LA_CA_GAL

Sorry, Toots, but you are so wrong with your math, assumptions, and accusations that it is laughable.:')

You claim that your state had a $19 Billion surplus for the year. Meanwhile accruing a $59 debt of unfunded liabilities for health and pensions. My math is totally correct sweety.

Your state on the bottom line wound up in the hole $40 Billion for the year.

Go ahead. Show me your way of doing the math and prove me wrong.

Who laughs now?

Kind of like someone having $100 cash in their pocket while running up credit card debt of $10,000. I guess they have a $100 "surplus" if they do that math in California?

I wise sage once told me when you find yourself in a hole you wish not to be in, quit digging.

Another "don't have a clue" comment. Not sure why people who don't even live in a state consider themselves experts on how that particular state operates. Could it be jealousy, ignorance, or just plain spite?

 

This is what the Sacramento Bee reported just last month: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article184886288.html

 

"The state budget is in good shape to weather a moderate recession, and lawmakers should be able to sock away more money in reserves next year, according to projections the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office issued Wednesday.

The LAO’s outlook shows the state would finish its 2018-19 budget year with more than $19 billion in reserves [bolding added for emphasis] - assuming lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown don’t make any more spending commitments. About $11 billion is obligated for the state’s rainy-day fund. Lawmakers could spend about $7.5 billion of the surplus, although analysts recommend that they save it to prepare for a recession."

Hint: it is probably better to not say anything about things you know nothing about lest you make yourself look foolish.

Meanwhile, last year, long‑term pension and healthcare liabilities jumped by $51 billion. This translates to a total unfunded liability of about $279 billion.

Hint for you, you might want to take a look at the total picture rather than the voodoo economics you pick and choose.

Doing the math, that "surplus" you state minus the unfunded liablilty gives you a negative 260 Billion (bolded for emphasis).

BTW, who looks "foolish" now?

Obamacare is state dependent. Your state messed it up. It’s doing ok in California.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality

California, the state of fiscal responsibility.

NUFF said.

Here's a question for the Americans on this thread. How competitive or noncompetitive is the internet provider industry in your country?

Too competitive in my area.

Every two years I sign a contract, then have to change to another provider to get cheaper and better service.

One thing that can't be debated is that whenever regulation is lifted, the so-called "free market" is able to do anything they want to make more money. When this happened in the past, everything that I used that was affected by deregulation became more expensive. I see no reason why this situation will be any different.

 

Well just for arguments sake, how has Obamacare worked. Government comes into the market, individual cost per family to go down by $2,500 per year, choose your plan, choose your doctor.

Love the government involved in private industry. I trust Trump and Congress to take over the internet, just like I trusted Obama and Obamacare.

 

REMOVING the CURRENT Net Neutrality Rules (which was voted on 12/14/17 and won with a 3 - 2 vote by the FCC) will allow the government (FCC) to dictate what you watch/see/stream/ read/download, etc. on the internet.

Sorry, but, you are totally 100% wrong. Net neutrality gave government power to regulate the internet.

Now that net neutrality has been repealed, the free market will dictate what you watch/see/stream/ read/download, etc. on the internet. Just as it has for the past 35 years.

How exactly will the government have control with the repeal of net neutrality? :confused:

Repeal of net neutrality takes the government OUT of it.

Just to be clear, I am totally AGAINST net neutrality.

BTW, what a description, nothing neutral about it.

We had NO issues before the "net neutrality" thing...I expect NO issues if it's gone.

But, with net neutrality, the government will have control. As always, government control will improve everything. The internet hasn't worked for 30 years so it will continue not to work without our government in control.

Hey, Donald Trump and the Russians controlling the internet. Isn't that a great thought?

Thanks for all the great insight. We just got offered a Suite Guarantee upgrade for $900 for a 14 day cruise to South America in the beginning of January. It includes all 4 perks and extra 500 OBC. We were originally in Aqua Class with 2 perks. Our second time on Celebrity, very excited. Hmm.... where will we spend that extra OBC?

Nice deal.

For OBC, check out the excursions.

Just curious. Anyone have experience with children getting seasick?

We have cruised many times with children. None were aware of "seasickness". Never was mentioned or addressed. None of the children ever experienced it.

Personally, I think if you bring it to their attention, discuss it, address it, you are opening their minds to it and increasing their chances of getting it.

BTW, they thought that some rough seas were pretty cool.

The extra cost of suites has risen dramatically since the introduction of Luminae.

We cruised Summit to Bermuda September 2017.

I originally booked Aqua Class, and after doing price checks, it looked like I could upgrade to a Sky Suite for about $700. Called my TA, and yep, that was the deal, so I did it.

We had Captain Alex, and he was incredible. We got to meet him a number of times in Michaels Club, and the highlight was spending time with him on the bridge tour. Spending time on the bridge of a cruise ship with the Captain sailing at sea is something I will never forget.

We are very low maintenance and only used the butler for room service breakfast a couple of times. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know the butler would bring it, I would just call room service and place the order, John our butler would deliver it, and set up linens and silverware on the balcony table.

if you are satisfied with inedible food stick with Celebrity

Geez. If that were true thousands of people would be starving to death every week.:rolleyes:

I have done two Celebrity cruises, both on the Summit and I found the food good to outstanding.

 

After practically begging him to try a cruise, he finally relented as his gift to me for our 25th anniversary. We took an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the QM2, and he was SOLD. He absolutely enjoyed the whole experience, and we've cruised fairly regularly (though not exclusively) ever since.

DITTO for my father, navy, would never step on a ship ever again. Finally relented and went on a cruise and loved it, then at least once a year until sailing with the great ship in the sky.

 

Also I must add being an African-American female how is the diversity on a cruise going to this destination?

I have found that the predominant classification / label of those passengers on a cruise ship are primarily considered "fellow cruisers". You will be in an incredible majority, so have a blast.

What impact does cruising have on global warming? I hope to hear that it only contributes a very little bit.

These huge ships have made the oceans rise (water displacement), so the oceans are closer to the sun, and get warmer, and cause fish to swim faster, generating more heat. and further, 1,000 years from now, life as we know it will not matter.

..... I left $60 on the table in an envelope with his name and a note of thanks.

I always personally hand the steward and butler the additional tips.

I do not wait for the end of the cruise.

That's just me.

We're sailing tomorrow on the Summit and the hubby's wager is on a change of itinerary. I wagered the other way. He lived in the Caribbean for five years, so maybe his instincts are better than mine.

Irma will be in the Caribbean at least until Wednesday.

We leave tomorrow, so, the hurricane will be nowhere near Bayonne/NY.

So, off we sail to Bermuda. Guaranteed.

When we meet on board, remind me to smack your hubby.;p

After you disembark, one of you look for your luggage and the other find a porter. Having a porter at the end of the cruise helps you get through the customs lines much quicker. It is worth the few bucks you give the porter to breeze through the line.

Great tip. The porter will get you through customs a lot quicker than if you are toting all of your bags by yourself.

Every cruise I have been on, you pull up to the terminal curb and unload your baggage you are checking. As noted, make sure they are tagged.

And my rule of thumb is, expect the worst, that you will never see your checked bag ever again. All important valuable needed stuff stays with you at all times in your carry on.

We sail Sunday!

As we are planning some get togethers for sail away, can anyone tell me what time the muster drill takes place?

TIA.

..... but we didn't get around to a sail away or a slot pull. Captain Alex spun us by the Statue of Liberty and under the GW (that IS the GW, right? sorry, I'm from Upstate, not NYC) and out to sea.

 

....

Veranzanno

Cost....less time for gambling while docked

And drinking.

Plus the port charges would be more.

Comes down to money.

Book right now. It is possible it could sell out.

Here