Now, this is just pure evil - I just got a solicitation in the mail to join a

Chocolate of the Month Club!

Two of the CFL bulbs on the chandelier have gone out -

is it time to go with LEDs, or should I stick with the CFLs for a while?

Our CFLs have a sleeve made from a plastic pipe to cover the base, giving them the aspect of a pillar candle. How hot does the base of an LED bulb get?

Inspired by two recent threads -

If you had to choose one or the other, would you like to see the US government go after Phone Solicitors and Internet Scammers, or Drug dealers? I for one have never been bothered by drug dealers, but I have to deal with Phone Solicitors several times a day!

ACA and crappy employer supplied insurance -

If you have the option to buy health insurance through your employer, and is costs more and/or covers less than the plans on the exchange, where does that leave you?

About delaying the ACA - it's not just about Obama -

Multiple insurance companies in 50 states have prepped to roll out their sign-ups in October for coverage in January. Each insurance company has contracts with hundreds of providers. Now, who is ready to tell all those corporations, "never mind"?

Sign-ups for Obama Care start October 1 -

How're things looking where you live?

Here in New York, the web site is a typical example of bureuacratic overkill (we pride ourselves on using 4 forms when 1 when do!) but I think sign-ups will go smoothly and the premium numbers look great!

I didn't realize until this morning that we are facing

a Government Shutdown October 1

AND

Government Default October 17!

I've been thinking it was a shut-down due to default!

Got to give Boehner credit for setting a new bar for a cluster!

Minumum wage and small business:

It occurred to me today, that your costs would jump $40 per full-time employee for every dollar the minimum wage rises. If your business is so on the edge that $40 or $80 a week is the difference between profit and loss, I'd suggest your business is already in trouble!

Also - when people discuss this, why does no one mention that people with more money in their pockets might increase revenue for all businesses!

Undiscussed consequences of Obamacare:

- lots of people with insurance now will have lower premiums, meaning they will have money to spend elsewhere

- some people will have low cost, good insurance and will take the leap into starting a new business

- lots of people now working just to keep their health insurance will be able to retire now instead of waiting until they are eligible for Medicare.

I haven't seen these mentioned anywhere, but the sum total is an increase in available jobs!

I checked out what my son will pay for health insurance under the ACA: