Msg: 6722 *Conference*

08-01-96 10:19:04

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : TRACY ALLEN

Subj: INPUT/OUTPUT

I decided to name this thread: Input/Output = Noput (in your pocket)

 > I know what you mean about paying rent, believe me.  I feel like I'm 
 > working for the landlord.  $1200 a month, plus insurance, utilities 
 > etc etc.  And yesterday I had to cut a check for Equalization, oops, 
 > I forgot about that, that the money isn't mine.  I can say I work 
 > for the state, with a ball and chain!

Ain't it the truth!  If I wasn't tied so much to working for myself (...got a
ball rolling (that sorely needs inflation)) I'd be out looking for work at Sun
Micro.  Although there's no "perfect setup" this self employed thing is needs a
little help.  I really don't want to be tied to employer-dependency.  That's
not safe these days.  A combination would be best ... but what combo!

So, I'm not ready to dump and run (don't think I'll ever do that) but I'm so
upside down ($200,000+) that covering just the basics is tough going.  I'm
exploring tele-contracting, wherein I do what I do best right here out of my
lab ... and extend the lab's equipment, like the ISDN line I pulled a few
months ago.

The kicker is: There's hope on the horizon in the form of funded projects, so
todays' writings may be moot points in cyberspace that fade away quickly.
Regardless, whatever I do, I must make sure that each think pulls its own
weight, so that one does not draw down all the rest ... like it's done.

I have the club at a dull roar but it still takes cash to continue ... and
time!  I think, as we move forward in history, that establishing an income base
via Excel Telecommunications, will support the giving/helping side.  Hey, you
can do a lot on 2% of a lot of little things.

Speaking of little things: I heard two, recent reports.  One on Internet use
and the other on general income.  The Internet use report stated that the
average age of Internet users is 33, and that their average annual income is
$63,000+; with 18,000,000 using the Internet daily US-wide (30 mil world-wide).
The general income stat put the average household income at $63,000 (but I
didn't catch if this was US, just California, or silly-con valley).

I'd believe the household income for this area "if" there were two working
adults in a household but not one.  Another, earlier stat puts the average
personal income in this area at $28,000.  This is a gross figure, of course.
In this area, net is closer to $3,000 or upside down with credit cards rising.

I'd sure like to find some source data.  I have no idea what I am worth.  Any
ideas?  I'll gladly share all my findings.  -Rick-