May 1, 2003

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       The above is another Bryce 5 image I've created. This one took a long time, yet still isn't what I expected. I had problems with Bryce 5 crashing when creating more than just the basic image, when trying to make a tree that looked like a tree. It apparently runs out of memory quickly, so locks up.

  
  

       To get this one, I had to create the background & pond, save them, close out Bryce, then open it again with the saved image, then add the tree. I need to find out if there's something I can adjust in Bryce to compensate for that. Or perhaps I need to boost my virtual memory in WinXP? One thing's for sure, I can't make the larger sized images without locking the program up.

  
  

   

  
  

       I'm now drawing SSI. I've not heard about the Social Security Disability part yet, which goes by what I've paid in over my work history. From my understanding, they calculate the lump sum amount for the months since filing, then subtract the lump sum amount already received for the SSI portion. Another thing I've learned is that whatever I get is for me alone, & is not counted toward what I get from Welfare for my son. However, all monies I receive is counted toward my food stamp allowance, so that has decreased by almost $200. My current cash income has increased by $325, which is a tremendous help!

  
  

       Here in Hawaii, we have a sales tax of 4.167% (it was 4% from when I was born here until just before my return in 1996). Sales tax here is charged on EVERYTHING, including food, medicine & labor, unlike most other states. Perhaps that's why they've been able to keep it so low (most states currently average 8% & up!). When someone buys food with food stamps, the tax is removed. So now, with the reduction in my FS allowance, I will lose some of that cash gain in sales tax on our food ($148 doesn't buy much food now days, especially considering that the amount I was getting wasn't enough to cover what my teenager was eating!).

  
  

       Our total income including FS is still a few hundred dollars BELOW Federal poverty guidelines for a family of two for each month. How can people actually believe that so many families WANT to live this way? Don't they realize that this means being under governmental scrutiny for nearly everything a person does EVERY month? Don't they realize too that the stigma attached to having to rely upon assistance makes so many people around them turn away from them, sometimes using degrading terms about recipients? Don't they realize that most of the people receiving aid have exhausted any help from family & friends, who now shun them? Don't they realize that this means not being able to buy new clothes or enjoy many leisure activities, because they are too expensive for the budget? Don't they realize that if THEIR financial situation became dire, because of an accident or illness, making them unable to work, that these programs are available to them to help them not end up on the street & some day, they just might need the help? Don't they realize that a family of 2, with one person working FULL TIME, earning over $6.25/hour STILL qualifies for food stamps & housing assistance? Don't they realize that most of the military, by their earnings, STILL qualify for food stamps & WIC programs?

  
  

       But the assholes who are so judgmental think that most of the people collecting Welfare WANT to stay that way! In reality, the number of those abusing the system is under 5% (that figure comes from the program itself). The numbers relating to ethnicity prove too that MOST recipients are CAUCASIAN, not African American, Hispanic, Native American, Hawaiian, etc!

  
  

       These programs were created many years ago to help people who obviously can't get help from family & friends. It is no longer a society in which neighbor helps neighbor, such as a hundred years ago. Back then, if the 'breadwinner' died or became injured or ill, neighbors offered help to the widow & family, only expecting that if they need help sometime in the future, that person would help in whatever way they can. If a family's home burned down, neighbors came to help rebuild. Nowadays, the tragedy has to be on a national scale to get that rallying spirit of assistance, & yet most is in donations, rather than real physical help.

  
  

       Former President Jimmy Carter has one good project to his name (although he's NOT the founder because that goes to Millard & Linda Fuller!)... Habitat for Humanity. I have a neighbor whose house was built through that program. However, the recipient HAS to have a qualifying job (because they do have to pay for the materials, as a loan) & they cannot be disabled in such that they can't do part of the work for themselves. This knocks out a lot of people who are disabled, living on very limited funds, stuck paying exorbitant rent & utilities, leaving them with very little for food, clothes & toiletries. These people are paying more in rent than the Habitat for Humanity loan & land payment would be, yet they don't qualify!

  
  

       This program is the closest to the neighbor-helping-neighbor of old of any program currently available. It still falls short of providing a home for every family who needs one. But then, that's me, wishing for there not to be such needs anywhere anymore... that people in all communities would behave in the optimal way for all to thrive.

  • 7:04 pm
  • 6 Comments