Friday I wrote about how to improve your mood. Saturday morning something happened that all those tips could never help. Six people at (or near) a meet your congressperson event were killed. Thirteen other people, including Congresswoman Giffords were shot with many of this group in critical condition.
That’s sad enough but then you bring in the ugly rhetoric brought up during the past two years in politics and wonder about cause and effect. Congresswoman Giffords was identified as a target by Sarah Palin (and others) in the last election and the district is on that infamous map.
The sheriff of Pima County, Clarence Dupnik, expressed the same thoughts I was having so well. He said, “when you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.”
My hope is that this becomes a sentinel event that brings change to the political discourse in this country. Time will tell.
Spending
January is a no-spend month which really means spend only on planned necessities. Let’s take a look at this week’s numbers.
- Gasoline $44.32
- Groceries 191.75
- Cleaning Supplies 10.86
- Dining Out $15.00 (one lunch out)
- Total: 261.93
Our grocery costs are higher because we had to stock up on some items as I start cooking more than dining out. We didn’t buy anything extravagant. Next week’s grocery bill should be much, much lower.
Resolutionize Your……
The Better Living Network (you’ll hear more about us as the year progresses) is focusing on improving various parts of a life during the month of January. Here are the articles not published on Bucksome Boomer.
New Years Resolution to Save Money @ The Coupon Mommie
Resolutionize Your Green Life @ The Greensback Gal
Resolutionize Your Kitching and Cooking: 25 Meals in 20 Minutes @ Eat At Home
Resolutionize Your Home: Develop a Cleaning Schedule @ Coupon Cookin’
Resolutionize Your Mommy-tude @ Savin’ Some
Resolutionize Your Mom Groove: 8 Easy Breakfast Ideas @ Crystal and Company
Editor’s Picks
Emergency Funds, Disney Style. I never noticed how many children’s stories really are about personal finance before. There’s a great clip from Babes in Toyland also! (Money Rabbit)
Tithing. Giving should be done out of generosity and love, not guilt or browbeating. I like this account of how some religious leaders get it wrong. (Out of Debt Again)
The Magic 8 Ball Makes Its Predictions for 2011. Reader questions are answered by Len’s trusty prop. We’ll have to wait until the end of the year to see how it did. In the meantime, good news for the Padres! (Len Penzo Dot Com)
7 Ways to Improve Your Diet. Since this is exactly what I want to do this year, the article caught my eye. Good common sense to get you started. (Prairie EcoThrifter)
4 Overlooked Opportunities of the Baby Boomer Bomb. I find it interesting how other generations view mine. Our aging and changing life means new options for those younger. (Faith and Finance)
A Weight Loss Tip to Die For. This is not a typical weight loss tip at all, but I think effective so be sure to check it out. (Financial Samurai)
How to Organize a Coupon Binder. If you want to start couponing, here’s a post to get you started which includes multiple resources. (How to Have it All)
Why You Need a Home Inventory. I really need to work on it and it should be easier now with my new Flip camera. (Not Made of Money)
How to Budget for Irregular Expenses. It’s important to include these bills in mind each month when planning the budget. Eliminate surprises that shouldn’t be! (Ultimate Money Blog)
Sacrifice – Key to Getting out of Financial Trouble. This may be the key to everything that’s not easy in life. (Finance Fox)
Carnivals and Roundups
Best Personal Finance Articles of 2010 @ Free From Broke
Emily’s List: New Congress Edition @ Credit Cards.com
Recap of Recaps – Posts by SDBloggers @ SD Bloggers
Goals Galore @ The Millionaire Nurse Blog
Roundup for the Week of 12.27.10 – New Years Resolutions Edition @ Faithful with a Few
Weekly Round-Up: Post Holiday Sickness Edition @ The Amateur Financier
Yakezie Time @ Do Not Wait
{ 11 comments }
Thanks for linking to my tithing post. Much appreciated!
Thanks so much for including me in the editors picks. What an honour. Best of luck with your health goals this year. It’s all about baby steps that you can commit to.
@Miss T, thanks for the encouragement!
@ Mrs. Accountability, my pleasure.
You’re doing great with your no-spend goals this month! I’m looking forward to reading about your health goals update.
As for the quote about “hatred and bigotry” I took a cultural class a few semesters ago in the Pan-African studies department and through all of my assigned reading, the scariest part about racism and hatred today is it’s hidden and quiet – sort of like a boiling tea kettle where you don’t hear about it until it screams. It’s so sad that people have this anger hidden inside them and it’s horrible when they leash out on others.
Little House, we’ve been walking for exercise and eating much better. I’ll definitely update my status at the end of the month.
I’m interested in understanding the motivation as welll in more detail. Heard he got rejected from joining the military?
Sam, I hope we do learn the shooter’s motivation. It sounds like he had problems in college.
The whole situation in Arizona makes me upset. I know we’re still learning the story of what happened and why it happened, but I can’t imagine any possible justification for these actions. I just hope we don’t hear any more situations like this in the future.
On a brighter note, thank you for linking to my round-up post; it’s always good to know that my post are being read and appreciated.
It disturbs me that the right-wing is taking no responsibility for ramping up the vitriol over the last two years, and no responsibility for what happened in AZ. Instead they are busy ducking the issue and blaming liberals for even bringing up the issue.
I’m old enough to remember the leftist rhetoric and actions of the sixties–even though I have always characterized myself as a liberal, I found much of the dialog then to have been provocatively dangerous and ill-advised. I feel the same way about the right wing whackos today.
Grace, it’s sad but not surprising that no one is taking responsibility for going overboard with the hateful talk the last few years.
The silent majority in our country is not a leftist or right-winger. We’re practical people that range from liberal to conservative on the scale and believe in working together and compromise. Let’s take America back!
Saturday’s tragedy hopefully will bring us all together to tone down the rhetoric and animosity. You provided a great list of reading!
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