January 27, 2006
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Moving: According to a recent report on American Public Mediaís ëMarketplace,í in New York City, landlords and developers are paying big money (in some cases upwards of six figures and more) to convince renters to vacate their rent-controlled apartments. The practice, which makes way for property owners to then raise rents or build luxury condos, is now commonplace in many cities where rent-controlled housing still exists. Do you like your home or apartment? If so, what would it take to get you to agree to move?
Q2 - You Choose: Which is more important to you... Liberty or Security?
Q3 - Drinking: If you could drink anything right now--alcoholic or otherwise--what and how much of it would you drink?
Q4 - Counting: How many light bulbs are in your home, and when was the last time you had to change one?
Posted by Mikal at January 27, 2006 1:02 AM
| TrackBack
1. I own a condo and $230K would get me to move tomorrow.
2. Liberty.
3. I had the most wonderful stout the other night...St Peter's, maybe. I would have as many as I could bare to drink. I'm hoping that this drinkfest would also come with a hall pass from the effects of the alcohol.
4. 37 (including the stove hood, and such). I last changed a bulb MONTHS ago, possibly just short of a year ago. I switched to those spiral energy saving type of bulbs, and I've had great luck and low bills. As the bulbs that came with my home burn out, I've been replacing them with the newer types.
Q1 - Moving: For a half million bucks, I could get a better place pretty close to where I live.
Q2 - Liberty or Security: Without security, you can't have liberty. Your freedom ends wherever someone else's begins, and people aren't always fair when it comes to defining where their personal freedom ends. Anarchy isn't pretty. In a society, law has to rule, and you need some way to enforce that law without the law becoming overly intrusive. It requires a very careful balance.
Q3 - Drinking: Coffee now, vodka later. I simply must have a constant flow of diuretics at all times.
Q4 - Counting: I would guess that I have about 60 lightbulbs in my house. I never change them by myself--I'm Polish. The last time we changed a lightbulb was about 3 weeks ago. I wonder if, using propertly placed mirrors, you could light an entire house with a single lightbulb... Any scientists out there who can give me a straight answer?
Q1 - Moving: Yes, I like my house. I had it custom built so that it is passive solar, during a nice sunny day in December or February it will heat the house to the mid sixties. So it will take an awful lot to get me to move.
Q2 - You Choose: Liberty, without liberty everything else is meaningless. If you have to worry about everything you say or do, worry about big brother looking over your shoulder, worry about an innocent comment being misinterpreted or worry that if you criticized the government you will disappear one night, that would not be a life I would want to live. It would one step towards a totalitarian government. Look at how other totalitarian governments took power, they used the same pretext of internal security to seize absolute power.
You say that can never happen here. Well just look at the news.
Q3 - Drinking: Chocolate milk shakes, as many as I could stand.
Q4 - Counting: Yikes! I got about 87 light bulbs, most of them are fluorescent bulbs. Then last one I replaced was in the bathroom, the little bulbs over the vanity mirror, there are five of them and those little guys keep on burning out all the time.
I already provided my answer to the Liberty or Security question, but after reading the other responses, I have something to add. The question itself is tricky, because liberty presupposes security, but only enough security to liberate. If security is too intrusive, then you're not really secure, are you? If you're afraid that you're going to disappear at night because you criticized the government, that can hardly be interpreted as security, and it certainly isn't promoting liberty.
On the other hand, without sufficient security, you have no chance of attaining liberty. The Iraqis, for example, won't be liberated until the country is secure. I mean, they're free to get blown up or shot or kidnapped, but that's not liberty. Nor is the type of security that Sadam Hussein provided the country really security. People who live in fear don't generally feel secure or liberated.
I'm up at my blog- http://blogfleurdelisa.blogspot.com/
Great questions as always! Mine are up! I'm still having trouble posting my URL though,
www.twhgrafx dot com/scribblings :)
1. I like my apartment and don't plan to move until I find an affordable house or condo to buy. 30% down on a house in Fall Creek Place would be probably do it.
2. Liberty
3. Ice cold water. About two pint glass worth.
4. A dozen. The last was about three weeks ago. Soon all but the 4 in my bathroom and 4 on the dining room ceiling fan will be converted to compact flourescents though.
Post a Comment:
|
