Ant? Grasshopper?

[ellenkushner]

Everybody got their Economic Stimulus check by now? Me, too. I like this advice, from M. P. Dunleavey (author of Money Can Buy Happiness):

One of the oldest chestnuts in personal finance is, "Pay yourself first." Knocking down high-interest debt and building your emergency savings . . . would top that list. But . . . you must spend a small percentage of your income. . . on pure, frivolous fun. It's like tithing, but on your own behalf. So take 2 or 5 or 10 percent of your stimulus check as a bonus . . . Then think like the ant and store the rest." -- NYTimes, 6/28/08 (FULL ARTICLE HERE)

Amen! quoth this little ant.

Comments

[handworn.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's what I did. Invested most of it, which I think was not what the government had in mind.

Bugged

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Is it "the grasshopper and the ant" in English? It's "the cicada and the ant" in French. Mind you, US Television's Kung Fu's "Grasshopper" has turned in French into "Petit scarabée": "little beetle".

Okay, this has absolutely no connection with the gist of your message.

But I didn't get any Economic Stimulus Check. :-((

Re: Bugged

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Is "cigale" a cicada, really? Because I learned it in English & then went to France as a child, I'd always assumed.... Is there a different French word for "grasshopper"? Or don't they grow them over there?

There is a Martin Carthy song called "The Ant and the Grasshopper" that's good.

You don't need an economic stimulus check to stimulate our economy - just come on over with your Euros, and live like a king! We'll be plenty stimulating.

[squidflakes.livejournal.com]

I donated the entirety of mine to the EFF and American's United for the Separation of Church and State.

I like to think this makes the "refund" a bit less crooked.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I donated my last one to charity - remember that $300 right after he took office? Reminded me of nothing so much as the new kid who comes to class with cupcakes for everyone, hoping it will make us like him when he's obviously revolting and has a perpetual runny nose that he wipes on his sleeve.

[ckd]

scalzi was as amusing as ever with his stimulus check.

(As for me, some of it will probably go into the dealer's room at Readercon, by way of self-care through bibliotherapy; the rest, savings and maybe a little extra off the mortgage.)

[eternaleponine.livejournal.com]

I got mine back in May and put it in my savings, but come September, that's the money that will finance my vacation. Thanks, government! You actually did me some good for once!

[redbird]

I just used a piece of mine to buy myself and one of my beloveds a very nice dinner at a restaurant. In Montreal.

[jaidit.livejournal.com]

Spent it in Italy. Well, I stimulated someone's economy.

But I really did need all those books.

And the plague doctor Carnival mask (now we have to put that somewhere).

[tasiha.livejournal.com]

Can I admit vasty, vasty confusion over my economic stimulus check?

Always,
Your Friendly Physicist Minion

[tear-venus.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree with that statement. I think that I spent a good 200 dollars on books this year, and I don't regret it, because really books are like a trip for the mind, all the fun of going to faraway places without having to do such troublesome things like packing.

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Yes, cigale is a cicada, lazing away all summer, and feeling the pinch of hunger once winter comes. Grasshopper is sauterelle, and we have them by bunches over here, no fear. I suppose La Fontaine thought the cicada staying stuck all summer motionless on its olive tree and singing like mad was the picture of idleness. Grasshoppers jump about too much for the choice to be a perfect fit, methinks.

Don't know that song, I'll have to look it up.

I'm thinking of visiting New England sometime, for a book I'm preparing on Lovecraft. But no specific plans so far. There's time, yet.