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Are you aware of and ready for these things to cost more?
In just 14 days we will start a new year. For some of us it's time to reflect on the past year or plan for 2015. Some will make resolutions as to what they'll do next year. I don't. I just do what I'm going to do when I decide to do it. I don't need some arbitrary thing like the start of a new year to get going.
I was snooping around however to see if I should plan on anything changing in the new year. Of course I looked at some of the silly things psychics predict will happen. I wonder how many of them come true? Very few I'm sure.
So what can we know for certain will happen in the new year? Well, we know President Obama will have appointed quite a few judges to the bench thanks to Ted Cruz. We also know things are going to get even uglier between Congress and Obama come late January.
Here are some things you should be ready for as well.
1) I hate to break this but the price of bacon and all pork products will go up. As you know the drought in the USA has caused a sharp drop in the number of cattle being raised thus causing the price of beef to increase quite dramatically. I'm flabbergasted at the rapidity it's happened! This in turn has caused an increased demand for pork products. But right as that occurred a pig-killing virus and higher feed costs, also due to drought conditions, will cause the cost of bacon to jump soon. Yes, there will be a bacon shortage.
2) The price of bourbon will rise. This really won't affect me personally, but it may be something you might want to know. During the past 5 years the demand for bourbon has gone up 36%. Since bourbon has to be aged before it's ready to drink, this means the price will apparently be going up. Bourbon production hasn't increased to meet the demand. Some analysts believe this has been purposeful. I only mention this as it may make a great holiday gift this year for any bourbon drinkers on your list.
3) Avocados are going to get more expensive as well. The demand for them has increased quite a lot. Production hasn't kept up with demand and drought conditions in places they are grown has diminished output from avocado trees. Fewer and smaller avocados are being grown right now. Have you noticed how small they are lately?
4) The price of chocolate will be going up too...maybe by a lot as the demand for chocolate keeps increasing and many of the countries where it comes from are having severe drought conditions in many cases.
5) Coffee will cost more also due to the same pressures which is increased demand coupled with droughts in countries where it's grown. Even the basic brands you buy in stores like Folgers, Maxwell House and Yuban expect to initially charge $2.00 more per can. The price of good coffee will go up by a lot more. I've noticed coffee prices having gone up.
6) Olive oil will also cost more for all the same reasons. European countries that make olive oil, such as Spain and Italy, had droughts that caused olive oil production to drop significantly. Italy says olive oil production will be off by at least 37% if not more. This is good news for California olive oil producers. In the area where I live olives are grown in abundance. The little town of Corning, CA claims to be "the olive capital of the world."
7) Air travel and hotel rooms are expected to cost more. The airlines are taking advantage of the fact jet fuel prices have dropped by 17% this year and will raise prices to really increase profits. They see it as a golden opportunity to pad their bottom lines. They've also lobbied their buddies in Congress to be able to legally change the way ticket prices are going to be shown. Currently, the price you see for a ticket is the actual total price you pay. That will no longer be the case as all the extra fees and taxes won't be shown as part of the ticket price. So beware, when you buy a ticket to fly. The price advertised won't be the actual price you'll end up paying. If you plan on flying during 2015, you might want to lock in a price now before airlines start gouging you for more later.
8) Girl Scout cookies are going up in price. This trend started this year by the Girl Scouts of San Francisco which raised prices to $5 per box. The Los Angeles Girl Scouts are following suit. Soon all the Girl Scout chapters across the land will do so as well. One of the reasons is the cost of wheat has gone up. Due to what you ask? Oh yeah, droughts.
9) Health care costs will rise. The ACA has kept the yearly increases down compared to in the past. One area where costs will increase the most is for drugs however. Brand name prescription drugs are going to go up by quite a bit. These account for only about 1% of all drugs but cost consumers 25% of all drug costs. Even generic drugs are going up in price. If you think this is Big Pharma taking advantage, you would be correct.
Well obviously the prices of foods going up can be pinned on climate change and consumer demand. I expect this to be the "new normal" going forward because demand will only continue to increase while climate change will cause production to continue to drop. Some believe several foods that most folks can afford to buy now will become too expensive in the not to distant future for all except the wealthy.
One thing that will be new however is Cuban cigars will be legal again in the USA.
What foods price increase will affect you the most?
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by cooper888 ♥ for Sacramento Kossacks
We heard from navajo and Meteor Blades about the initiative by Daily Kos to have active Kossack groups in each of the state capitals. DK is looking for engaged Kossack's ready to roll up their sleeves and participate in many different types of activism/advocacy. For example, delivering petitions to the state capitol, participating in various protests, marches, rally's at the capitol, etc. As Meteor Blades pointed out this won't happen over night and is a long term strategy but I think if we all take the lead in our respective states we can make this dream happen sooner than DK leadership expects.
L-R: Front row: Sychotic1, tgypsy, tb92, trevizolga, Mrs. side pocket. Second row: Arundsdel (sp?), Laurel in CA, Kestrel, Meteor Blades. Third row: Kestrel's two friends, smileycreek, paradise50, Dave. Back row: Clif, Mr. Arundsdel, Neil, cooper888, side pocket, Left foot forward, got mooned & Nate
Please visit cooper888's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Sacramento Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to cooper888.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Sunday, December 28th
Koscadia Meet-up with navajo & Pipe Ceremony with Ojibwa to Bless Quilts
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Private home
[Kosmail Sara R for the address] • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R to attend
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. Ojibwa
3. Sara R
4. winglion
5. Angie in WA State
6. loggersbrat
7. llbear
8. Drewid
9. also mom of 5
10. watercarrier4diogenes
11. ozsea1
12. Damnit Janet
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Maybees:
Sapere aude
Arenosa
exlrrp
quill
pdxteacher
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Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up, Dec. 28, with special guests navajo and Ojibwa
Saturday & Sunday, January 17-18, 2015
Dkos Asheville 24-hour Meet-up
This is what community is about; sharing, giving, creating together. And this is what being a progressive is about; working for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Each day we start from where we are now; and we move forward from here. -davehouck
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...we have built ourselves a network of like minded brothers and sisters who are in this fight for life. A place we can come to find inspiration, power, solace and community.
-randallt |
TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Crown Plaza Resort Asheville
One Resort Drive • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. LamontCranston
8. Otteray Scribe
9. raincrow
10. raincrow guest
11. raincrow guest
12. raincrow guest
13. raincrow guest
14. raincrow guest
15.
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Maybees:
Joy of Fishes
IamGumby
smiley7
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
Saturday, January 17th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades & navajo to Connect, Unite and help plan Action for 2015!
TIME: 12:30 - 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant Executive Room
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
Private room reserved with a set menu at $20 (cash only) per person. Drinks extra. MAX OCCUPANCY: 40
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4. Lefty Coaster
5. PennyGC
6. Momomia
7. Momomia's friend
8. doingbusinessas
9. Smrichmond
10. capt snagger
11. bleeding blue
12. John Crapper's SO
13. Ryan P - guest of JC
14. Kitsap River
15. Charles Curtis Stanley
16. jessical
17. seabos84
18. Basilia
19. mharges
20. LarisaW
21. N in Seattle
MAX OCCUPANCY: 40
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Maybees:
Angie in WA State
James Wells
James Wells SO
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Latest diary: S&PS Kos Welcomes Meteor Blades & Navajo to Seattle 1/17/15 for Pep Talk!
Saturday, February 28th
Texas State Daily Kos Meet-up
Lunch and dinner/party compliments of Daily Kos. Please come for an afternoon of camaraderie and progressive strategizing with Big Orange flavor!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Austin
ORGANIZER: Send nomandates a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. nomandates
2. Chrislove
3. navajo
4. bastrop
5. anotherdemocrat
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Planning for TexKos Spring Meet-Up 2.0: We need your input!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.