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Tom Adams

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    Since when is $250k a year, middle class?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    For the record, I would like to invite each of you to go to post #3 on page 2 of this thread. What you will find is the first “name calling” incident in this thread. Extra bonus points for the first person to identify who did the name calling. I point this out since the topic starter made a big deal about name calling more than once.

    Here’s what I THINK. I think that Mr. HiFi, through no fault of his own, has an accident and puts him on the disabled list forcing him to the sidelines. At first, some time off is no big deal – a chance to while away some time watching the Speed Channel and perusing various internet forums and getting his body back in shape. But after a period of time of not being able to work (which I think bothers him for he has a strong work ethic), he allows himself to be drawn into an article about some upper middle class family that voices their concern about how the economy affects them. Worse yet, he fixates on the fact that they make waaaaaay too much money to complain about anything (why he has this opinion and who left him in charge of deciding what is waaaay too much is only known to him). So there he sits at his PC, possibly feeling a bit sorry for himself for he’d rather be working and feel like a contributor and all that and there’s some woman out there who’s husband is making big bucks and she’s complaining?? How dare her?? Why....she should be glad she’s not laid-up with an injury or whatever.

    You know what? How in the sam dickens does any of us know what that woman actually said? Just because the article comes from the WSJ it’s Gospel?? And while I can accept someone’s perspective about what THEY feel is a more than comfortable wage, I don’t agree, nor do I feel you should expect me to agree with that perspective. So we agree to disagree. Fair?

    (rant mode on)

    IMHO if one wants to obsess about something why not obsess over the hundreds & hundreds of millionaires - not folks who make $250K a year but MILLIONAIRES - that occupy Washington that don’t have a friggin’ clue as to what it’s like to have to put off buying something ‘cause they don’t have room on their credit card or college tuition is due or they're helping out an aging parent or whatever. These people, day & day out, pontificate that they understand YOU and do it with a straight face. Worse yet, they spend the money, that they confiscate from YOU, each & every day without any regard for what YOU did to earn it. And the icing on the cake?? They’re spending NOW the monies that will be confiscated from your kids and your grandkids

    Ohhhh….but let’s start a thread about some ding bat who voices a concern about their buying power with the economy in the crapper even though her husband makes $250K and go on & on about how you just can’t fathom how they could see things that way (my words – not yours). Ohhhh…..the inhumanity of folks like that. Sheesh.......

    Why not obsess over the fact that in order to spend one trillion dollars you’d have to spend $100MM a year for 100 years!!!! You wanna get p*ssed about something – get p*ssed about that.

    (rant mode off)

    Tom

    Since when is $250k a year, middle class?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    Do you not have anything to do there at work that you're supposed to be getting paid to do other than posting on the Klipsch forum using company resources (my assumption of course)??

    I guess you're the mind reader now Tom. I'm an electrician as stated in my first post, if I were at work there'd be zero time for computer use, let alone computers to do such. I agree that middle class can be a broad range and that was my question, what do others feel $250k a year is? I thought it simple enough. Those who have chimed in agree, some do not. I also think we need to consider ones location when speaking of wages, and again I pointed to my locale and expenses faced by those in my community. It was not as you implied, a criticism of what they own, nor was I drawing any relationship to me. I was showing examples of what cost of living in my neck of the woods is, and what I consider to be middle class. You drew your own incorrect implications and posted without knowledge of the topic at hand.

    To me it's pretty clear that this is nothing more than a vieled attempt at criticising someone for being in a certain income bracket. It's just another wealth envy commentary just as yours are.

    I'm pretty sure the The Wall Street Journal is the last place you would read about wealth envy, and I was not making a "wealth envy commentary". Inferring so makes you sound like a rich snob, but I don't want to assume. Wink

    Listen, it is not unusual for a 2 income family to make $250K nowadays. I know several.

    Here, many school teachers and police officers make $140k, so there are many households that have a combined income of $250k. Considering the high cost of living here, those I know in that position still consider themselves upper middle class. My feeling is, that wage in Tennessee is at the very least upper middle class. And as was pointed out by another poster, this family seems to have extended themselves beyond their means and therefore "feel" middle class. Perhaps if they sold their second home, or cut down on church donations they might feel upper class again.

    As for your attempt to portray yourself as superior in intellect with that "but rather placed yourself on higher moral ground and chastised me for raising a point that you missed. A contradiction to say the least." comment. Nice try. Weak - but nice try.

    Hardly a "weak" point, you passed judgement when you could have remained silent if you were living up to the moral code that you described. I'm not sure where I portrayed myself as superior in intellect though.

    Blah, blah, blah....

    You never answered my simple question either. So either you get mine (and others') point and won't answer it or you're just being obstinent.

    And why are you at home in the middle of the day and not out working in order to aid the recovery of our economy? Your working generates tax revenues and sitting at home behind a PC does not make you a contributing member of society. And for the record - I am a died in the wool rich snob. I typically have a bad day if I can't wipe my feet on folks the likes of you. Electricians....pshaw.....dime a dozen. Do you bathe?? Remember I'm only saying this 'cause I'm a rich snob. Ahhhhh......the perks of being wealthy. You should try it sometime.

    Tom

    Since when is $250k a year, middle class?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    This is about how those who earn $250k claiming they are just getting by, and whining about a possible 3% increase to their income tax. Hearing a wife of a surgeon call herself middle class is just maddening because they're obviously oblivious to the fact that they are in fact on financially solid ground, unlike so many middle class Americans.

    I think their "whining" about a potential 3% hike in taxes is a very valid gripe. They earned their money why should they not be entitled to keep it or at least a significant portion of it. When or where is it written that being middle class means you should struggle or how much you should struggle? I just do not see how thinking of himself as being middle class is a maddening thing unless you do have an issue with the dollar amount. You seem to be the one passing judgment on them; you seem to be assessing what their income means to you and artificially declaring whether or not it meets your definition. Someone making $250k may well have extenuating circumstances that dictate they are struggling. Like it or not you are fixating on a number as it related to your worldview and asking us to evaluate your rationale and then you seem to be getting p!ssed when we disagree or ask why you are fixated on this singular irrelevant issue. What you or I or this surgeon make is moot in each others lives other than to generate an unfounded angst at someone whom we feel has more privilege than we think they may be entitled to or because they voice a grievance we do not understand. Did the article indicate what the Church does with the money, maybe it goes to an outreach program, in that instance the guy is a hero because his donation will be more likely to be more directly applied to the cause as apposed to being consumed by comptrollers and other overhead expenditures that decimate charitable donations to mere percentage of their original value.

    +1

    FWIW - I personally know 2 guys who were riding the housing build boom for 8 to 10 years. These guys made $250k to $300K a year, possibly more. They employed several folks and supported many sub-contrators. Both were very generous to their church and they did ALOT for the community. They're the type of folks that love sitting around the fire pit drinking beer just as much as dining out at a fancy restaurant. Both of these guys and their families live in houses they rent now. Gone are the boats, the big homes, the big trucks, the employees, the 4-wheelers and all the other trappings of their "wealth". Neither of these guys whine - probably due to their strong faith.

    The point here is that just because you make $250K or $300K or $500K, you are not recession proof.

    Tom

    Since when is $250k a year, middle class?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    I read the article and do understand the supposed "implications". I guess you're now a mind-reader???

    To me it's pretty clear that this is nothing more than a vieled attempt at criticising someone for being in a certain income bracket. It's just another wealth envy commentary just as yours are.

    Like has been pointed out, whether you chose to believe it or not, $250K is NOW the NEW middle class - which is now considered to be from around $60 to $300K. Yes - that's a pretty broad range. But as wealth has increased in this country, so has the range we label as middle class. And as has also been pointed out there's lower middle class and upper middle class. Listen, it is not unusual for a 2 income family to make $250K nowadays. I know several. And their level of spending, percentage-wise, is about the same as me. Do they have a bigger/nicer house? Yup - but they have a bigger mortgage too. That's their choice and a choice that that builder that derives HIS income off of is glad they made. And that same spending choice/decision is what puts money into the pockets of other's who derive their income off of those choices.

    So there mister smarty pants - I responded to the topic. Ya happy?? So how about responding to my question? What does any of this matter to you?

    As for your attempt to portray yourself as superior in intellect with that "but rather placed yourself on higher moral ground and chastised me for raising a point that you missed. A contradiction to say the least." comment. Nice try. Weak - but nice try.

    Do you not have anything to do there at work that you're supposed to be getting paid to do other than posting on the Klipsch forum using company resources (my assumption of course)??

    Tom

    Tips on painting metal exterior entry doors?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    Joe.....I know you're gonna try spraying the door, however.....in all of this thread, I've never seen you mention what brand/type of paint you're using. The reason I mention that is this......

    Like many folks, I thought (to some degree) paint was paint. My method to buying paint was not buying dirt cheap Wal Mart nor expensive Sherwin-Williams type stuff. I figured the middle-of-the-road stuff was just fine.

    Then time came for me to paint some trim in my last house and since I wanted the trim to match the white trim in the house, I got a hold of the painter that did the house and asked him what to use. He said he had a leftover half gallon that he'd drop off and it would have the info on the can should I need more. He said that he used this paint on the white trim on all the houses he does.

    So I use the stuff on a small chair rail project in a powder room and Joe.....OMG! I have never seen paint go on like that nor "lay down" like it did. I can't describe how the paint flowed off the brush, but it seemed like it flowed off so smoothly and it had very little brush strokes. The best part was 10 minutes later when the paint seemed to have leveled out leaving practically NO brush strokes. I'm not kidding you - was like magic.

    My conclusion??? There's A LOT to be said about higher quality paints. It's crazy that it took me so long to find that out. Oh - the paint is Sherwin-Williams Quality Craft.

    Tom

    Since when is $250k a year, middle class?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    At the risk of being blunt.....

    Who gives a crap??

    More importantly....why do YOU give a crap? You say you're not concerned about who makes what, but then level some criticism about what they own and try and draw some relationship to you. WHY DO YOU CARE??????

    That's part of the problem in this country - people spending waaaaay too much time being concerned about who makes what. Or worse yet - being concerned about what other people do PERIOD! Seriously - please explain how one's life is affected by what ANYBODY else earns?? There is no impact other than the self-imposed needless worry/concern.

    To me it's real simple - I do the job I'm paid to do and do it the best I can. That's all I have to be concerned with. If I believe I'm worth more and can't get it where I'm working, then America affords to me the opportunity to exercise my freedom by firing the boss and going some where else. I have never concerned myself with what others I work with (my peers) make, but boy-oh-boy do I know those that do. As for my opinion of them I'll not go there. Regardless, I could give a flying flip if my income or your income or anyone else's income makes them poor, middle class, wealthy, filthy rich, whatever. I'd much rather be concerned about being labelled friendly / unfriendly, honest / dishonest, good / bad, etc. Seems to me that's more important and it never has anything to do with money.

    Sheesh.....it must be so nice to have one's life in such perfect order that the only thing one has to be concerned about is other people.

    Tom

    OT: What would you do; neighbor....

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    Tanget...........HOA's

    Some years back I lived in a neighborhood that had a pretty active HOA (if ya know what I mean). Some how my brain left my body and I let my neighbor Mark (who I love to this very day for all he & his wife did for me) talk me into being on the HOA Board. I figured - if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.

    O - M - G ! We'd have a 2 hour meeting and talk about NOTHING. Worse yet - it was a typical volunteer Board. You know, they talk about grand plans and we should do this and we should do that and by the end of the evening they worked themselves up into a lather a tent revival preacher would be envious of. Next meeting.....nobody has done anything. Meeting after meeting.....month after month.....ARGGGGGHHHHH!!!! Oh - and then there was the petty BS we had to address from those folks who've got nothing to do but roam the neighborhood during the day and make notes about things they saw wrong.

    I think anybody who's considering moving into a neighborhood with an HOA should be made to be on the HOA Board first.

    Tom

    Tips on painting metal exterior entry doors?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    Man....the horror stories I could tell about painting metal doors and fighting brush strokes. [:$]

    It's slightly off-topic, but some years back I had a home built that used a Therma-Tru door for the front door. They are fiberglass doors that can be had with either a smooth or wood-like embossed finishes. They take paint & stain like wood and are wonderful to work on. They won't dent like a metal door because they flex, but if you hit it hard enough (it would have to be a good WHACK) they will crack. They're more energy efficient and lighter than a metal door and won't warp like a wood door will.

    Anyhow....I know you've already ordered your door, but hopefully someone reading this thread will look at them as an option. I've already decided that when we replace our front door it will be with a Therma-Tru.

    Tom

    Attention....Very Important Message

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    If you like Knob Creek, might I suggest Woodford?? Bought a bottle for myself and one for my Dad for Christmas.

    I have given up Scotch in protest because it's my understanding that Dalmore is no longer making its Cigar Malt. Angry Of course....my Scotch habit will cause my boycott to be short-lived.

    Johnnie Walker Blue??? OMG!! That's some pricey stuff. We've got a local place here called Molly MacPherson's that has probably 40+ Scotch's for one to sample (hic). On their menu that Johnnie Walker Blue is $45 a pour!

    Tom

    Shuttle STS-119 Solid Rocket Booster Casings Retrevial

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    Don't mean to be critical, but since my Dad worked at Stennis from 1965 through 1979 and I worked there for 5 summers..........

    To my knowledge all Saturn 5 first stages were test fired at Stennis on the main engine test stand. That stand was originally configured to hold two Saturn 5 first stages in anticipation of the number of launches. Sadly the Apollo program was cut and only one side of the stand was ever used. It is said that there's enough concrete in the main stand to pave a 4-lane highway from Stennis to Jackson, MS. I spent many days running up & down that stand (and other test stands) installing thermocouples, cabling, etc. Oh.....and there's a pump house that supplies water to cool the flame bucket. That pump house has diesels turning centrifugal pumps with a max output of 120psi IN A 96" PIPE!!!!!!!!!

    As for window breakage....it's a documented fact that during one test firing windows were broken (due to sub sonics) in Mobile, AL. That's a distance of 80 miles or so.

    A Saturn 5 first stage test firing has to be experienced to believe.

    Ahhhhh...........those were the days.

    Tom

    Why is my center channel quieter than my mains?

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    You know......I always had this issue when I had my HT room. Some movies were better than others, but for whatever reason - the center channel output had to be bumped by 2 to 3 db. At one time I thought it might just be the older Denon I was using and its older processors. Then I got a B&K pre-pro and had the same issue. Of course, using a Heresy center with Cornwall mains, I knew the Heresy would have to be "bumped" but not to the extent I had to. Once I got it to sound right to my ears and not the Rat Shack meter, all was fine. And I'll probably get flak for saying this, but........

    Honestly, for the last 2 years, I've been watching movies in 2.1 and don't really miss the 7.1 system. No center channel issues, no odd room acoustics to deal with due to multiple speakers, feeling like I had to tweak settings......shoot, even subwoofer issues are non-existent.

    Tom

    MOM IS GONE.

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

    I too would like to express my sorrow about your mom passing away. Like a couple others here, I have a fear that my mom may pass away before I get there. Lately when I close my eyes at night I see her face and it scares me to think that those images might be a fore-telling of something. Anyhow, I think it's good that you guys were with her.

    Again.......

    I'm sorry.

    Tom

    Subwoofer advice for workshop

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    Here's a dual 12" ported box I made for my sons van (click the pdf tag above). I think it was tuned to around 34 Hz. It had tremendous output and was pretty easy to build. It also fits your general shape you're looking for. The brace that says "optional" is not an option, put it in the box, you'll need it.

    Edit: I can't link photobucket due to the stupid filter here at work, but if you go to photobucket.com and search "cecaa850" you'll find my photo albums. Look for the dual arsenal box folder and you can see detailed pics of the build and what it looked like finished.

    Excellent!! That's pretty much what I've been seeing in my minds eye. Sadly.......our work filters here prevent me from accessing photobucket too. Will have to check it out when I get home. In the mean time........

    Can you tell me more about the driver and what kinda power your drove them with?

    Thanks guys for all the help.

    Tom

    Subwoofer advice for workshop

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    Thanks fritz. I remember seeing that Decware site some time back. Completely forgot about it. I've started a folder for sub plans and have placed a copy of the wicked one plans in it.

    That site has some other really cool speakers/plans. Man.....if I were retired, I'd be buying sheets of MDF by the truck load and trying all sorts of DIY speaker things. [:D]

    Tom

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