Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 03:41 PM CST [General]
For the past few years I have been caught in a snowball effect of increasing debt. I have finally got employed, moved to smaller digs, sold some things, and got caught up on my monthly bills. But...and it's a big but...I have an enormous amount of debt that I acquired while I was ill, and compounded when I was laid off last year. I've already lost my house and valuables, and I don't want my measly paycheck garnished.
Here's the issue. When I was unemployed, there were some legal services I might have been able to use, but I only found out about them after I became employed. All of the social service organizations in the Twin Cities have given me leads, but you have to be at or barely above the poverty level to qualify. Just having enough money to barely cover your monthly expenses is too much. Then there are some non-profit organizations that do financial counseling and pre-bankruptcy support, but they don't have legal staff, and they don't give recommendations.
So, what do people on modest incomes do? Does anyone out there know of any legal services that work on a sliding scale, or take reasonable payments? The few law firms I have contacted so far either want $2000+ dollars up front or $600-700 up front with large monthly payments...neither of which are in my budget.
Are there any legal eagles out there? Or, have you gone through this situation yourself? Tell me about it.
I will be moving soon into a much smaller place and need to have a sale. I'm hoping that I can get people to show up for a sale in my home in December. Just to let you know, I will be trying to sell everything from housewares to furniture, from CDs to fine china.
The first question is: What do I call it? Can I call it an estate sale if there are only a limited number of items that are estate worthy? Most of my stuff everyone else has. It's more like a garage or yard sale, but it won't be in my garage or in the yard. Although a few larger items may have to stay in the garage. Have you done anything like this? If so, was it successful?
My next question is: Are there any garage sale divas out there that could give me some tips on pricing and getting things to move out the door?
I hope that someone in the Gabster Gang can give me some direction. I'm clueless!
Yes, my story was the subject of the St Paul Pioneer Press Thanksgiving Day newspaper front page. My son and I were pictured. It's very surreal telling your life story to the masses. I have been struggling for a long time and feel blessed to have the opportunity share my story, knowing there are a lot of people out there that share at least some of my pain and frustration.
The Terrell Tribune's publisher stands by his decision that local readers don't need to know Barack Obama won the election. In the issue prior to the election he runs an article featuring John McCain however.
Newspapers all over the world rapidly sold out the day after the election. Most U.S. newspapers added printings to accommodate the demand. Copies of the New York Times were offered on Ebay for $500. Every daily newspaper in the country reported Obama election to be the next President of the United States of America , except the Terrell, Texas Tribune. Not on the front page. Not on the second, third or fourth page. Not at all. No pictures, no story, nada. Terrell , Texas is located about 30 miles east of Dallas , sometimes described as a suburb but really a country town with a population of approx. 17,000 people. Needless to say many residents are furious, The issue would have been a keepsake and cherished, likely passed down to the next generation in some families. So it was not surprising that today Terrell residents protested in front of the newspaper offices.
The Terrell Tribune's publisher, Bill Jordan, had this to say:
"We run a newspaper, not a memory book service," he said. "We covered the local commissioner's race. We thought that was more important."
Keith Olbermann would probably make Mr. Jordan "the worst person in the world". And obviously not the smartest.
Academy award winning actor Jamie Foxx is from Terrell , Texas . In an interview he once described the "endemic racism" he experienced growing up in Terrell. Maybe this is relevant.
UPDATE: Thanks to Bobscofield for this contact info for the Terrell Tribune.. Let them hear from us.
Contact info If you want to help them out and let them know about their mistake here are the staff's email addresses.
Bill Jordan - Publisher, e-mail: bjordan@terrelltribune.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 06:32 AM CST [General]
When the official announcement flashed across the screen, "President elect Barack Obama", I surprised myself when I burst into tears. As the weight and significance of the moment's full effect were sinking in, all of the civil rights abuses, racial discrimination and indignities I personally witnessed or been a victim of throughout my life, all came back to mind.
My earliest memory was as a girl of 5, my family; the relatives of my late Great-Uncle Gordon Parks were ushered in through the back door of The Lexington restaurant in St Paul for a party celebrating the release of his Choice of Weapons. When my mother couldn't explain to me why we couldn't come in the front door, I was quickly hushed when I tried to ask anyone else.
Flash forward to my 15 year old self. On a trip to the Boundary Waters for camp, our bus stopped at an ice cream shop in Ely, MN. As I watched everyone get their orders filled and get back on the bus, I was filled with shock, horror, and anger as I realized that I was intentionally not being served. As the last camper was leaving the shop, the last boy taking orders turned around and left the counter. When the camp counselors realized I was still missing, they came back and got the store manager to serve me. By that time I didn't want anything to do with their ice cream and left choking down the hatred and tears.
Now, in 2008, as I watch a black man be declared the 44th President of these United States of America, I realized that although I dared to hope and dream, I never really believed that this day would come in my lifetime.
Thank you God, thank you fellow Americans, and thank you my fellow walking melting pot, Barack Obama, for giving me a moment that will forever be etched in my heart, mind, and spirit.
