Happy Halloween!

<https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>

Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
Again...Happy Halloween!

leo

Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
> Happy Halloween!
>
> <https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>
>
> Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
> of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
> this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
> All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
> Again...Happy Halloween!
>
> leo
>

Well, I think you need to start feeding those animals a little
more!

On 10/31/2023 3:56 PM, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
> Happy Halloween!
>
> <https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>
>
> Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
> of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
> this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
> All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
> Again...Happy Halloween!
>
> leo

Happy Halloween!

Jill

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 2:56:32 PM UTC-5, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
>
> Happy Halloween!
>
> <https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>
>
> Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
> of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
> this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
> All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
> Again...Happy Halloween!
>
> leo
>
I see alligator, turtle, T-rex, frog, and human; that diet they're on must be
brutal. But I went shopping today for a few things and some food items
since this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries. Thankfully
no engine trouble on this Halloween.

https://i.postimg.cc/C5j1rhGq/Engine-Trouble.jpg

On 2023-10-31 3:56 p.m., Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
> Happy Halloween!
>
> <https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>
>
> Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
> of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
> this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
> All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
> Again...Happy Halloween!
>

I don't even remember how many years we had no kids at all, but it was
more than 30. Every once in a while there would be a family moving in
nearby and we would expect the kids to come trick or treating but they
didn't. The last two or three years we had one of the nearby family come
by. They are up to 5 kids now. I bought two packages of chocolate
bars, 4 per bag. I got the kind we like in case they don't show.

On 10/31/2023 5:26 PM, itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 2:56:32 PM UTC-5, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
>>
>> Happy Halloween!
>>
>> <https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>
>>
>> Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
>> of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
>> this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
>> All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
>> Again...Happy Halloween!
>>
>> leo
>>
> I see alligator, turtle, T-rex, frog, and human; that diet they're on must be
> brutal. But I went shopping today for a few things and some food items
> since this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.

I completely forgot there is sales tax on groceries in TN.

> Thankfully
> no engine trouble on this Halloween.
>
> https://i.postimg.cc/C5j1rhGq/Engine-Trouble.jpg
>
That's cute. :)

Jill

On Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:22:52 -0400, jmcquown <j_mcquown@comcast.net>
wrote:

>On 10/31/2023 3:56 PM, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
>> Happy Halloween!
>>
>> <https://postimg.cc/N5p3frVR>
>>
>> Last year, we had fourteen goblins come to the door for forty-two pieces
>> of candy. I bought a big bag of Walmart candy for about sixteen bucks
>> this year. That's to cover what my bags of Mars and Snicker bars don't.
>> All my teeth should be rotted out by Christmas.
>> Again...Happy Halloween!
>>
>> leo
>
>Happy Halloween!

I can just see Leo and Jill go trick-or-treating together. Both with a
little backpack on their back to store their candy in :)

On 2023-10-31, itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:

> this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.

You pay tax on food, but only November to December?

Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
dishes, but not on the ingredients.

We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
not on a package of the same items.

Mike Duffy wrote:
> On 2023-10-31, itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
>
>> this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
>
> You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
>
> Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
> dishes, but not on the ingredients.
>
> We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
> not on a package of the same items.
>
Tennessee taxes the hell out of everything. About 10%, but no
income tax. Once a year, they give a few days for tax free
school supplies and such. This year I think they also layed off
groceries for a month or two. I bet they have a nice fat
surplus from all the federal covid relief funds.

On Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:09:33 GMT, Mike Duffy <mxduffy@bell.net> wrote:

>On 2023-10-31, itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
>
>> this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
>
>You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
>
>Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
>dishes, but not on the ingredients.
>
>We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
>not on a package of the same items.

Just ask them to package your donut before they sell it to you.

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 7:09:40 PM UTC-5, Mike Duffy wrote:
>
> On 2023-10-31, itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
> >
> You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
>
We had three months of tax-free groceries, August, September, and
October. That does not include alcohol, tobacco, cleaning and paper
products, pet foods or vitamins and supplements.
>
> Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
> dishes, but not on the ingredients.
>
> We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
> not on a package of the same items.
>
Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
have a state income tax.

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 7:50:46 PM UTC-5, Hank Rogers wrote:
> >
> Tennessee taxes the hell out of everything. About 10%, but no
> income tax.
>
9.25 to 9.75% tax
>
> Once a year, they give a few days for tax free
> school supplies and such.
>
Three days at the beginning or thereabouts of August.
>
> This year I think they also layed off
> groceries for a month or two. I bet they have a nice fat
> surplus from all the federal covid relief funds.
>
Three months tax-free for groceries. I haven't a clue how much they're
hoarding in federal covid relief funds.

On Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:58:54 -0700 (PDT), "itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net"
<itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net> wrote:

>On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 7:09:40 PM UTC-5, Mike Duffy wrote:
>>
>> On 2023-10-31, itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
>>
>> > this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
>> >
>> You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
>>
>We had three months of tax-free groceries, August, September, and
>October. That does not include alcohol, tobacco, cleaning and paper
>products, pet foods or vitamins and supplements.
>>
>> Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
>> dishes, but not on the ingredients.
>>
>> We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
>> not on a package of the same items.
>>
>Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
>have a state income tax.

Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
patients?

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:10:55 PM UTC-5, Bruce wrote:
>
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:58:54 -0700 (PDT), "itsjoan...@webtv.net"
> <itsjoan...@webtv.net> wrote:
>
> >Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
> >have a state income tax.
> >
> Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
> patients?
>
Churches and many institutions. Mental patients cannot be forced to take
their medications nor can addicts be forced to go into drug treatment.
Many do willingly if it will reduce their sentences but they're back out doing
drugs as soon as their treatment is through.

Mike Duffy wrote:

> On 2023-10-31, itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
> You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
>
> Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
> dishes, but not on the ingredients.
>
> We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
> not on a package of the same items.

Symbols of rec.food.cooking:

Bird: Puffin

Dessert: Treacle

Game: Mumblety-peg*

Continue the list, please...!!!

😎

[ * Mumblety-peg is an old outdoor game played using pocketknives. The term "mumblety-peg" came from the practice of putting a peg of about 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) into the ground. The loser of the game had to take it out with his teeth ]

--
GM

On 10/31/2023 11:58 PM, itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 7:09:40 PM UTC-5, Mike Duffy wrote:
>>
>> On 2023-10-31, itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
>>
>>> this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
>>>
>> You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
>>
> We had three months of tax-free groceries, August, September, and
> October. That does not include alcohol, tobacco, cleaning and paper
> products, pet foods or vitamins and supplements.
>>
>> Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
>> dishes, but not on the ingredients.
>>
>> We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
>> not on a package of the same items.
>>
> Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
> have a state income tax.

Fortunately, in Florida we have neither. Regular state sales tax is 6%.
I understand the need for some taxes, but making poor people pay a tax
on food just does not seem right.

On 2023-11-01 12:23 a.m., itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:10:55 PM UTC-5, Bruce wrote:
>>

>>> Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
>>> have a state income tax.
>>>
>> Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
>> patients?
>>
> Churches and many institutions. Mental patients cannot be forced to take
> their medications nor can addicts be forced to go into drug treatment.
> Many do willingly if it will reduce their sentences but they're back out doing
> drugs as soon as their treatment is through.

A lot of people blame right leaning governments and their policies and
lack of support for the homelessness and addiction problems. I am more
inclined to blame it on the more left leaning elements who pushed to
shut down the mental hospitals and sent the mentally ill out to fend for
themselves with minimal financial support. People never used to be
allowed to live on the streets. They were taken to jail and charged with
vagrancy. I am not insisting it is better to force them into hospitals,
but I think we should at least level the blame at those who caused the
problem.

On 2023-11-01 8:07 a.m., Ed P wrote:
> On 10/31/2023 11:58 PM, itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
>>

>> Tennessee.  Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
>> have a state income tax.
>
>
> Fortunately, in Florida we have neither. Regular state sales tax is 6%.
>  I understand the need for some taxes, but making poor people pay a tax
> on food just does not seem right.

I agree. Necessities should not be taxed. It is crazy the way they do
things in some places, and we are no exception. As Mike Duffy pointed
out the other day, we do not pay tax on foods in the grocery store but
if there is a section that sells prepared foods they are taxed. If there
is a bakery section and you buy a couple items like tarts, muffins or
donuts they are taxed, but if you get a half dozen of them they are not.
I don't understand the logic. I don't need a donut and probably should
not eat one so they tax me on it, but if I get 6 of them, which would be
worse for me, there is no tax. In what world does that make sense?

We know have a harmonized sales tax for provincial and federal taxes are
combined. Before they did that there used to be a exemption for small
meals, basically snacks. If I went into the corner coffee shop and got a
coffee and a muffin it was under the limit, so I did not have to pay
tax. If my wife was with me and we both had coffee and a muffin it put
us over the line and we had to pay tax on both.

Ed P wrote:

> On 10/31/2023 11:58 PM, itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
> > On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 7:09:40 PM UTC-5, Mike Duffy wrote:
> >>
> >> On 2023-10-31, itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
> >>
> >>> this is the last day until next year for tax-free groceries.
> >>>
> >> You pay tax on food, but only November to December?
> >>
> > We had three months of tax-free groceries, August, September, and
> > October. That does not include alcohol, tobacco, cleaning and paper
> > products, pet foods or vitamins and supplements.
> >>
> >> Where do you live? We only pay tax on ready-to-eat prepared
> >> dishes, but not on the ingredients.
> >>
> >> We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
> >> not on a package of the same items.
> >>
> > Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
> > have a state income tax.
> Fortunately, in Florida we have neither. Regular state sales tax is 6%.
> I understand the need for some taxes, but making poor people pay a tax
> on food just does not seem right.

"Poor people" get other benefits that ***more*** than offset any food sales tax...

Benefits "food - wise" like SNAP and WIC, for starters...

Also food pantries and charities that serve free meals... also for seniors Meals on Wheels, many places have
Senior Meal Programs, etc...

In Chicago, *all* Chicago Public School students are provided *free* numerous hot meals and snacks every day...

I've been in "poverty" work (working with low - income peeps) for a long whiles, and I've ***never*** seen any "poor people" that were lacking in food resources...

I've ***never*** seen anyone say "I'm hungry because I've haven't had anything to eat..."

And that includes the street homeless...

I used to volunteer at Catholic Charities, serving meals to the homeless. These were nice sit - down affairs,
with white tablecloths. flowers on the tables, and meals that would easily cost $50.00 or more if served
in a resto...

So it's more than "fair" that "poor people" are required to pay any food sales tax, just like the rest of us... that's
their way of "paying into the system"...

"Poor people" in the US of A in 2023 eat far better than many billions of the world do - or better than even
the richest people of even 100 years ago...

It always "tickles me" around the holidays to see the "poor ghetto folk" arrive at the free food giveaways on
the South and West Sides of Chicago - many arrive in fancy SVU's, with iPhones, snazzy clothes, fur
coats... most are obese..

But they "cry on cue" for the cameras about being "needy"...

Yeah, they're "hungry" all right, lol...

--
GM

On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:55:33 AM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2023-11-01 12:23 a.m., itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
> > On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:10:55 PM UTC-5, Bruce wrote:
> >>
>
> >>> Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
> >>> have a state income tax.
> >>>
> >> Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
> >> patients?
> >>
> > Churches and many institutions. Mental patients cannot be forced to take
> > their medications nor can addicts be forced to go into drug treatment.
> > Many do willingly if it will reduce their sentences but they're back out doing
> > drugs as soon as their treatment is through.
> A lot of people blame right leaning governments and their policies and
> lack of support for the homelessness and addiction problems. I am more
> inclined to blame it on the more left leaning elements who pushed to
> shut down the mental hospitals and sent the mentally ill out to fend for
> themselves with minimal financial support. People never used to be
> allowed to live on the streets. They were taken to jail and charged with
> vagrancy. I am not insisting it is better to force them into hospitals,
> but I think we should at least level the blame at those who caused the
> problem.
>
The left thinks that addiction is a disease that must be cured. The right
thinks that addiction is a moral wrong that must be punished. To heck
with both. Instead, it's a choice. There are useful tasks that are simple
enough for a junkie, and few things are up there with the jones as far as
motivation.

--Bryan

Bryan Simmons wrote:

> On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:55:33 AM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
> > On 2023-11-01 12:23 a.m., itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:10:55 PM UTC-5, Bruce wrote:
> > >>
> >
> > >>> Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
> > >>> have a state income tax.
> > >>>
> > >> Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
> > >> patients?
> > >>
> > > Churches and many institutions. Mental patients cannot be forced to take
> > > their medications nor can addicts be forced to go into drug treatment..
> > > Many do willingly if it will reduce their sentences but they're back out doing
> > > drugs as soon as their treatment is through.
> > A lot of people blame right leaning governments and their policies and
> > lack of support for the homelessness and addiction problems. I am more
> > inclined to blame it on the more left leaning elements who pushed to
> > shut down the mental hospitals and sent the mentally ill out to fend for
> > themselves with minimal financial support. People never used to be
> > allowed to live on the streets. They were taken to jail and charged with
> > vagrancy. I am not insisting it is better to force them into hospitals,
> > but I think we should at least level the blame at those who caused the
> > problem.
> >
> The left thinks that addiction is a disease that must be cured. The right
> thinks that addiction is a moral wrong that must be punished. To heck
> with both. Instead, it's a choice. There are useful tasks that are simple
> enough for a junkie, and few things are up there with the jones as far as
> motivation.

If people insist on being addicts, and being a public menace, they should be placed
in camps in very distant rural areas... and NOT allowed to leave...

They would be given adequate shelter and food - plus ALL the drugs and booze they desire, NO
LIMITS...

Their medical care would be STRICTLY limited to OTC medications - no use spending money
for advanced medical care for junkies/addicts that are killing themselves anyways...

So they'd have a choice - choose to get clean and be required to adhere to treatment in order to live in a normal civil society. OR they can "party on" with their addictions, but they'd have to live in these rural camps...

THEIR CHOICE...

A major reason I got disgusted with working in homeless services was the acceptance by
homeless services providers - and this is per federal HUD mandate - of addiction as "normal".
According to the 'Do No Harm" social work model, addicts are not to be "judged" or "required"
to do anything to improve their lot...

Last year I briefly worked for a local homeless org, as an SSDI Specialist (assisting homeless clients
in claming Social Security Disabilty benefits)...

When my airhead female social worker boss told me that I'd be required to learn how to
administer Narcan to clients, I quit on the spot, gave her my laptop and keys and walked right out...

Morally, I simply cannot enable harm, disease, crime, and dysfunction...

Meanwhiles, the streets of the city of Evanston are increasingly filled with junkies - clients of
Connections for the Homeless, the corrupt outfit I worked for...

--
GM

On 2023-11-01, Bruce wrote:

>>We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
>>not on a package of the same items.

> Just ask them to package your donut before they sell it to you.

Pay attention, Bruce. Pre-packaged single donuts are
not for sale as such. If you asked for special service,
they would probably charge an extra packaging fee in
addition to the tax.

On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 8:46:40 AM UTC-5, Mike Duffy wrote:
> On 2023-11-01, Bruce wrote:
>
> >>We also pay tax on a single donut or muffin &c, but
> >>not on a package of the same items.
>
> > Just ask them to package your donut before they sell it to you.
> Pay attention, Bruce. Pre-packaged single donuts are
> not for sale as such. If you asked for special service,
> they would probably charge an extra packaging fee in
> addition to the tax.

"Lol, Mike!"

Since Miss Bwuthie is more than "a bit thick", it's useless to try to "explain" anything so simple to her...

<chuckle>

--
GM

On 2023-11-01 6:55 a.m., Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2023-11-01 12:23 a.m., itsjoannotjoann@webtv.net wrote:
>> On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:10:55 PM UTC-5, Bruce wrote:
>>>
>
>>>> Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
>>>> have a state income tax.
>>>>
>>> Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
>>> patients?
>>>
>> Churches and many institutions.  Mental patients cannot be forced to take
>> their medications nor can addicts be forced to go into drug treatment.
>> Many do willingly if it will reduce their sentences but they're back
>> out doing
>> drugs as soon as their treatment is through.
>
>
> A lot of people blame right leaning governments and their policies and
> lack of support for the homelessness and addiction problems.  I am more
> inclined to blame it on the more left leaning elements who pushed to
> shut down the mental hospitals and sent the mentally ill out to fend for
> themselves with minimal financial support. People never used to be
> allowed to live on the streets. They were taken to jail and charged with
> vagrancy. I am not insisting it is better to force them into hospitals,
> but I think we should at least level the blame at those who  caused the
> problem.
>
IT WAS THE RIGHT-WING GOVERNMENTS THAT CLOSED THE MENTAL HOSPITALS!!!!!
Take off your blinkers, Dave!!

On 11/1/2023 9:19 AM, Bryan Simmons wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7:55:33 AM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2023-11-01 12:23 a.m., itsjoan...@webtv.net wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:10:55 PM UTC-5, Bruce wrote:
>>>>
>>
>>>>> Tennessee. Food (grocery store or restaurant) is taxed but we don't
>>>>> have a state income tax.
>>>>>
>>>> Do your "churches" look after your poor, your addicts and your mental
>>>> patients?
>>>>
>>> Churches and many institutions. Mental patients cannot be forced to take
>>> their medications nor can addicts be forced to go into drug treatment.
>>> Many do willingly if it will reduce their sentences but they're back out doing
>>> drugs as soon as their treatment is through.
>> A lot of people blame right leaning governments and their policies and
>> lack of support for the homelessness and addiction problems. I am more
>> inclined to blame it on the more left leaning elements who pushed to
>> shut down the mental hospitals and sent the mentally ill out to fend for
>> themselves with minimal financial support. People never used to be
>> allowed to live on the streets. They were taken to jail and charged with
>> vagrancy. I am not insisting it is better to force them into hospitals,
>> but I think we should at least level the blame at those who caused the
>> problem.
>>
> The left thinks that addiction is a disease that must be cured. The right
> thinks that addiction is a moral wrong that must be punished. To heck
> with both. Instead, it's a choice. There are useful tasks that are simple
> enough for a junkie, and few things are up there with the jones as far as
> motivation.
>
> --Bryan
>
>

Yes, it is a choice. If usually affects others around them
detrimentally though. Many addicts steal, cause damage and cause death.

Drug bust in Florida the other day had enough fentanyl to kill 5 million
people. How should it be distributed?