Lies, Damn Lies, and *Statistics*
Posted by Anders Green
Banned Ultra Moderator Location: Red Deer, Alberta Join Date: 09/13/2011 Posts: 717 Rally Car: 2002 Subaru WRX STi |
And I am too, but in the opposite way. I live in a room I rent for $600, own nothing of any significant value besides my race car, drive a $50 car and a $1500 pickup. I got an education that was quick (two years) and relatively cheap ($5k per year) that had massive job opportunities and would afford me the time off to race. I've struggled since graduating finding a balance between sinking ALL OF MY MONEY into racing and maintaining the bills. The struggle is finally paying off. My activities outside of work involve rally, rally, and more rally, whether that is racing, crewing, volunteering, administering, or arguing with Keith on the interwebs. I do like to do other things, but those work around rally, not the other way around. As such, I'll probably be a bachelor for life 
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Grant Hughes Junior Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
Hey Adam. How many rallyists in Alberta or even more specifically in Edmonton/Calgary area (pretty much Alberta
 ) work in the oil and gas industry? I know it's HUGE up there, much as it is in my home state of Wyoming. I passed on a $150k+ job based out of Edmonton back in 2006 or so. Just curious as I've thought of Wyoming as a good potential focus for stage events and regional growth due to the amount of expendable income floating around in 19-30 year old single males. Of course, most tie it up in $70k trucks...Grant Hughes |
Banned Ultra Moderator Location: Red Deer, Alberta Join Date: 09/13/2011 Posts: 717 Rally Car: 2002 Subaru WRX STi |
ALL OF THEM. No, but seriously. You have to consider how many people have jobs in other industries due to the O&G industry as well. Of course, you hit the nail on the head, and I've said this time and time again. People come to rallies, complain about the price when they have a SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLAR diesel pickup that they daily drive... for no reason. It isn't their work truck, they aren't "manly men" doing construction work or farming, it's just a frivolous waste of money (not to mention fuel)! If you can convince them to take the smallest amount of their pay and devote it to something, it's worth it. Is it sustainable though? As long as oil is above $80/barrel. As Keith and I have noted elsewhere, 2009 appears to be the worst year for us (2010 was also pretty rough). I've introduced a lot of people (friends, friends of friends, relatives, etc) to the sport who have no interest in it. In fact, I honestly don't know if I have made a new competitor out of anyone besides my co-driver. Part of the issue is that inherently, you are talking about irresponsible people (why they typically have to work such a crappy job in the oil patch) who blow through insane amounts of cash and have nothing to show for it. As for passing up a $150k per year job in Edmonton, well that's dumb :p It's not a "bad" place to live by any stretch of the imagination IMO. Then again, some may call me crazy... |
Grant Hughes Junior Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
Banned Ultra Moderator Location: Red Deer, Alberta Join Date: 09/13/2011 Posts: 717 Rally Car: 2002 Subaru WRX STi |
That's a not good story  Quick easy money does that to a lot of people though!
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John Vanlandingham Junior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
Josh Wimpey Senior Moderator Location: VA Join Date: 12/27/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 649 Rally Car: Sneak the Golf |
Anyone else find Alex's stance on socializing Rally proceeds ironic considering his hilariously uninformed rants against the ACA on SS? ____________________________________________________________- One. Class -- 2WD www.quantumrallysport.com http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Quantum-Rally-Sport/281129179600?ref=nf |
John Vanlandingham Junior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
What's ACA? Linkie to rants? Are they really 'rants'? We've talked a lot he didn't seem like a ranty kind of guy? seems like any opinion now is always a rant. Or "attack".  John Vanlandingham Sleezattle, WA, USA Vive le Prole-le-ralliat www.rallyrace.net/jvab CALL +1 206 431-9696 Remember! Pacific Standard Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. |
Josh Wimpey Senior Moderator Location: VA Join Date: 12/27/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 649 Rally Car: Sneak the Golf |
ACA = Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare Link to thread he started after try8ing to derail another thread http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?46083-US-Health-Insurance-discussion-)-politely-tell-me-why-i-m-wrong-thanks Looks like faux-libertarian "free-market" rants to me --- never-mind the bamboozling that ensues from the private insurance providers Also looks like the very very tired and easily refuted -- taxes are a form of implicit violence argument is dragged out by Alex And of course, the general confusion of freedom-to with freedom-from ____________________________________________________________- One. Class -- 2WD www.quantumrallysport.com http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Quantum-Rally-Sport/281129179600?ref=nf |
John Vanlandingham Junior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
The "he's suppressing me! Help I'm being suppressed! Now we see the violence inherent in the system!!!" argument? Ah, I see. You could have just said "The 1994 Republican Health Care" plan. or the "2006 Republican Romney" care plan.. I unnerstand dat. taxes are a form of "implicit" violence? I see the existence of any form of government as resting on an implied right to resort to violence, but that is a theoretical abstraction... And it is superseded by and therefore trumped by "Corporations are people too". Even if their violence is slower, more insidious and doesn't just damage individuals shot down by police like legal State violence, theirs affects everything from lack of health care to diet, education, all the arts of 'persuasion" to convince people to act and vote for programs in direct opposition to their own interests... Ever followed the long career of the notorious Koch brothers.. It goes back to the late 50s/early 60s those fuckers have been destroying America. John Vanlandingham Sleezattle, WA, USA Vive le Prole-le-ralliat www.rallyrace.net/jvab CALL +1 206 431-9696 Remember! Pacific Standard Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. |
Grant Hughes Junior Moderator Location: Whitefish, MT Join Date: 01/11/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 6,818 Rally Car: BMW |
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