I Hate

Standard Time with a passion, for as soon as I wake up, it's just about time to go to bed.

The long nights are just the shits.

The only good thing about this time of year is the holiday season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and my birthday. Perhaps scratch that last one, for I am not looking forward to birthdays that much anymore.

Anyhow, forget it otherwise.

I managed to take my camera out and take some pictures over at Bartley Ranch Park in Reno. There are a bunch of old, rusty farm equipment, and I snapped some pictures of those, and I took pictures of the old (restored) one-room Huffaker Schoolhouse. I also took some other pictures of some stuff around there.

But it was after 4 o'clock when I finished. It was already getting dark, so I headed back home.

At least I only have to work three days this week. I won't be doing any traveling; I haven't gone to Oregon for Thanksgiving in perhaps 18 years. It's just too iffy weatherwise to make the trip.

I do, however, intend to go to Oregon for Christmas, and I hope there's not another goddamned shitstorm coming through like last year.

Meanwhile, Karen Friedman of the Pension Rights Center makes the case for keeping defined benefit programs, noting that the 401(k)-style retirement plans have so many shortcomings and are totally inadequate for retirement.

Naturally a couple of Cato hacks use their best deceptive tactics by claiming that only the fraudulent 401(k)s can "keep up" with what it costs to retire.

Which of course is bullshit, for defined contribution plans were NEVER designed to help people have a secure retirement. They were solely designed to save companies money on pension costs. It's pretty clear having a pension or a social insurance system like Social Security is far, far superior to a 401(k), for the former pay out as long as you live, while the 401(k)s pay out only as long as the money lasts. If you outlive your savings, tough shit.

But the Cato people know that, but they are driven by ideology, not truth or common sense.