Minimum Wage

At least 850,000 Texans will get a pay raise as the federal minimum wage steps up .

The first step takes effect this week, as the federal minimum hits $5.85 an hour from $5.15 an hour, the level that had been in effect for a decade.

What's the minimum wage in Texas? For entrepreneurs and small business owners with employees, it's important to know whether your state has a minimum wage law. Information on minimum wages can be tough to find so we've done the research for you. Here's the minimum wage for Texas.

Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference, thus any changes affecting the federal minimum wage automatically becomes the Texas minimum wage for all intended purposes. Based on federal legislation, the federal minimum wage will increase in three stages:
Effective July 24, 2007, the federal minimum wage will increase to $5.85 an hour,
Effective July 24, 2008, the federal minimum wage will increase to $6.55 an hour; and
Effective July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 an hour.


Later.....Ric

07/07/07

Ever since I became aware of the coming of the date on the calendar of 07/07/07, I thought it to be a special date. I did not know why or how, but I was drawn to it…as if I have a big part to play in it all.

Turns out I wasn’t alone.

Believing the triple appearance of the number 7 will bring luck, many people are planning important events for this first Saturday in July. Many moms will be inducing labor today to have a child born on this lucky day. Brides and grooms especially, looking for a little extra dose of marital fortune, hoping the lucky numbers will make them lucky in love, are flocking to the altar in droves on 07/07/07.

The number seven is considered lucky due to its frequent and favorable appearance in the Bible - As the number of the days of God's first week, the levels of heaven, the numbers of angels and trumpets, etc., the number came to represent completeness and perfection. Something organized seven-fold meant that it corresponded to God's own arrangement.

Just as some people wouldn't dare get married on a Friday the 13th or live in a house with the address 666, we are also drawn to the positive influence of the number 7.

Sevens are lucky in the casino world. Three 7’s on the slot machine is a winner. There are 7 stars in the Big Dipper, the most prominent of the indestructible stars. There are seven colors in the rainbow. There are 7 notes to the musical scale and the Seven Wonders of the World.

Good things certainly seem to come in 7’s. Seven is filled with mysticism and is thought to be the most significant number. I certainly do hope this lucky seven seven seven will be good for you and provide that extra edge if you have any special plans for this special day.

Your friend, Ric