportation. The public transportation included airports, mass transit systems, airlines, and ride-hailing services. Mask requirements were optional. United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta, and Jet Blue airlines announced masks were optional. New York City airports masks were required. Houston, Los Angeles, and Phoenix airports masks were optional.

Tue Apr 19. Uber and Lyft ride-hailing masks were optional.

The CDC removed all countries from its highest-risk category for international COVID-19 travel advisory system. The Level 4: Special Circumstances/Do Not Travel warned travelers the avoid nonessential travel.

Wed Apr 20. The Justice Department appealed the ruling which struck down the federal mask mandate on public transportation.

Thur Apr 21. Philadelphia ended the mask mandated effective Fri Apr 22 due to the decreasing number of positive cases. The city recommended people wear masks.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival cancelled the yearly festival indefinitely due to the pandemic and high insurance premiums.

The CA Occupational Safety And Health Board extended the mandatory pay to the end of 2022 for workers affected by COVID-19. The mandatory pay was set to expire in May.

Fri Apr 22. 100 students at San Mateo High School tested positive after the prom. Masks were recommended. Most students didn't wear a mask.

Tue Apr 26. Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19.

Wed Apr 27. Bay Area COVID-19 infection rates increased 110% to 21 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 30 days. CA death rates remained down. The CA positively rate was 3.1%. Cases increased 50% since the end of Mar.

The CDC reported three out of every four children have been infected with COVID-19.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the US is "out of the pandemic phase." The US began transitioning from the pandemic to endemic. The coronavirus remains a pandemic for much of the world. The threat is not over for the US.

Thur Apr 28. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) board of directors voted to reinstate mask mandates when passengers ride the trains.