What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[J T]

Smile: I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years now.
Ticked Off: I was a butcher for about 4 years prior to that.

Well karma should be satisfied by now if that's why you're doing it, right?

I don't really believe in a mystical karma, though I agree with the idea that you reap what you sow. I do feel some sort of need to atone; not in a religious sense, just a personal one. Mostly though, I just decided that I can live well without meat , so why should animals have to die or suffer for my appetite? Meat is not a dietary necessity and it's not even that much of an inconvenience to reduce consumption of it. I started by reducing consumption, and eventually built up enough of a vegetarian recipe repertoire to give it up entirely.

[J T]

So I had a bum refuse free money because two dollar bills are "bad luck". My mind is still trying to figure this out. A bum. Refuses money. Because of a belief in bad luck. Couldn't he spend it? Isn't his luck bad enough already? What just happened?

I may have met the world's pickiest bum.

What ever happened to beggars can't be choosers?
Also, WTF, I thought $2 bills were good luck?


This made me think of the Leonard Cohen lyric from "Bird On A Wire"

I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."

[Luke]

What ever happened to beggars can't be choosers?
Also, WTF, I thought $2 bills were good luck?

I figured I'd give the guy a chance, you never know the story, but what dumb person.

My mind is still thinking about the "how can his luck get worse?" thing. I need to start a rumor that Franklin's make you go bald.

In related news, a friend told me something similar happened to her over the weekend. She gave a bum at a gas station three bucks, and the bum gave it back to her and said "I thought I saw a ten dollar bill in your purse".

Unimpressed Bum is like something you'd play in Apples to Apples, but they exist.

[puke_face]

My mind is still thinking about the "how can his luck get worse?" thing.

Well, things could always be worse. He may not be as bad off as he seems to be. Or, he is really superstitious. Or, like you said - just picky.

I'm just wondering why he mentions he is a Vietnam veteran if he didn't go to Vietnam. I understand that anybody that went into the service from that era is considered a Vietnam Veteran, but why mention it on a cardboard sign if you didn't serve in the actual war? To get people to feel sorry for you?

I also thought a $2 bill was good luck. Perhaps it has different meaning to people on the other end of the stick? Hell if I know. Good on you for trying to help him out.

[Hobie-wan]

I'm just wondering why he mentions he is a Vietnam veteran if he didn't go to Vietnam. I understand that anybody that went into the service from that era is considered a Vietnam Veteran, but why mention it on a cardboard sign if you didn't serve in the actual war? To get people to feel sorry for you?

Of course that's the reason. Same that every sign always says God Bless in order to guilt any religious passers by into giving some money. I'm all for helping people but I've been burned and seen too many fakers. I've seen plenty of people that suddenly lose their limp when it was time to walk over to the McDonald's for lunch. A young woman with a sign proclaiming homelessness and 4(!) children drop her sad face and go talk to her husband/boyfriend at the corner with the look of a conversation of what corner to scam on next (where were the children?). Worst of all, a guy with a 'hungry' type sign that I saw on one same corner for months, but he gave me a dirty look and refused an apple that I hadn't eaten with my lunch.

Ah well, I'll be picking up some mittens from my mother on Thanksgiving to drop off with others being sent up to Sandy victims. I think perhaps she's been busy knitting.

[prfsnl_gmr]

My mind is still thinking about the "how can his luck get worse?" thing.

Well, things could always be worse. He may not be as bad off as he seems to be.

This is very well the case. Some panhandlers do very well, apparently:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/2 ... 94577.html

Most, however, bring in about $8/hour:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/rea ... ggars-make

We have some truly obnoxious panhandlers in uptown Charlotte, and I never give money to them. In my opinion, it is much better spent elsewhere. (I used to give to panhandlers, but now I only give to ones with obvious disabilities.)

[puke_face]

I'm just wondering why he mentions he is a Vietnam veteran if he didn't go to Vietnam. I understand that anybody that went into the service from that era is considered a Vietnam Veteran, but why mention it on a cardboard sign if you didn't serve in the actual war? To get people to feel sorry for you?

Of course that's the reason. Same that every sign always says God Bless in order to guilt any religious passers by into giving some money

I should have clarified. His story should match his sign.

[fastbilly1]

In related news, a friend told me something similar happened to her over the weekend. She gave a bum at a gas station three bucks, and the bum gave it back to her and said "I thought I saw a ten dollar bill in your purse".

This is why I loved what they did in Atlanta last year. They upped there government spending for shelters, kitchens, get back on your feet programs, and then passed a law making it illegal to give money to panhandlers (its like a $50 or $100 fine). In the span of a week the number of beggars on the street corners went from like three or four a corner to zero. Ive only seen four panhandlers since it passed and one was being arrested. The city public works does big charity drives every year to help pay for it and have repurposed parking meters you can donate too as you walk around downtown.

[MrPopo]

In related news, a friend told me something similar happened to her over the weekend. She gave a bum at a gas station three bucks, and the bum gave it back to her and said "I thought I saw a ten dollar bill in your purse".

This is why I loved what they did in Atlanta last year. They upped there government spending for shelters, kitchens, get back on your feet programs, and then passed a law making it illegal to give money to panhandlers (its like a $50 or $100 fine). In the span of a week the number of beggars on the street corners went from like three or four a corner to zero. Ive only seen four panhandlers since it passed and one was being arrested. The city public works does big charity drives every year to help pay for it and have repurposed parking meters you can donate too as you walk around downtown.

That's a pretty good idea to allow those who want to help the disadvantaged to actually ensure that their money is spent they way they want it to be. One of my former coworkers has a similar "picky bum" story. Guy was begging and so my coworker gave him the half a sandwich he had left over for lunch. The bum accepts it and almost immediately throws it in the trash (he thought my coworker was out of sight).

[Luke]

This is exactly why I have been interviewing benefactors for this year's charity auction. Also why they aren't getting a check, but having money specifically allocated to their needs. I'll have an additional announcement tomorrow.

Smile: Going to make turnip and leek soup with capicola and brie sandwiches in less than three hours.

Frown: Looks like weather may cut my holiday vacation short.