1)They are democratic. Just about everyone has access to one. Ever see a homeless person reading the daily paper on a Kindle?
2)They make nice paper hats.
3)They can also serve as umbrellas in a brief downpour.
4)They can be used as toys for some.
5)They can be used as weapons against others (and pretty goods ones, too).
6)They can provide protection against a strong wind.
7)They serve as an alternative to lathering up with sun block, if held above the face.
8)In an emergency, they can be used as a mop or sponge.
9)They make for a nice flat blanket against a cold or damp seat.
10)The perennial fly swatter.
11)They make for a very nice, if a bit cumbersome, fan.
12)When jotting around the margins, they make for a nice notepad.
13)They still contain more information in one easy to transport case than just about any other device or implement currently known to humankind. And they're quite easily replacable, require no monthly service fee, and provide us with space and privacy in the event we wish to place one in front our nose while on the subway.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Top Ten Cities for recent College Grads
The Bloomberg publication Business Week has released its list of the top ten cities for recent college graduates. Using a metric based on the employment rate, the cost of living, and other factors, BW found four Texas cities in the top ten, and several other mid-tier cities that might not be on your target list of places to live.
Some on the list, DC and Denver, for example, offer quite a bit, and are distinctly livable. But Columbus? And Pittsburgh! C'mon, who are they kidding. Been there, but wouldn't want to live there.
Took on Cleveland in another forum. Anyone want to come to the defense of the Lone Star State, or the rust belt? Doubtful.
Businessweek’s 2010 list of Best Cities for New College Grads:
Houston
Washington, D.C.
Dallas
Atlanta
Austin
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Denver
Columbus
Fort Worth
Some on the list, DC and Denver, for example, offer quite a bit, and are distinctly livable. But Columbus? And Pittsburgh! C'mon, who are they kidding. Been there, but wouldn't want to live there.
Took on Cleveland in another forum. Anyone want to come to the defense of the Lone Star State, or the rust belt? Doubtful.
Businessweek’s 2010 list of Best Cities for New College Grads:
Houston
Washington, D.C.
Dallas
Atlanta
Austin
Minneapolis
Pittsburgh
Denver
Columbus
Fort Worth
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Ranting and Raving
There's often plenty to rant about.
The price of gasoline. The heat. The presence of oil in precious Gulf waters. The humidity. Your kids. Your neighbors kids. Kids. Finding out that Al Gore may have had a sex life. And, of course, anything having to do with close relatives.
But here's a new one.
New to me, at least.
It seems that the British government has finally gotten around to announcing that former BP CEO Lord Browne is now being named the country's efficiency czar.
Of course not everyone who has in any way ever been affiliated with BP bears any responsibility for the disaster that's still ongoing down there.
But there are certainly some who do, in particular those who teeter atop corporations such as BP. And it is those folks who bear direct responsibility.
And if the reporting is correct, that like Lord Browne (don't you just love someone who can get away with an old world title in lieu of a first name), you can cut safety and maintenance at your company, all in the name of economy and profit, then you are among the privileged few who bear direct responsibility.
So it goes without saying, though it is still being said, that the new British government is beyond tone deaf for appointing Browne to a spot wherein all of Britain, and now, thanks to the speed of light, all of the world, will be reminded of his decisions while atop BP.
And if anyone thinks he will survive in this position, and that the British government won't have to apologize in short order for the ham-handed nature in which this appointment was both vetted and then named, then I have some sub-prime mortgages in Detroit I would like to sell you.
I tell you, you can't make this stuff up. Even if you wanted to.
The price of gasoline. The heat. The presence of oil in precious Gulf waters. The humidity. Your kids. Your neighbors kids. Kids. Finding out that Al Gore may have had a sex life. And, of course, anything having to do with close relatives.
But here's a new one.
New to me, at least.
It seems that the British government has finally gotten around to announcing that former BP CEO Lord Browne is now being named the country's efficiency czar.
Of course not everyone who has in any way ever been affiliated with BP bears any responsibility for the disaster that's still ongoing down there.
But there are certainly some who do, in particular those who teeter atop corporations such as BP. And it is those folks who bear direct responsibility.
And if the reporting is correct, that like Lord Browne (don't you just love someone who can get away with an old world title in lieu of a first name), you can cut safety and maintenance at your company, all in the name of economy and profit, then you are among the privileged few who bear direct responsibility.
So it goes without saying, though it is still being said, that the new British government is beyond tone deaf for appointing Browne to a spot wherein all of Britain, and now, thanks to the speed of light, all of the world, will be reminded of his decisions while atop BP.
And if anyone thinks he will survive in this position, and that the British government won't have to apologize in short order for the ham-handed nature in which this appointment was both vetted and then named, then I have some sub-prime mortgages in Detroit I would like to sell you.
I tell you, you can't make this stuff up. Even if you wanted to.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
we could all benefit from an editor
it just goes without saying.
even as it goes again both the grain, and the trend.
look at what we twitter, post, share, even graffiti.
pretty soon we'll all return to grunting, caveman style, while trying to create an image on our IPad that conveys what we would otherwise say, if we had a command of language.
it will be strange, but funny.
sort of like the opening scene from Mel Brooks' History of the World.
and while I'm at it, what are people trying to say on facebook? and why are some saying too much, or too little, or just nothing? would we reveal or share if it weren't at the tip of our fingers? would we care? will we ever know?
discuss at your own peril.
even as it goes again both the grain, and the trend.
look at what we twitter, post, share, even graffiti.
pretty soon we'll all return to grunting, caveman style, while trying to create an image on our IPad that conveys what we would otherwise say, if we had a command of language.
it will be strange, but funny.
sort of like the opening scene from Mel Brooks' History of the World.
and while I'm at it, what are people trying to say on facebook? and why are some saying too much, or too little, or just nothing? would we reveal or share if it weren't at the tip of our fingers? would we care? will we ever know?
discuss at your own peril.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
no, we're not all the same
It would be great if we lived without distinctions.
We could carry on and communicate with one another, listening and learning, without having to evaluate whether this person is signficant, and thus worthy of greater attention, or whether that person, well, you know, don't bother.
But it's not that simple.
The wealthy hold sway, carry themselves as if they're important, and if what they have to say, as well as how they say it, really matter.
Unfortunately, it does. As they hold the cards. Or at least printed the deck. Or owned the company that made the ink.
You see, it goes back. And it often goes deep.
But, still, why do they have to be so damn clueless. So unable to distinguish between the simple and the complex. The clear and the murky. The truth and the facts.
You would think that any person who has a basic command of English literacy would be able to understand a sentence, recognize a comment, and interpret meaning.
But to some, and often this applie to those, as we say, of privilege, it just doesn't matter. They choose to listen to what they want, answer the questions they select, if at all, and carry on as if the center of the universe is about them.
And, collectively, we let them.
But it would be great if those titles and zip codes and appurtenances could be stripped away, and we would have to answer ourselves, absent cover and foil.
Yes, that would be nice indeed.
And it would mean we would have to understand one another. Listening, that is. Listening.
We could carry on and communicate with one another, listening and learning, without having to evaluate whether this person is signficant, and thus worthy of greater attention, or whether that person, well, you know, don't bother.
But it's not that simple.
The wealthy hold sway, carry themselves as if they're important, and if what they have to say, as well as how they say it, really matter.
Unfortunately, it does. As they hold the cards. Or at least printed the deck. Or owned the company that made the ink.
You see, it goes back. And it often goes deep.
But, still, why do they have to be so damn clueless. So unable to distinguish between the simple and the complex. The clear and the murky. The truth and the facts.
You would think that any person who has a basic command of English literacy would be able to understand a sentence, recognize a comment, and interpret meaning.
But to some, and often this applie to those, as we say, of privilege, it just doesn't matter. They choose to listen to what they want, answer the questions they select, if at all, and carry on as if the center of the universe is about them.
And, collectively, we let them.
But it would be great if those titles and zip codes and appurtenances could be stripped away, and we would have to answer ourselves, absent cover and foil.
Yes, that would be nice indeed.
And it would mean we would have to understand one another. Listening, that is. Listening.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Time to be solemn?
Memorial Day is our moment for solemnity.
Across America, we celebrate our lives, and in our own way, pause to reflect upon what others gave up in support of our way of life.
But that can be reflected in a myriad of ways.
From the humor of the Rhode Island taxi driver, who turns his tour in the 82 Airborne some 50 plus years ago into a series of running gags over the course of a drive to the airport.
To the merchants and marketers, who take yet another opportunity to ply us with a sense of want and desire for yet another item, another bauble, a discount on a purchase intentionally held off until just this sale.
To the Europeans living in the United States, not entirely familiar with all our habits and customs, but are quick to embrace an opportunity for a get-together, for a party.
And it's that confluence which makes for interesting moments. For example, this afternoon, at a party thrown by a friend from Belgium for friends, colleagues, and neighbors, there were guests from eastern and western Europe, central America, west Africa, and the mid-Atlantic.
Perhaps it's the uniqueness of a place like Washington where you can talk about the qualities of freshly made gelato with the Armenian man who proudly presented this treat to the partygoers. Or to hear from an African women of her concern for her daughter, about to attend an American college as a freshman. Then there's all the French people smoking, but there's no tie-in or analogy for that one.
In a way, the amalgam of people we can come across, all in one place, happens because of the sacrifice made by thousands over the years, continuing to allow our grand experiment in democracy to serve as a guide and a sense of hope for others across the world.
Happy Memorial Day. However you recognize it.
Across America, we celebrate our lives, and in our own way, pause to reflect upon what others gave up in support of our way of life.
But that can be reflected in a myriad of ways.
From the humor of the Rhode Island taxi driver, who turns his tour in the 82 Airborne some 50 plus years ago into a series of running gags over the course of a drive to the airport.
To the merchants and marketers, who take yet another opportunity to ply us with a sense of want and desire for yet another item, another bauble, a discount on a purchase intentionally held off until just this sale.
To the Europeans living in the United States, not entirely familiar with all our habits and customs, but are quick to embrace an opportunity for a get-together, for a party.
And it's that confluence which makes for interesting moments. For example, this afternoon, at a party thrown by a friend from Belgium for friends, colleagues, and neighbors, there were guests from eastern and western Europe, central America, west Africa, and the mid-Atlantic.
Perhaps it's the uniqueness of a place like Washington where you can talk about the qualities of freshly made gelato with the Armenian man who proudly presented this treat to the partygoers. Or to hear from an African women of her concern for her daughter, about to attend an American college as a freshman. Then there's all the French people smoking, but there's no tie-in or analogy for that one.
In a way, the amalgam of people we can come across, all in one place, happens because of the sacrifice made by thousands over the years, continuing to allow our grand experiment in democracy to serve as a guide and a sense of hope for others across the world.
Happy Memorial Day. However you recognize it.
Friday, May 7, 2010
some weekend thoughts
From our friends at CBS News, one of the MSM baddies, but still among those paying the big bucks for surveys and polls.
On the 50th Anniversary, the golden anniversary, of the birth control pill, some very interesting findings on attitudes and perspectives on this life changing med.
Read down to note, at the end of this cheat sheet, what CBS found on the hypothetical question on whether men would take an equivalent pharmaceutical.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CBS NEWS POLL
--52% of Americans say the birth control pill has been one of the most significant medical developments of the last 50 years. Both women and men think the birth control pill has been an important medical development.
--Four in five Americans think the birth control pill has had at least some effect on American society overall, including 41% who say it’s impacted society a great deal.
54% think the pill has had a great deal of impact on women’s lives in particular.
--Most Americans (56%) say women’s lives were changed for the better because of the birth control pill. Only a quarter think it made no difference, and even fewer say the pill made women’s lives worse. Among women, 54% say women’s lives improved as a result of the pill.
--57% say the pill made it easier for women to have jobs and careers outside the home. Older Americans are especially likely to say this.
Among working women, 55% say the birth control poll has made it easier for women to enter the workforce.
--Most (83%) think the birth control has affected Americans’ attitudes toward sex, including more than half who say it had a great deal of impact on attitudes toward sex.
--In 1966, six years after the pill was approved by the FDA, fewer than half of Americans - 43% - told a Gallup Poll that birth control pills could be used safely without danger to a person’s health. That number has risen to 64% today.
--A majority of women (54%) do not think most men would take birth control pills if they were available. In contrast, two-thirds of men think most men would take the pill if it were available.
Poll story on CBSNEWS.COM
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/07/health/main6468828.shtml
On the 50th Anniversary, the golden anniversary, of the birth control pill, some very interesting findings on attitudes and perspectives on this life changing med.
Read down to note, at the end of this cheat sheet, what CBS found on the hypothetical question on whether men would take an equivalent pharmaceutical.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CBS NEWS POLL
--52% of Americans say the birth control pill has been one of the most significant medical developments of the last 50 years. Both women and men think the birth control pill has been an important medical development.
--Four in five Americans think the birth control pill has had at least some effect on American society overall, including 41% who say it’s impacted society a great deal.
54% think the pill has had a great deal of impact on women’s lives in particular.
--Most Americans (56%) say women’s lives were changed for the better because of the birth control pill. Only a quarter think it made no difference, and even fewer say the pill made women’s lives worse. Among women, 54% say women’s lives improved as a result of the pill.
--57% say the pill made it easier for women to have jobs and careers outside the home. Older Americans are especially likely to say this.
Among working women, 55% say the birth control poll has made it easier for women to enter the workforce.
--Most (83%) think the birth control has affected Americans’ attitudes toward sex, including more than half who say it had a great deal of impact on attitudes toward sex.
--In 1966, six years after the pill was approved by the FDA, fewer than half of Americans - 43% - told a Gallup Poll that birth control pills could be used safely without danger to a person’s health. That number has risen to 64% today.
--A majority of women (54%) do not think most men would take birth control pills if they were available. In contrast, two-thirds of men think most men would take the pill if it were available.
Poll story on CBSNEWS.COM
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/07/health/main6468828.shtml
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
