27 July 2009

"Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'" --Billy Preston

Navin R. Johnson: The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!
Harry Hartounian: Boy, I wish I could get that excited about nothing.

Navin R. Johnson: Nothing? Are you kidding? Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now.

[
the Sniper points to Navin's name in the phone book]
Sniper: Johnson, Navin R... sounds like a typical bastard.



I got a raise. I'm not talking about the one in your pants. At work, I just got a raise.

Not to curse it or anything. (Are you superstitious like that? I am spitting like Franny Fine--*ptui* *ptui* *ptui*--to avoid drawing the evil eye upon me.)

Not a lot of money. Really not. But still a pleasant surprise.

Thank you, Universe!

I guess I'm all that. *snort* NOT!

Oh, I have moments of sheer brilliance at work. I do! Unfortunately, they are always wedged squarely between months of sheer idiocy.

Do you play this game? Every little increase means I go into calculation mode...

"I'm worth how much a year? What does that come to per hour? How much more is that per check?" And even though all the new numbers are remarkably close to the old numbers, I get a little jazzed. "$6.95/hour?! OMG! That's practically minimum wage! The gumballs are on me!"

Which brings me to the question du jour, which may seem like a no brainer to you but I've heard differing views on this: In your experience, who's more generous? Wealthy people or poor people?

15 comments:

Maxie said...

I'm not sure I can say either way-- Rich people seem to give more, but it means less to them. I think it just depends on--as cheesy as this is going to sound-- the person's heart.

Little Ms Blogger said...

I have to agree with Maxie.

Btw, LOVE your quote for today - so many great lines from that movie.

Matt said...

Well congrats on the raise!!!!!

Lora said...

I came here to sort of say what Maxie did.

If a rich person gives a million dollars and doesn't notice it is gone, that's hardly generous.

If a poor person gives the shirt off his back and doesn't have another one for himself, that's the true definition of generousity

f.B said...

What Maxie said.

It's not so much what someone gives, but what it means to them to give it up and what it means to the person who gets it. I don't think rich or poor matters.

The Bug said...

I got a raise too! It's small so it won't get me another tank of gas a week, but it's the thought that counts. I always think I'm about to be fired (there's no evidence for this, just my paranoia) - so a raise very briefly removes that fear from my head.

As far as generosity - I also really think it depends on the heart of the person. And based on my own self (one of the not rich people), my motivations change in different circumstances.

Narm said...

Congrats on the raise!

The one in my pants - not the one in your paycheck.

I'm pretty sure this post is sexual harassment.

Capitol Hill 20210 said...

congrats on the raise :-)

Bilbo said...

Yay, raise!

I agree with Maxie, and would have said it exactly as she did. One of my favorite quotes is this one from Jack London: "A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog when you are just as hungry as the dog." I think he and Maxie would have understood each other.

Mike said...

I agree with Bilbo who agreed with Maxie. But I'm also throwing in agreeing with Lora too. Which makes me agree with Maxie twice.

Dmbosstone said...

I hear percentage wise, poorer people give more.

Barbara said...

Congrats on the raise. It will allow you to enjoy Lickity Split at Restaurant Eve even more often!

Poor people are definitely more generous. When I used to work in third world countries, I was forever amazed at just how giving the people I worked with were -- without even a second thought.

Most rich people are rich because they have learned how to hold onto their money, not such a bad thing if you are on the rich end of things.

Anonymous said...

Hey L A thanksIfor commenting on my old post card. I'll be doing more of them.

I've known very few wealthy people since I'm poor, but I must say that the ones I have known were notoriously CHEAP!
Most of the poor people I know would share their last meal with you!

lbluca77 said...

I'm with Maxie on this too. For rich people giving money is easy. There is no sacrafice they make in giving the money to help someone out. It doesn't mean anything to them.

Congrats on the raise. Now buy me presents!!

lacochran said...

Maxie: Thanks for taking a good fight and making it into a perfectly reasonable discussion. Jerk. (Kidding!) Well put.

Little Ms Blogger: It's a classic.

Matt, Zipcode: Thanks! I didn't bury the lede too much, then. :)

Lora, f.B: Yeah.

The Bug: Congrats!

Narm: *pointing* Back to your cage.

Bilbo: Thanks, and good quote.

Mike: You bandwagon jumper, you.

Dmbosstone: Interesting. Is that why they're poorer?

Barbara: Was that a poverty thing or a culture thing, do you think? See you soon!

kansasmediocrity: Interesting. Thanks for weighing in.

lbluca77: Thanks. I have a pile of them here. Where do I send them?