Site Fees
by Caotr on Aug.09, 2011, under 99ers, Unemployed
Our yearly hosting fees are due for our website TCSplanet.com. The site is hosted at Mocha Host. Being one of the 99ers, I hope to raise these fees thanks to the generous donations from people like you! Please help us to do that by donating what you can afford through Paypal.
Your donation helps to pay for the infrastructure that keeps this site on the web and allows us to keep providing content you enjoy. Please give as generously as you can. Payments are collected securely via PayPal and the details you enter in this form are not shared with any other website.
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99er’s Flyer
by Caotr on Feb.15, 2011, under 99ers, Uncategorized, Unemployed
I’ll be uploading blogs, and approving comments from the library until I’m able to turn the Internet back on. I plan to print copies of the flyer – it should fit on one sheet of paper , front and back. Then I’ll hand them out as I go through my days. This way I’ll still be able to help my fellow 99ers.
Please help The 99ers and the Long-term Unemployed to Survive
99ers is a colloquial term for unemployed people in the United States, mostly citizens, who have exhausted all of their unemployment benefits, including all unemployment extensions. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress in February 2009, many unemployed people can receive up to 99 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits, hence the name “99ers”. An estimated 7 million people are affected. ~Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99ers
The 99ers are more than 5 [7?] millions “long term” unemployed US citizens. They lost their jobs during the recession through no fault of theirs. They cannot find work. With no income, some have become homeless. Some have committed suicide. While many are merely hanging on. On Aug 4, 2010 Senator Stubinow, (D-MI) introduced bill S.3706 on their behalf. On Sept 29, 2010 Senator Lemieux (R-FL) blocked a vote on S.3706. As casualties of the recession, the ribbon represents the bruises they feel everyday while waiting to get jobs. The 99ers will wear their ribbons until a Tier 5 is signed into law and they are back to work. As far as we know S.3706 is still alive but it is languishing on the Committee floor. ~ Twibbon. http://twibbon.com/. 
No, they were not included in the recent tax /unemployment deal! While waiting for a Tier V, or for jobs, HR589 was introduced on February 7, 2011 by Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Barbara Lee (D-CA). The bill is intended to amend title IV of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 to provide for additional an 14 weeks of Tier I emergency unemployment compensation, as well as for other purposes.
The14 weeks of extended benefits would benefit the 99ers some of whom have been unemployed since 2007 – at the beginning of the recession.
Please help the 99ers and their families by calling, faxing, and emailing your representatives, your senators and the White House each day to tell of their stories and to help them plead for the passage of HR589. You may contact Congress and the Senate at http://www.contactingthecongress.org/. And/or you may contact the White House at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact . Thank you in advance!
The 99ers and the Unemployed are on Facebook. Follow the 99ers on Twitter by using the hashtag #99ers to find us.
Please help The 99ers and the Long-term Unemployed to Survive
You can make a difference, today! Please call your representatives and demand help for the 99ers. By calling Congress and the Senate at http://www.contactingthecongress.org/. And/or by contacting the White House at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact .
Losing access to the Internet
by Caotr on Feb.08, 2011, under 99ers, Uncategorized, Unemployed
My Internet access will be turned off in a few days – by the 12th – for non-payment.
You will still have access to the blog until the end of July since hosting the site is paid for until then.
Thank you so much for all the inspiring comments that you have left so far. Please continue to leave feedback, as I look forward to more of your encouraging words whenever I regain access.
Third World America: The 99ers’ Great Depression
by Caotr on Jan.21, 2011, under 99ers, Unemployed
The story contrasts details of contemporary small town American life with an annual ritual known as “the lottery”. In a small village of about 300 residents, the locals are in a strange and nervous mood on 27 June. Children gather up stones as the adult townsfolk assemble for their annual event, that in the local tradition has been practiced to ensure a good harvest. In the first round of the lottery, the head of each family draws a small slip of paper; Bill Hutchinson gets the one slip with a black spot, meaning that his family has been chosen. In the next round, each Hutchinson family member draws a slip, and Bill’s wife Tessie—who had arrived late—gets the marked slip. In keeping with tradition, which has been abandoned in at least some other neighboring communities, Tessie is then stoned to death by everyone present as a sacrifice, while Tessie complains about the unfairness of the lottery. ~ Wikipedia.
The depression did not descend on the unemployed all at once. In some cases, it started with the gossips that the office will be closing. Over time, one by one, many were “let go” at 4.45 on any given work day. Many met the axe after they were called into the office. And, if Personnel was there, they knew that they would be told “you are no longer needed”. Others were told during a company meeting, “we’ll be downsizing”. Many of these workers reported for work only to see a “we are out of business sign”. Within five years, millions had received their virtual pink slip – the small slip of paper. Just as, “Mrs. Hutchinson dried her hands on her apron”, the 99ers were on time too! They were always on time!
Losing a job was just the start of the Great Depression for the 99ers. Dawn, a 99er, received her last week of unemployment benefits in April, 2010. But, despite her continued efforts to find work she has only found rejection. She had never been out of work for more than a couple of weeks without finding another job. Factually, she is not alone according to Lowrey -
“Out of all the people [I know] that got laid off the same time as me, I think only three have found jobs,” Paoletti says. “The rest are still all have exhausted unemployment or they’re getting close to the end of it. Someone’s got to do something.” Lowrey, (2010).
“Someone’s got to do something.” Truly, it’s time for the government to acknowledge that there is a humanitarian crisis in this country! Not only has Dawn exhausted all of her unemployment benefits, but all of her savings is gone too. And, unless a Tier 5 is passed into law, she will be homeless within the next couple of months.
Like Dawn, many 99ers are not homeless as yet. Neither do they all live in small town America! Though seemingly invisible, they live in every town U.S.A. Here, money to buy cleaning goods, for washing laundry, for filling up the gas tank, for heat, for water – is gone. Yes, water! For if a homeowner doesn’t pay the Water Department, for their service, not one drop of water will drip from those faucets. What little small bit of savings, or donations that they have, are used to keep the electricity on, to keep the Internet on, to put a few gallons of gasoline into the car’s gas tank, and to buy toilet paper. If all of the above is not compelling enough, today January 21, 2011, Rob wrote the following words on the wall: I’m about to be homeless, … with no income and no job offers. I don’t even own a tent We just sold our wedding bands to pay the light bill. What are we going to do when the mortgage company comes calling? …Please help us if you can[,]. For others, the furnishing is getting worn – some of them are sleeping on worn-out mattresses. The lucky ones gets a couple of hours worth of sleep. In this final state, no one will ever hear them say, “thank you Lord, I live to see another day”. They have shed their last tears – a long time ago! Church members can only “try” to attend a service – at least once a month. Aside from that, they only venture out into the world to get food and a small piece of basic needs.
Without a job or money the 99ers are without health insurance. Being that they are non- essentials, Health Care Reform will not benefit any of them. And so, these jobless are not only worried about losing their homes but irregardless of their ailments, the sick are without medical care. Said, Sandra in her writing on the wall about this important matter, “My husband is one of the 99ers.We have already lost our home,and moved into another,but now er can’t afford to heat the home.No one will give us a chance to establish a budget for the oil.Our credit is bad to him losing his job and being on unemployment.Plus my cancer and stroke didn’t help much either.So I guess now w…e will have to freeze to death,due to the fact I can’t afford oil,due to the high cost of it.We are consistly looking for work for him,since I am on social security disability.That we are trying to survive on. And, so all of the above warrants even a closer look into a 99er’s life.
Thanks to technology, the 99ers, and the unemployment communities have become almost like small towns that ranges in sizes of one or two persons, to a few thousand persons. For, it’s not unusual for jobless to wonder around until he or she finds another jobless person in a virtual group. And then in gladness this person will ask a question such as, “does anybody even know we are here?” Or they’ll make statements such as, “I was feeling invisible!” And, “thank God I found this group.” So it was on the day when Carol finally found a virtual group and felt at home. After a while she wrote the following words: “Reading others stories at least makes me feel like I’m not alone…. but it hurts me even more to know so many people are in the same situation as we are. What happened to America that so many hard working people are hurting so badly? (ok, I know what happened but hate saying it).” Marva had her own concerns to voice too. And so, she wrote the following words: “my husband and I are both 99ers, his benefits were done in march of last year and mine ran out this last November. We are at the end of our rope. No savings, no family to borrow from, and the public assistance will only give us food. With no kids living with us we are not eligible for any kind of rental assistance. …When will the government realize that the recession is far from over and the people are still suffering because of the governments decisions? What do we have to do to make them see?” As the casualties of the recession these “people are hurting” need help now! In this environment, many have shared their stories. But, many have kept silent. And, many have learned through sharing. And “human” lives are being saved. For it was only last night that the 99ers averted a suicide after learning that Peter, a man in California, was on his way out. Thank God, he is alive and is in the hospital now. But, there is no laughter here. There’s nothing left to laugh about anymore. Liberty and Justice are fallen!
In time, the 99ers have learned that they are not alone in their miseries and their sufferings. …
On the same side of this man-made “purgatory”, the jobless who are living in “tent cities”, are trying to make sense of their present circumstances also. The tent city of Pinellas Hope, Florida, as an example, has become home to many homeless individuals who never thought they would have found themselves living in a “tent city”. For David, Jim, and Kevin never though they would become homeless. These men, like the invisible, are unable to find work. They are also waiting for the phone to ring with a job offer; as can be seen in the following YouTube video entitled,“The New homeless”: http://www. YouTube.com/watch?v=obho7uBg3-A&feature=related. However, it is not known if the tent cities 99ers are even aware of the 99ers who are gathering virtually.
Like David, the 99ers have not stopped looking for work. But, as of this writing, there are less than 500,000 jobs available for as much as 30 million jobless persons. Apparently though, as soon as an unemployed have reached the maximum number of up to 99 weeks, then that person falls off of the unemployment roll and is then treated as, “given up looking for work” by the computer system. In this scenario, the computer system may or may not allow a 99er to report that he or she is actively seeking employment.
Along with the impediments that were mentioned in my previous blog located at http://wordpress.tcsplanet.com/wordpress/?p=100 ; and the fact that jobs are scarce, some 99ers suspects that the discrimination as caused by ageism is also making them unemployable. For apparently, a large number of the long-termed unemployed are over the age of forty. In some cases, jobless workers are unable to obtain jobs from the above mentioned job pool unless he or she has a “good” credit score. According to King in her article -
As if it is not challenging enough to be unemployed, it seems a credit score ruined by the recession may be the new “Mark of the Beast” for America’s long term unemployed known as the 99ers.
…
In the past year alone I have had a half dozen employers take me as far in the process as any applicant can go – then I was disqualified because my FICO credit score was under 666. Sound familiar? 666 is referred to in the Bible as the “Mark of the Beast” as an impediment to being allowed to buy or sell, only now that same number 666 is preventing me from getting work. King (2010).
…
The following excerpt is also an example of the “credit score curse” that has befallen the 99ers on their quest to find legal work:
As if it is not challenging enough to be unemployed, it seems a credit score ruined by the recession may be the new “Mark of the Beast” for the 99ers – referred to in the Bible. This is a 99er’s tale of futile job search and how bad circumstances are stacked against the long term unemployed. Basically no Tier 5 equals no hope for millions of Unemployed Americans. Being a 99er has many drawbacks. Poverty, eviction, homelessness and ultimately starvation or death by exposure. … cuz4concern (2010).
Even so, persons have sporadically reported that he or she has found a job. For in one particular case, a fellow reported a few months aback, on how his girlfriend had found a job. The new job, accordingly, cost them $200.00 since they had to pay $75.00 for the background check. The rest of the funds went to expenses incurred due to traveling long distance for the interview.
As an aside, a large amount of the 99ers have worked for over 40 years in a country that speaks about having unemployment insurance! Additionally, these 99ers are just a stone throw away from retirement and social security. As-a-matter-of-fact, these boomers were born right after World War II, and the Great Depression. Ironically, it has been reported that “social security is running in the red” as the first set of the boomers have reached retirement age. Accordingly, “All baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, and they are all going to become eligible for the popular U.S. Program. Every single day, there are going to be thousands of U.S. citizens who are newly eligible to take part in the U.S. Medicare program due to this fact.” Smart AboutHealth.net(2010). So, one would think that the 99ers, within this age group, have been “hung out to dry”.
In any events, as Tessie Hutchinson was stoned for winning the lottery, so are the 99ers and other unemployed workers being pelted with insults. For instance, the “trolls” do occasionally mocks them on Twitter. And, would you believe that if they write about their plight on the Whitehouse’s wall, they get bombarded with innuendos, and insults! Also, their other nemesises have said repeatedly that, “they are lazy”, and “they are drug addicts”. Furthermore, Glenn Beck on record have said, “Have you heard of the 99ers? Oh, there they are. The Democratic Socialists of America. The 99ers. These people, some of which, frankly, I bet you’d be ashamed to call them Americans.” “Beck also slams military personnel when he slams the 99ers” according to Thornton who stated in his article that, “I received the following email from Vietnam veteran Phil Sawyer who included me in his email to the Glenn Beck Show staff:
Glenn Beck
I deeply resent your recent incredibly ignorant statement calling the long term unemployed ‘un American’. I am a US Navy Vietnam era vet who honorably served this country. At the end of my enlistment, which I volunteered for, I embarked on a successful 30 year career in the Information Technology field. In 2008 I owned a home, 5 cars, a Harley and had raised 2 children; one a college grad and the other did 2 tours of duty in Iraq for the US Army.
I was laid off in May of that year, 3 months before my 60th birthday. Even tho I have sent out OVER 1000 resumes I have been unable to land a full time job. I was on track to retire at 62 but that is now not gonna happen. I have recently found an $11 per hour part time job that I must successfully complete 6 weeks of UNPAID training to get. I lost my home and went thru bankruptcy but am thankful for the 99 weeks of unemployment that was my financial lifeline. I qualified for the maximum amount of unemployment in my home state of California. That amounted to 20% of what I made when I worked.
I would like to challenge you to live on 20% of what you currently make for 2 years. There go the cars, there goes the owner occupied home, there goes your self respect, there goes your life. How can you turn a blind eye to the fact that there are 6 job seekers for every job ?? In June 2010 there were 1.4 million 99ers like me whose benefits had run out / expired. Today that figure has grown to over 2 million and increases by 50,000 EVERY week. Does your conservative belief system allow you to kick 2 million Americans like me when we are down ?? If you can turn a blind eye and ridicule 2 million Americans you Glenn Beck are the un American one . . .
Philip Sawyer[.]”. … Thornton (2010).
It is unfair practices! And so, the 99ers have “tried” to reach out to the government. Quintessential to the 99ers and their supporters they have tweeted – “@whitehouse please help 99ers!!how long do we have to suffer and how much lost b4 we get help?THERE ARE NO JOBS!!” And, they have also continued to write to the White House. Additionally, while in their virtual surroundings, they have complained by writing words such as, “We have worked hard our entire lives and paid for others to draw SS, SSI, welfare and food stamps. I do not qualify because I own a home, but how much longer do you think I can stay in it since I have no income at all? I certainly cannot sell my house,” … Needless to say, there has not been any type of acknowledgments todate.
This depression is even more bleak for the 99ers who are homeowners being that they continues to struggle to pay a mortgage without an income. At this time they are considered to be “high risk” to credit lenders. Also, should they lose their houses, their credit ratings will continue to suffer due to the default on their mortgage. As a further disadvantage, a default on their mortgage will stay on their credit reports for approximately six years. And so, these 99ers live in constant fear at the thoughts of losing their houses to foreclosure, as-well-as, at the thoughts of being homeless. On the other side of this foreclosure coin, it has now become obvious that “foreclosure” is a big business. Accordingly, one Realtor has reported that private investors will pay cash for defaulted mortgages notes. And in other arguments, “Homes lost to foreclosure now make up a quarter of the real estate market — and they’re selling at big bargains. Christie (2010).
Additionally, according to the Rose’s article, “They used predatory lending practices, bundled the crappy mortgages and sold them, can’t prove who actually owns the properties and now they are feasting yet again on the dead carcass of the real estate industry”. Rose (2010). With so much at stake for the 99ers right now, it is imperative that they win this battle. You know, in previous recessions persons would travel to other states in order to find work and thus be able to keep up with their financial obligations. However, by December 2010, every state had reported an increase in unemployment. Therefore, the 99ers cannot claim this win without the help of their elected official who knows fully well that the job market is weak.
It’s hard to believe that the government is oblivious to the economic pain that the American people are experiencing. For seemingly, “There is no political will to extend unemployment benefits past 99 weeks. For people like Alexandra Jarrin, whose 99th week of UI checks ended in March, that means weeks of purgatory, living out of cars and motels, hoping a friend will mail a few dollars to ease the steep fall from middle class into poverty. … Thompson (2010)”. It’s time. It is time for the government to intervene.
The 99ers did not live through the Depression of the 1930′s. As-a-matter-of-fact, many were born right after the war and so they are approaching their retirement years. They have not bargained for any of this “living hell”. What is know as “The Recession” for their country - is the “Great Depression” for each of the 99ers! Prior to this plight, the only thing they knew was hard work. And, they had and a dream! Today without jobs, and with no one to attend to their pleas for help – the dream is dead! And, the fear of homelessness now lives where hope once flourished. Here, in final summary, is a video that was made by the 99ers community in an effort to further plead their cause –
. … Thanks for banding together “99ers community”! Please continue to do your good work!
UPDATED January 26, 2011 to add the video - “A 99ers Response to the State of the Union Address” as Offered by Paladinette.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Christie, Lee. “Foreclosures sell at 26%.” September, 30, 2010. CNNMoney,com. Accessed January 18, 2011. Available at http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/30/real_estate/foreclosure_sales_grow/index.htm.
concernedinKY. “A tribute to the 99ers: We are not invisible.” December 27, 2010. Accessed January 20, 2011. YouTube.com. Available at http://www.youtube.com/user/99ersUnited?feature=mhum.
cuz4concern. “99er thing is your FAULT WASHINGTON It is certainly not my fault.” December, 2010. The 99ers the mark of the beast Accessed January 19, 2011. YouTube.com. Available at http://www. YouTube.com/watch?v=0diYjzW8kBQ.
Indiviglio, Daniel. “Very Disturbing Employment Trends.” January 10, 2011. The Atlantic.
Accessed January, 2011. Available at http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/01/very-disturbing-employment-trends/69239/.
Isidore, Chris. “The Great Recession.” March 25, 2009. CNNMoney,com. Accessed January 17, 2011. Available at http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/25/news/economy/depression_comparisons/index.htm.
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” June 26, 1948. Accessed January 19, 2011. Classic Short Stories. Available at http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lotry.html.
King, Donalee. “Credit Score the New ‘Mark of the Beast’ for Unemployed Americans called 99ers?” November 15. 2010. Examiner.com. Accessed January 19, 2011. Available at http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-in-san-diego/credit-score-the-new-mark-of-the-beast-for-unemployed-americans-called-99ers?render=print.
Lowrey, Annie. “As Long-Term Unemployment Deepens, 99ers Look for Answers.” June 10, 2010. The Washington Independent. Accessed January 18, 2011. Available at http://washingtonindependent.com/86700/as-long-term-unemployment-deepens-99ers-look-for-answers.
Lowrey, Annie. “For Growing Ranks of 99ers, No Helpp Coming.” July 23, 2010. The Washington Independent. Accessed January 18, 2011. Available at http://washingtonindependent.com/92341/for-growing-ranks-of-99ers-no-help-coming.
Luo, Michael. “99 Weeks Later, Jobless Have Only Desperation.” August 2, 2010. The New York Times. Accessed January 19, 2011. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/us/03unemployed.html?_r=1.
“Ninety-Niners wants to be heard.” In her own words, 99er Dawn Rayner shares frustration of long-term unemployment. January, 13, 2011. ABC News Video . Accessed January 18, 2011. ABCnews.com. Available at http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/ninety-niners-heard-12639601.
Rose, Mary. “The Big Business Wall Street Won’t Discuss” October, 21 2010. abovetopsecrets.com. Global Financial Meltdown. Accessed January 18, 2010. Available at http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread622097/pg1.
“The New Homeless.” December, 2010. Accessed January 19, 2011. YouTube.com. Available at
http://www. YouTube.com/watch?v=obho7uBg3-A&feature=related.
“The Great Recession at 30 Months.” June 30, 2010. Updated January 18, 2011. PewResearchCenter Publications. Accessed January 18, 2011. Social Demographic Trends. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1643/recession-reactions-at-30-months-extensive-job-loss-new-frugality-lower-expectations.
“The New American Dream: Sprawling Tent Cities Filled With Tents Made In China.” December 14, 2010. The American Dream. Accessed January 14, 2011. Waking People Up And Getting Them To Realize That The American Dream Is Quickly Becoming The American Nightmare. Available at http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-new-american-dream-sprawling-tent-cities-filled-with-tents-made-in-china.
ThePaladinette. “A 99ers Response to the State of the Union Address Offered by Paladinette.” January 25, 2011. YouTube. January 26, 2011 Accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6u553KsE-A.
Thompson, Derek. “The Agony of the 99ers.” August 3, 2010. The Atlantic. January 19, 2011. Accessed at http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/08/the-agony-of-the-99ers/60887/.
Thornton, Michael “When Glenn Beck slams and mocks all 99ers, he insults military service veterans like Philip Sawyer.” August 25, 2010. Examiner.com. Accessed January 19, 2011. Rochester Unemployment Examiner. Available at http://www.examiner.com/unemployment-in-rochester/when-glenn-beck-slams-and-mocks-all-99ers-he-insults-military-service-veterans-like-philip-sawyer?render=print.
“Want Ad: Unemployed Need Not Apply” Man Shocked After Reading Orlando-Based Recruiter’s Ad. June 1, 2010 Updated June 1, 2010. Click Orlando. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.clickorlando.com/jobs/23752759/detail.html.
“Will Baby Boomer Generation Whipe Out Medicare Program?” January 1, 2011. Smart About Health. Accessed January 19, 2011. General health news since two-thousand-eight. Available at http://smartabouthealth.net/curiosity/2011/01/01/will-baby-boomer-generation-whipe-out-medicare-program/.
Zuckerman, Mortimer. “The Great Recession Continues.” Americans haven’t been fooled by the Dow’s rise What they see ahead are more taxes. January 21, 2010. The Wall Street Journal. Accessed January 18, 2011. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703837004575013592466508822.html.
Third World America: The 99ers Without a Lifeline
by Caotr on Jan.15, 2011, under 99ers, Unemployed
The 99ers are Americans who have been left destitute by joblessness caused by the Great Recession. While companies are still downsizing the question, “is 99 weeks of unemployment benefits enough during this recession?” must be asked. Presently, every 99er have exhausted the maximum number of weeks – up to 99weeks of unemployment benefits. Those who are able to find Internet service do so – since it offers them a way to continue to look for work, and to try to help themselves and others in this plight. A certain number of them have returned to school, and have found out that they still cannot find any type of work. Many have lost their houses to foreclosure. And, as countless number of 99er’s families become homeless, penniless, and destitute they are forced to turn to the food pantries and elsewhere for food. As their economic conditions continues to decline, tent cities have started to multiply in numbers. Holidays are now pieces of the past for each of them and their dependents. Suicide is on the rise among the 99ers! And so,those who are able ” have rallied”! They have contacted Washington, their representatives, and senators by letters, faxes, Emails, and Tweets. Even so, the 99ers were not included in the unemployment part of the recent tax bill nor are they counted in any statistics.
As of this writing, there are approximately 26 million unemployed workers of various age groups living in the US. Of that number, an estimated 15 million have lost their jobs since the recession began in 2007. No one knows how many of these jobless individual are 99ers since there are no official government count! It is known however, that a large majority of 99ers are older than 30 years of age. And many of the individuals from this age group are within two to fifteen years away from their retirement age. In addition to those statistics, their education level varies also. Here, some of them have not finished high school. However, a large number of these jobless are highly educated with bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees. Regardless of their educational level however, each of them have a proven track record of being dedicated hard worker.
Many of these long-termed unemployed are the “head of household“. Here, they are probably the only bread winner in their respective families. Male and female – some of them are our war veterans! Yet, after submitting thousands of job applications, they have watched as weeks turned into months and years of job hunting. By now, many 99ers have realized that their jobs have been outsourced – their jobs are not coming back. At this time, only a small proportion of these jobless have received “a dozen or so responses” to their job applications. While a chosen few have managed to land permanent jobs, a few were able to find seasonal work during the 2010 holiday season. As an aside, it is also not known how many millions of persons became 99ers in 2010, but only a million jobs were created during this time period. Consequently, if all of the above dread is not bad enough for a 99er, it has become clear that “as each unemployed person becomes a 99er he or she is no longer counted in the unemployment rate”. Factually, if the 99ers were included in the unemployment roll, then the rate would skyrocket to over 20 percent! And, though they are no longer regarded as being unemployed the unemployment rates will remain high for up to five years according to the following excerpt:
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke sketched a more optimistic view of the economy Friday but said the Fed’s $600 billion bond-buying program is needed because unemployment will likely stay elevated for up to five more years. Aversa (2011)
Claiming “a weakness in job growth” is hardly the solution to the 99er’s problem since they have all but become “non entities” in their country. Being said, it has also been reported that these long-termed unemployed are not looking for work. A certain part of that assumptions is true since many 99ers have fallen into the deepest despair as caused by homelessness. Even so, the 99ers are willing to work and they are willing to accept any type of legal work. However, just getting an interview has proven to be difficult. And, along with the above impediments various establishments have indicated that, “the unemployed need not apply” as it is stated in the following paragraph:
Some job postings include restrictions such as “unemployed candidates will not be considered” or “must be currently employed.” Those explicit limitations have occasionally been removed from listings when an employer or recruiter is questioned by the media though. Isidore (2010).
In-the-meantime as the quest for work continues, all of the 99ers savings – including their IRAs – have been depleted. Here, even the simple joy of celebrating a birthday, Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day – have been denied them. Additionally, as these individuals become penniless and destitute, only some of them are able to get food stamps. Some of them are frequenting the food pantries – that are also started to run low on supplies. And, a lot of these jobless are searching for food in dumpsters.
According to Foscarinis, anyone can loose their job. It’s a crisis that touches on the basic value on which the nation stands: Here is an excerpt from Foscarinis (2010) article -
What’s more, the already enormous gap is likely to worsen, as need increases and funding cuts at all levels of government continue to decimate safety net programs, from food assistance, to housing, to legal aid, to shelter. It’s no exaggeration to say that the depth of need, in a country that has the resources to meet it, is a human rights crisis right here at home.
It’s a crisis that touches on the basic values on which the nation stands. Anyone can lose their job, especially during a recession. What happens after unemployment benefits run out? What happens when the rent or mortgage is overdue and there’s no money to pay it? What happens when there are no family or friends who can help? Do we really want to say that no help will be forthcoming? Foscarinis (2011).
As can be surmised, the 99ers are in dire strait and by now many of them have lost their houses to foreclosure. Many others who have lived in rooms, or in an apartment have lost their residences also. As these individuals become homeless, tent cities have begun to multiply. Said Kevin (2010), “The 99ers have been left Out in The Cold!” … Furthermore, Keven (2010) also pointed out, that:
According to the resent censuses, 18.6 million homes are now vacant in the United States. 23 million people have lost their homes, and the Banksters are now filing around 300,000 new foreclosures every month, according to RealtyTrac. Lender Processing Services (LPS) reported that in the month of November, 261,153 loans were referred to foreclosure, while in October there were 279,433.
Therefore, during November of 2010, an unemployed 56 year old man froze to death while sleeping in his car.
In addition to all that has been said thus far, and though this subject is sad and heartbreaking, the suicide rate has been rising since the recession began, according to the Harris article, “Suicide Rates Up Since Recession Began, Debt A ‘Way Of Life’ For 99ers”. Here is an excerpt about the subject from the Harris article –
Data compiled by The Wall Street Journal in late 2009 showed increases in several states. Of the 19 states surveyed, 13 had seen marginal increases in the suicide rate. Tennessee had the highest rate of increase, with over 15 percent more suicides in 2008 than 2007. Across the 19 states, the average increase was 2.3 percent.
This trend was also seen during the Great Depression, when the suicide rate increased by 21 percent in the early 1930s (about 17 of every 100,000 people). Harris (2010).
How can the government turn it’s back on so many? Some of the 99ers have lost all hope, and faith and have committed suicide. Al, a 99er, ended his struggles in July of 2010, Brahman (2010). And, on January 14, 2011 the 99ers and the world received the following tweet:
RT @Floridagordon: RT @nicolesandler A 99er writes a suicide note: http://bit.ly/fEMf3P Please read and help if you can. #99ers || #OMG
Many persons are rooting for Bud as they share in his pain and suffering. For many jobless, like Bud, their government has failed them all. Being said, the producers of Ali Velshi’s show on CNN were able to make contact with Bud. During his show, Ali reported on the contact, as-well-as the 99er’s plight at 2:55PM on January 14, 2010.
Clearly, in this economic crisis, 99 weeks are not enough! Thus, by August of 2010 while seeking unemployment benefits extension and a jobs bill, 99ers held a rally on Wall Street. However, since the 99ers are financially crippled, only approximately 200 persons attended the rally. Additionally, by November of 2010, being civic minded, many 99ers voted during the mid-term election! In an attempt to further draw attention to their plight, on November 15, 2010 four 99ers were arrested during a small protest outside a New York City unemployment office. In addition to the above efforts, on November 20, 2010 in front of the Federal Reserve building in New York, the 99ers recreated the iconic Breadline image from the Great Depression in an attempt to draw attention to their plight and the distant mirror.
Then, on December 21, the 99ers held a nationwide candlelight light vigil as a form of protest against the unemployment extension which excluded them. During this time period, the jobless who were able, pleaded for a “Job Creation Bill”, a lifeline called UE Insurance, and justice for their survival by writing letters, calling, faxing, emailing and tweeting to their representatives in Washington. Additionally, they have tweeted about their plight to the president, to The Whitehouse, and to the media . In fact, here is a couple of their tweets, as an example of their tweeting efforts -
@PressSec What is @BarackObama planning 2 do 2 help the OVERWHELMED #USA food banks & #homeless shelters dealing w/#unemployed #99ers? #1Q;
@whitehouse #99ers NEED YOUR HELP NOW ! Why won’t you listen /HELP??? @wegoted.
Thus far, a few persons have received a “form” letter response from their letter writing efforts. Many of the persons who have called into Washington have received a “what crisis?” response from the operators. Telephone calls to many of the representatives offices have returned “I will pass your message to the senator or representative” responses. Even so, a small amount of help, in the form of a couple of bills, is forthcoming. For, in December of 2010, Crew of 42 reported that a bill was created that will provide 14 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation in Tier I. And beginning in January the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports will be the first to have an estimate of the number of 99ers in the country Schroeder (2010). Here is an excerpt from the Schroeder’s report -
The federal agency that tracks unemployment is changing its methods in an effort to more accurately gauge the severity of the nation’s jobless woes. Citing “an unprecedented rise” in long-term unemployment, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced it is changing its upper-limit for tracking long-term unemployment from two years to five.
Beginning next month, BLS will send out modified forms that will allow people surveyed to mark if they have been without jobs for “260 weeks or over.” Previously, the form had only asked if jobless stints had lasted “99 weeks or over.
According to the BLS, almost 10 percent of the country’s 15 million unemployed have been looking for work for more than two years. Schroeder (2010).
Along with these possible solutions, to the problem of joblessness, being ignored , and being cast aside, Rep Jesse Jackson, Jr, have asked the 99ers and all unemployed to submit their resume to him in an attempt put a face on the the number of unemployed in the congressional record.
There are millions of 99ers. These are US citizens who have lost their jobs during the Great Recession. It has been reported that the recession has ended, but those who are the casualties are in a “Great Depression” because of their economic state. Forced to exist without basic needs, some of the 99ers have resolved to ending their miserable existence. If one of these jobless are able, they are reaching out to their representatives in the government in order to draw attention to the plight of all 99ers. Although the problem seems far from getting solved, the 99ers are getting a small amount of media attention, as-well-as, the attention of a few people in Washington. To summarize further, here is a video on the 99ers story -
A special “Thank you”, for sharing the above video, goes to Rhonda, and Brian from the Facebook Groups “The 99ers need a Tier V added to Unemployment Benefits“ located at – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1424922119#!/99ers, and “Extend Unemployment Benefits” located at - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1424922119#!/group.php?gid=133354446686732.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alden, William. “Homelessness In The Middle Class: Stable Families Reduced To Poverty.” The Huffington Post. January 13, 2011. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/homeless-america_n_808339.html.
Aversa, Jeannine. “Bernanke: 4-5 years to reach normal unemployment.” Yahoo” News.January 7, 2011. Yahoo Finance. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110107/ap_on_bi_ge/us_bernanke.
“Bill Text 111th Congress (2009-2010) HR.6556.IH” December 17, 2010. The Library of Congress. Thomas. Accessed January 15, 2011 Available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.6556:.
Crew of 42. http://www.crewof42.com/?s=99ers&cat=-1.
Dimsdale, John. “Jobless report to include those unemployed more than two years.” American Public media. December 29, 2010 . Marketplace. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/12/29/am-jobless-report-to-include-those-unemployed-more-than-two-years/.
Drahman, Susan. TwitLonger On Friday 24th December 2010. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.twitlonger.com/show/7mh3en.
Foscarinis, Maria. “Too Big to Fail? Homelessness Increases as Help Decreases.” The Huffington Post. January 13, 2011.. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-foscarinis/too-big-to-fail-homelessn_b_808679.html.
Harris, Jonathan D. “Suicide Rates Up Since Recession Began, Debt A ‘Way Of Life’ For 99ers.” The Huffington Post. July 26,2010. Updated September 24, 2010. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/26/suicide-rates-up-since-re_n_658668.html.
Isidore, Chris. “Looking for work? Unemployed need not apply.” June 16, 2010. CNNMoney,com. Accessed January 15, 2011. Available at http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/16/news/economy/unemployed_need_not_apply/index.htm.
Kevin. “FEMA Camps for the Homeless.” FEMA Camps for the Homeless. November 14, 2010. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://fema-for-homeless.blogspot.com/.
Peterson, Chris. “Man Freezes to Death in Car.” Daily Inter Lake.com. December 9, 2010. Accessed January 14,2011. Available at http://dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_67b6ba9e-0335-11e0-9582-001cc4c03286.html.
Relative, Saul. “Even with Unemployment Extensions, 4 Million More 99ers in 2011.” “99er Population Could Triple in the Coming Year.” Associated Content from Yahoo. December 6, 2010. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6090804/even_with_unemployment_extensions_4.html?cat=3 .
Schroeder, Peter. “Long-term unemployment measure extended to five years.” On the Money. December 28, 2010. The Hill’s Finance & Economy Blog. Accessed January 14, 2010. Available at http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/135251-government-expanding-tracking-of-long-term-unemployment?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d2d02a35cb53d98%2C1.
“The New American Dream: Sprawling Tent Cities Filled With Tents Made In China.” December 14, 2010. The American Dream. Accessed January 14, 2011. Waking People Up And Getting Them To Realize That The American Dream Is Quickly Becoming The American Nightmare. Available at http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-new-american-dream-sprawling-tent-cities-filled-with-tents-made-in-china.
Tierney, Kevin. “Repeat after me: The 13-months unemployment extension does not extend benefits pass 99 weeks.” The Layoff List. January 11, 2011. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.layofflist.org/
Version 2 “Final comercial.mov.” Published October 14, 2010. Accessed January, 14, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=_XEiEYDR4hc. YouTube http://www.youtube.com/.
“Want Ad: Unemployed Need Not Apply.” Man Shocked After Reading Orland-Based Recruiter’s Ad. June 1, 2010. Updated June 1, 2010. Click Orlando. Accessed January 14, 2011. Available at http://www.clickorlando.com/jobs/23752759/detail.html.
A 99er’s Story
by Caotr on Dec.18, 2010, under 99ers, Unemployed
“99ers are United States citizens who have exhausted all their unemployment benefits, including all unemployment extensions totaling up to 99 weeks.”. … Wikipedia.
It’s 2:30 in the morning. I’ve been awake for about an hour. My head is pounding but I don’t have a headache. It’s funny the only time that I notice my head is whenever the phone rings and I cover my my ear with both palms to drown out the ringing.I don’t know how much more I can bear! I’m thinking about how I want to unplug the phone but I know if I do someone will probably call me for that interview. Dear God, I’m so tired of looking and waiting for a job. All I want to do right now is cry, cry. In truth, I think I’m crying but I have ran out of tears.
Whenever I wake up during the nights like this, it’s because something is bothering me. This time sitting right before my mind is the electric bill, the Internet bill, and my car taxes that I must pay next month so that I will be able to register my car. I’m pennyless! It’s cold! It’s the holiday season.
The lame duck session was my last hope! Yes, I’m a 99er – the collateral damage from the Great Recession. I’ve been a 99er since July 2010. I’ve used up all of my savings to get by until now. And even though I face certain homelessness, I though I would at least be able to live in my car when the time comes. But, now I realize that I will have to leave the car behind, and I’m visualizing myself walking down the street with a suitcase and no where to go with not even a bus fare to my name! I’m forced to beg!
I’ve was watching the lame duck session on CSPAN as Senator Saunder read a letter from a woman who because of the recession, can merely make it to church anymore. I thought he was talking about me – I could have written that letter. I felt those tears in my eyes but I can’t cry! Even my tears have been taken from me. You know something, I should be waiting for the coming of the Lord and thinking about Christmas, but these days my only hope is that when I wake up I’ll be dead! This is what the recession has done to me. I know that Christmas is sometime next week but I’m not interested in it. I can’t wait for it to come and go away. Christmas is never a good time for me anymore. About 15 years ago, I lost a dear one to death just in time for Christmas. If it was still something to look forward to, I would wish for a job. That’s what I really want. To be honest with you, even the outsourced jobs at 17 cents an hour is starting to look good to me.
I, like other 99ers have written to Senator Saunders, and other senators hoping that we’ll get some much needed help. I don’t know what else to do! I’m so tired Here is my personal story that I sent to Senator Saunder. -
Sir:
I started to look for work in November of 2006 when the announcement came that my department was being closed by the end of the year. I was kept on til the end of July 2007. Even on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, since then, I’ve looked for work. By 2009 even a job pumping gas looked good to me. And by 2009, I was fighting for a job that paid $8.00+/hour! Needless to say that after thousands of applications, I’ve only received approximately 10 responses – 2 via regular mail and 8 email responses.
I’ve been through other recessions. I’ve started over from the bottom many times. I’ve gone back to school. In fact, I have a Master of Science degree. Also, I believe that we should help ourselves so I’ve built my own website from the foundation up. As with all things, I’ll have to wait for the site to mature.
My benefits ran out in July. The bill collectors are calling! I can’t tell the last day that I paid the mortgage. By tomorrow, I’ll pull out the last $1,000 from my IRA to pay the electricity, Internet for the this month and next. I’ll have to pay taxes for my car by next month so that I can register my car in February – I have no money for it! But, I have two wishes as I write this letter. One, I wish it was still possible for me to cry. And, I wish God would take his breath from me.
My daughter and grandson lives with me. My house is all electric. It’s starting to get cold here. But, up until yesterday, the worst part of this journey has been, not being able to take this little boy for an occasional ice cream, and an occasional visit to McDonalds! He, has seen me looking for work all the time. I’m ashamed! God only knows how many letters me and the other 99ers have written to Washington. I’ve have no idea how many tweets people have tweeted to the president. I don’t know what to tell the kids! I wonder what my little boy learns in school about his country in contrast to what he sees at home! He sometimes hear me hoping that the president will say something – anything – about the 99ers! But now, nothing is worst than the death sentence that the president handed to the 99ers yesterday.
What have we done wrong? Why is it that 2 million (out of the 15 million unemployed since the recession) deserves the holidays and we the 99ers and our families don’t? How do I tell myself and the family that lives with me that to the president we are either non entity or a sacrifice?
Sir, please filibuster the compromise tax bill framework, as presented by the president.
Thank you.
As you can see, I’ve tried! And, I like the other millions of 99ers were ignored during the lame duck. The tax bill was signed into law with not so much as a penny to help the 99ers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. The 99ers are hurting! Many of them are already homeless. Some of them have committed suicide.
January 07, 2011 – Update
Many persons have asked for an update to my 99er’s story and though not much has changed, there are three newsworthy updates -
Firstly, my daughter will pay for the Internet and phone services for at least another month. She will also try to pay for the electricity service by next month. None of this is a done deal, but God knows that I truly appreciate it.
Secondly, I have updated my Resume to include social networking skills, as-well-as important technological skills that I used while building and maintaining my website. Hopefully these and other efforts will finally lead me to a job.
As an aside, new job numbers were released today, but the numbers does not include the 99ers. As a reminder, the 99ers are the persons who lost their jobs at the beginning of the recession and through it’s peak. To date, 99ers are unable to find any type of work. At the last estimate, there are approximately 7 millions 99ers. Based upon some arguments, were the 99ers included in the unemployment number then the unemployment rate would skyrocket to 20%. Additionally, the present reporting system assumes that if a person has not found work in 99 weeks then said person have given up looking for work, Mind you, we are in the worst recession on record. So, according to the economists, “the country will have to produce over 400,000 jobs monthly for 5 years to get us back to work”.
Thirdly, I heard about the following opportunity today from “Crew of 42″:
National Effort to Dramatize Unemployment Problem Begins Today – Today, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. issued a call for resumes on the floor of the House of Representatives, in order to demonstrate the unemployment problem in the country. Following his remarks, he made the following statement:
“Today, I began an effort to mobilize the unemployed, the under-employed and the economically desperate. I will be collecting resumes of out-of-work Americans in order to submit them for the Congressional Record as a way of putting a face on the jobs crisis we confront. By sending their resumes to me, the unemployed will be permitting me to use their stories as we fight for jobs and enter their curriculum vitae into the Record.”…
The full article can be read online at “The Crew of 42″ website which is located at – http://www.crewof42.com/ . Along with jobs this is the help that is craved by the 99ers – a government to acknowledge their existence. And so, I have submitted my Resume along with the links to my blogs to Mr Jackson.
_________
P.S. Thank you everyone for all the thoughtful comments.
My Twitter Tools
by admin on Mar.02, 2010, under Social Networking
First Posted October 1, 2009
I have been on Twitter for about a month now and find it interesting. So far, on Follow Fridays I get somewhere between 2 to 10 new followers. Throughout the week, I have also thankfully gotten a few followers through Direct Message campaigns and RTs. It seems though that whenever I spontaneously follow ten or so people a day only one or two follow back. Through this effort, some of the people who I spontaneously follow send me direct messages with phrases like “Thanks for the follow – please join me on Facebook”. Or, “Thanks for following me, visit my website. In other words, as leader they rarely decide to follow. And of course there are those who doesn’t even seem to realize that I am following them. But I know that if I stay in this type of one way relationship, I’ll end up reading tweets, after tweets with no one to listen to my tweets. And so, by the end of a week I often have to do a little un-following.
Yes! I am also force to clean house from time to time and so I have been window shopping for all type of Twitter tools. Within the last couple of days I have found some lovely ones such as , RevTwt at http://revtwt.com/index.php?id=47731 and Twiends – http://twiends.com?i=caotr. And since I don’t want to clutter up this blog, I will do a write up on each of them if I find them useful.
Already I have found one that I am really loving at Twiends – http://twiends.com?i=caotr. I started using this tool today and for a free membership, within an hour I gained 18 new followers. By now you already know that I am very picky so I might as well tell you that I’ve looked at the newbies portfolios and don’t believe they are going to tweet me to death with all sort of “whatever “, whenever I start following them. Additionally, they look like real live people who seems to be using the Internet and Twitter from time to time.
According to Twiends “Everyone will get more followers if more people join Twiends. That’s the simple truth. Right now about 100 new members join every day. We think we can do better” … And, based upon the results that I am seeing I honestly believe their statement. And just so you know Twiends have a few incentives that can be used to move the process along. For instance, you can buy credits, mention them in your blog, and mention them in a tweet. It has been a pleasure for me to do all of the above. Here is Twiends link to get you started – http://twiends.com?i=caotr.
March 1, 2010
You can really make money from your own tweets. Check out Sponsored Tweets at http://bit.ly/5IGOiE
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A Daily Bread!
by Caotr on Dec.28, 2009, under Unemployed
As I go through this unending period of unemployment the seven last words go through my mind quite often. By now I have started to write words such as “Please read my Resume – I need a job” within the emails that I submit with my Resume and Cover Letter to the ozone. And since that is not enough, I was thinking of walking around with a big sign around my neck saying “Please Interview Me” but others have beaten me to the implementation. Yes! I’ve come to the realization that I am being told to make bread out of straws, but I still might do the above implementation anyway. Why Not?
Anyway, aside from my daily job hunting pangs and woes, I have joined a few networking sites, etcetera and etcetera. And you know what, I like it! They have become a necessary part of my daily bread. For instance, on LinkedIn I have connected with people who I have neither seen nor heard from in years. Here, I might even find meaningful work.
I have also been drawn into Yahoo Answers – the R&S section most often – and I’m convinced that wherein The Bible is concerned, there is a lot of work to be done. For as I ponder through this wilderness, I sometimes recall the book of Revelations and wonder if the physical church is a brute that has gone awhoring after church doctrines among other gods.
In addition to the above, I have joined Facebook where I soon realized that I must be a member of the largest family on earth. I tell you no lie when I say “We have a lot of getting to the bottom of it” to do. Trust me!
And though I thought that I would never join Twitter I have given in and must say “I love it”. Here on Twitter, I am following other twitters. I am also following job opportunities, and whenever I like a trending topic I am adding my two cents worth. Recall how the psalmist said, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there”. … Please listen to this, for I went into the #dontstopbelieving trending topic and had the time of my life. Now, don’t get me wrong – remember that technology is modeled after the real world. But I have to testify that there were people remembering God that night. At least one person said “I feel like crying” while another said “I feel like singing ‘Hey Jude’”. Who would have thought! To be honest with you, I felt the Spirit – I wanted to hold hands and sing. In my own body I was bursting at the seams with all sort of wonderful old Gospels. As a child these songs were called “Sankeys”. The Sankeys were all coming back in droves. During this time and among other tweets, I tweeted “#donstopbelieving that the recession will end – only eternity last forever”. And, “#dontstopbelieving you will get a job”.
Factually, the networking goodies doesn’t end there either. I am getting a few visitors to my site courtesy of these cream of the crop – Stumbleupon, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is a bit of information that I have yet to tell you, my followers are good people who I take pleasure in following back. You would not believe how many times that I have looked up at some of the tweets and have seen words of wisdom, understanding, and quotations that have addressed my job hunting quest and they have helped to pull me from despair. And I am reminded of these words “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there”. … You know, If asked about the people who I follow I would say “Good, bad, or ugly – some of the people on Twitter are medicine in disguise”. On the other hand, some of my acquaintances have been like Job’s comforters to me. At times, I think of the king’s brother in Shakespeare’ s Hamlet whenever I think of them.
So, with time to look within, I am realizing that I depend upon technology, quotations, psalms, and hymns to help me get through these dreaded days, and life itself. Being said, here are a few of the special gems that men of old have left as a legacy for me especially through this ungodly quest -
“The heights by great men reached and kept, were not obtained by sudden flight. But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. Reinhold Niebuhr.
“In life there is nothing more unexpected and surprising than the arrivals and departures of pleasure. If we find it in one place to-day, it is vain to seek it there to-morrow. You can not lay a trap for it.” Alexander Smith.
Who can forget Sir. John Newton’s “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see”. …
And in our own days, Dr. Martin Luther King, “I have a dream”, … Along with Bob Marley’s “One Love’.
In summary, may you find joy, peace, and at least some insights through my daily bread. Remember this “True friends are like diamonds – precious but rare. False friends are like autumn leaves – found everywhere”. And may my gems be your gems to have and to hold.
Walk good!
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