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7 | § ¶The Money Blogs
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8 8 | § ¶An Answer To An Interesting Question
-- Wealth Division
Ask Yahoo is a funny site. They come up with questions that many people may have asked themselves (and myself included) but have never had the inclination to do the research. The one I received today was: “How much money (in US$) would I get if we divided up all the wealth in the world into equal amounts?”.
The question was an interesting one. Many people believe that the ‘rich’ should give up a significant amount, or even most of their fortune to the ‘poor’. Those people may get the impression that if the ‘rich’ gave up their money to the ‘poor’, suddenly, most people may be living in a better situation.
Ask Yahoo concluded that we would all end up with a share of $6,685.92 wealth-equivalent per person. That amount of wealth-equivalent (assets, not necessarily cash) would not be enough to buy a house in the US economy, maybe to rent one for a few months. I bet most families in the US would have to give up their houses to even things out across the world. It may certainly improve the living conditions of people in developing economies. It may result in a fairer world – just not one that most of the readers of this document would welcome.
This leads me to conclude that the people of developed countries (including more than 90% of the people in the US) are extremely ‘rich’ and that to even things out in the world we would have to become extremely ‘poor’.
7 1 | § ¶Our Soldiers Getting Weaker?
-- A Weak Army of One?
Recently, USA Today reported that the US Army is trying to keep more of its recruits by being milder on their boot camps. Instead of harsh treatment they are now offering counseling to those who fail behind on physical activity expectations.
To me, this was a shock. I always thought the Army where the tough guys on the field. I am not a strong guy, and if I had chosen to go to an Armed Force (which I didn’t) I would have chosen the Air Force or the Navy – aside from some of their special forces, they concentrate on machinery and technology a lot more than on face to face combat. For the Army I think we need really strong people: people who can carry an injured comrade for a few miles, people who can fight in hand to hand combat if need be and people who can survive being captured as POW until they can be rescued.
If recruiting goals have to be met, increase the incentives but do not reduce the requirements. Give them more money, or give them higher life insurance to dispel some of their death fright. Train them better and send more of them to college. Give their families a bigger housing stipend so that they can keep their spouses in nice houses while they return from war, and give them private school vouchers for their kids. Give them tax breaks if need be – the usual Federal Government answer for all problems.
On the positive note, the Army decided to give the recruits their M16 weeks earlier in their training. A great thing, since people have to get used to the idea that they join the Army to kill people and go to war, not just for the incentives. They also get to spend more time outdoors – this is not an office war anymore!
2 7 | § ¶Mount Washington (6,288ft)
-- On a Wonderful Day
On Monday July 3rd, 2006 we climbed Mount Washington in the New Hampshire’s White Mountains as an expression and celebration of Freedom (it was the day preceeding the 4th of July – Independence Day).
We started the hike at the base of the Mount Washington Cog Railway ($5 parking fee) and climbed the Amoonoosuc Trail which crisscrosses the ravine with the same name. Along the 2.1 mile way up to the Lake of the Clouds we get to enjoy the beautiful falls of this ravine, worth the trip on their own. The trail is excellently maintained, and the carefully relocated rocks make for great steps for a good portion of the way. It was a lot easier than we expected, yet not for beginners.
At the Hut we had a hearty lunch consisting of split pea soup ($2), bottomless lemonade ($1), all you can eat baked goods ($1), and decaffeinated coffee/tea ($1). A great deal at 5,000 feet for $5 – considering we didn’t had to carry it up. We enjoyed the hut for about two hours before continuing our ascent of Mt. Washington via the Crawford Path. The Lake of The Clouds itself is a pretty sight, although we didn’t shared the joy of the Scandinavian people who where bathing on it.
The Crawford Path gets you to Mount Washington in about an hour through a very good and defined trail that has been softened for more than a century of adventurers and adventurers-wanna-be like us.
The summit of Mount Washington has the usual pile of rocks with the sign – great for taking the picture. Try to ignore the road, the weather station, the antennae, and the visitor’s center with two gift shops, one museum and two eateries. You may use the post office to send yourself a note from there. We quickly entered it and exited it before climbing down through the same Crawford’s Path to the Hut and deciding that it was such a nice day that it would be a pity not to do another high peak.
From the Hut we climbed up the nearby Mount Monroe to add another New Hampshire Peak tour list, since the hike only added about half an hour (roundtrip) to our adventure. We descended via the same trail we climbed it, through the Hut, and down the same Amoonoosuc Trail trail that we used for our ascent.
By the time we descended it was already getting dark, and on our way back we noticed the locals setting themselves up with their pickups on the sides of the road to enjoy the Mount Washington Hotel firework celebration. We ate in a local eatery that almost rushed us out of it to go and see the fireworks before heading back to the hotel for a solid night of sleep.
Photos are in the usual place. (send e-mail if you need to get the link)