People donate money because obviously there is not enough time for everyone to work on correcting every social problem and injustice. That's reasonable enough; however there has been quite a number of people who have come along to exploit this.
These people don't like to work, but they do like having fancy offices and job titles so they form non-profits. These people have come a long to cash in on everything from cancer to school yard bullying, education, and even human rights (whatever they consider those to be). Well, the newest bunch of charlatans have decided that they are going to use the money of donors to put an end to cat calling.
I'm sure by now most of you have seen the video of a young woman walking around New York, who endures verbal harassment from a number of men on the street.
Is this a problem? Of course, no one likes to think about this happening to their wives, daughters, or mothers. Is it something an organization can use money to put an end to? No, of course not that is a ridiculous notion. It is the equivalent of saying you are going to end gun violence or bullying it is simply not feasible, and there is no plan you can make to work towards those ends.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
How The Watering Hole Can Save America's Cities
Many of America's cities having been ravaged by several decades of Neo-Liberal economic policies are looking for avenues towards economic revitalization ie; ways to stimulate commerce in a way that will attract businesses thereby creating jobs and a strong tax base.
So far ideas have ranged from coordinating community events with the business community as well as offering various incentives such as tax credits and grants to new businesses. Since younger people with disposable income tend to be the market demographic these places want to capture the businesses favored tend to be things like salons, cafes, high-end liquor stores that kind of thing. So the consultants at least have some grasp of what needs to be done, but they're doing it in such a way that leaves too much to chance.
I say instead of going by the model "if you build it they will come" they should be just bringing them there and waiting for it to build up around them. I call this plan Lincolnparkinization. It's very obvious what the secret to Lincoln Park's success is; they happen to have a lot of attractive young people around filling the bars, cafes, and what not. So it's clear what's at play here.
Young people like to have sex so they will go where other young people they can have sex with are. I call it the watering hole effect. It works like this; you take a struggling city, let's just say Cleveland. You give a few dozen attractive singles rent-free apartments and stipends to go spend at local bars and restaurants. They will attract more young people who will spend their money at the bars and restaurants in an effort to try and meet and have sex with them.
So far ideas have ranged from coordinating community events with the business community as well as offering various incentives such as tax credits and grants to new businesses. Since younger people with disposable income tend to be the market demographic these places want to capture the businesses favored tend to be things like salons, cafes, high-end liquor stores that kind of thing. So the consultants at least have some grasp of what needs to be done, but they're doing it in such a way that leaves too much to chance.
I say instead of going by the model "if you build it they will come" they should be just bringing them there and waiting for it to build up around them. I call this plan Lincolnparkinization. It's very obvious what the secret to Lincoln Park's success is; they happen to have a lot of attractive young people around filling the bars, cafes, and what not. So it's clear what's at play here.
Young people like to have sex so they will go where other young people they can have sex with are. I call it the watering hole effect. It works like this; you take a struggling city, let's just say Cleveland. You give a few dozen attractive singles rent-free apartments and stipends to go spend at local bars and restaurants. They will attract more young people who will spend their money at the bars and restaurants in an effort to try and meet and have sex with them.
Friday, October 24, 2014
They're All Out to Get You! Just Stay Calm and Be Yourself
You are an extremely talent very special individual! The only things holding you back in life are your friends, family, and people who you are friends with on social media but who don't actually like you. These people are secretly working to sabotage everything you do! Once you find the strength to be yourself and go it alone you will get everything your heart desires!
This is the world according to Instagram as I understand it and since it is social media outlet shaped by the people who use it, it would seem this is the world according to tens of millions of people in this country. Is anyone really surprised?
What kind of sick delusional narcissists think think this way? Instagram users that's who
This is the world according to Instagram as I understand it and since it is social media outlet shaped by the people who use it, it would seem this is the world according to tens of millions of people in this country. Is anyone really surprised?
What kind of sick delusional narcissists think think this way? Instagram users that's who
Friday, October 17, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Not that there's anything wrong with that
Apparently it is national coming out day. Basically, a popular attempt to lift the stigma on homosexuality and offer those who have been afraid to tell others the truth about themselves a little bit of a morale boost. In a liberal bastion like Chicago, especially on the North Side I'm sure a lot of us can take for granted what a life changing event coming out can be. For some, it can mean being ostracized by friends and family. For others, it can even mean violence. Violence that ironically enough is often perpetrated by those too afraid to confront these same feelings within themselves and become enraged by the very suggestion there maybe a homosexual impulse anywhere in their brain.
So it is often the case those who are the most fervently and vocally anti-gay are those who just need to come out themselves. In the spirit of this I thought it might be interesting to look at two traditionally anti-gay groups that have displayed their own manifestations of suppressed homosexual urges, the Nazis and the U.S. military. Now the Nazis made it clear to everyone they were all man by imprisoning and murdering homosexuals, and the U.S. military does it by forcing homosexuals in their ranks to stay in the closet. A bit more subtle but still fundamentally anti-homosexual.
Despite all of this both parties in question have had moments that made us think "is there something you want to tell us?" The Nazis obsession with fashion and firm young males got everyone wondering whether or not they may have been a bit light in the jackboots.
Then there was the infamous propaganda piece "Triumph of the Will" which featured armies of lean, blond, shirtless young men living and working together in very close brotherhood mostly free of women.
The U.S. military showed us their own gay side decades later when the Pentagon decided to fund "Top Gun" which featured much of the same, but instead of doing public works projects they played beach volleyball. The Nazis and the U.S. military have done what all too many confused and angry closet homosexuals have done, go on long killing sprees. (think John Wayne Gacy for an example of this on the more individual level) So in the spirit of coming out day I would like to extend to the nazis...well not the nazis they're all dead at this point, but the military the opportunity the opportunity to unfurl the rainbow flag.
So it is often the case those who are the most fervently and vocally anti-gay are those who just need to come out themselves. In the spirit of this I thought it might be interesting to look at two traditionally anti-gay groups that have displayed their own manifestations of suppressed homosexual urges, the Nazis and the U.S. military. Now the Nazis made it clear to everyone they were all man by imprisoning and murdering homosexuals, and the U.S. military does it by forcing homosexuals in their ranks to stay in the closet. A bit more subtle but still fundamentally anti-homosexual.
Despite all of this both parties in question have had moments that made us think "is there something you want to tell us?" The Nazis obsession with fashion and firm young males got everyone wondering whether or not they may have been a bit light in the jackboots.
Then there was the infamous propaganda piece "Triumph of the Will" which featured armies of lean, blond, shirtless young men living and working together in very close brotherhood mostly free of women.
The U.S. military showed us their own gay side decades later when the Pentagon decided to fund "Top Gun" which featured much of the same, but instead of doing public works projects they played beach volleyball. The Nazis and the U.S. military have done what all too many confused and angry closet homosexuals have done, go on long killing sprees. (think John Wayne Gacy for an example of this on the more individual level) So in the spirit of coming out day I would like to extend to the nazis...well not the nazis they're all dead at this point, but the military the opportunity the opportunity to unfurl the rainbow flag.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Funding public schools the private way
A huge problem with public education is it is often simply underfunded. Many who claim this is not the case will probably say "but the U.S. spends more on education as a portion of GDP than any other country in the world!" To which I would suggest simply replying with, "and your point?" You can bet the person who just thought they made an argument probably won't have any idea what is considered "educational spending" by government accounting standards.
More importantly they probably don't know what "portion of GDP means as a result of having come up through America's educational system. Where is the proof that this amount measured in proportion to GDP is somehow an adequate amount? This is all pointless though, because the results are in, and it is clear. However, much money has been put into education... well there needs to be a lot more!
Just how much is needed? No one as of yet has created a model proportioning stupidity with the GDP, so no one really has any idea, but you better believe it's a lot!
THe problem is most states and the federal government has been battling a recession for almost the better part of a decade and are now standing with nearly depleted treasuries holding just enough for their expense accounts.
But relax, no one need fear for their comped steak dinners or their child's futures. Believe I have found a long term solution to this revenue problem that should make everyone happy.
The idea is simple; parents of students can pay for grades. This is the model used by the ivy league schools. It is called grade inflation. The school wants to appear to have only the best and brightest and the people pay 50k a year in tuition want to have a brand name degree so that just ended up working itself out.
If we instituted this scheme in our public schools, we could come up with a pricing structure for a desired GPAs that still undercuts the private schools.
It would sort of be an unofficial tax on the families of the more wealthy students. With any luck, this will provide some much-needed relief to schools across the country. Now some people may criticize this plan by saying this gives kids who come from money an unfair advantage, but isn't that the case anyway?
More importantly they probably don't know what "portion of GDP means as a result of having come up through America's educational system. Where is the proof that this amount measured in proportion to GDP is somehow an adequate amount? This is all pointless though, because the results are in, and it is clear. However, much money has been put into education... well there needs to be a lot more!
Just how much is needed? No one as of yet has created a model proportioning stupidity with the GDP, so no one really has any idea, but you better believe it's a lot!
THe problem is most states and the federal government has been battling a recession for almost the better part of a decade and are now standing with nearly depleted treasuries holding just enough for their expense accounts.
But relax, no one need fear for their comped steak dinners or their child's futures. Believe I have found a long term solution to this revenue problem that should make everyone happy.
The idea is simple; parents of students can pay for grades. This is the model used by the ivy league schools. It is called grade inflation. The school wants to appear to have only the best and brightest and the people pay 50k a year in tuition want to have a brand name degree so that just ended up working itself out.
If we instituted this scheme in our public schools, we could come up with a pricing structure for a desired GPAs that still undercuts the private schools.
It would sort of be an unofficial tax on the families of the more wealthy students. With any luck, this will provide some much-needed relief to schools across the country. Now some people may criticize this plan by saying this gives kids who come from money an unfair advantage, but isn't that the case anyway?
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