Except that there are two million Americans over the age of 25 making minimum wage or less* in this country. And the raises most people get after their trial periods are up are usually only fifty cents per hour, maybe a dollar if your trial period wage is $15/hr.
$7.25 or $8.50/hr, you're going to have a difficult time making ends meet.
That said, I totally agree with your sentiments that raising minimum wage again won't solve any problems, and that most people are fucking idiots and have no idea how to handle their money. Give those 'tards 50% more on the hour, and they'll still buy houses and cars they can't afford. The people living on near-minimum wage that can handle their money and would actually see an significant increase in quality-of-life are in the very small minority.
*Less is because of the $2.13/hr minimum wage for tipped employees, which hasn't been increased in 20 or so years.
My thoughts exactly. For retail, $12/hour is a fucking steal. I ran into my old boss from Lowe's a few months ago, and he wanted to bring me back on part-time to cover the end of the night, doing the same thing I did during my early undergrad years, a CSR in flooring. With five years of experience, a good enough reputation that he wanted me back, and desperation to fill the spot so he didn't have to be a salary slave, he still couldn't guarantee me more than $10/hr.
I disagree with your assessment. Outside of the alpha cities and a few other bizarre locales like parts of Arizona, the large majority of America is perfectly suited for a single person living on $25K a year, as long as one doesn't have to pay off school loans. The midwest, the south, the flyover states, most of New England, you can have a 1-bedroom apartment for $600 a month without any problem, and many places are even cheaper than that. That's less than the 1/3 of income that every money-management advisor recommends as the maximum amount of income to spend on housing. That leaves you $1200-1300 per month after taxes to spend on food, gas, clothing, a modest car payment, entertainment, and the occasional medical bill (assuming you have insurance). If you don't have insurance, then you're probably fucked even if you make $20/hr.
Australia also didn't spend ten billion dollars bailing out Wall Street and a defective auto industry and have to finance three wars on foreign soil. Our problems go a lot deeper than just minimum wage.
Except that the teenager living in Mom's basement isn't working 40 hours/week, and so isn't hitting the gross annual income that the living wage hourly pay rate is based on.
And the teenagers that need job experience typically take the same jobs that the people who need the living wage do - fry cook, server, whatever joe jobs you can get without a high school diploma. To deny teenagers that hourly wage while giving it to full-time employees would be age discrimination.
I don't know about cheap. I'm looking for a new place to live around Cincinnati, and I can't find a two-bedroom apartment anywhere near my job or school that's much under $800, unless I don't mind replacing my car windows once a month.
I know it's cheap compared to Chicago or NYC or Arizona, but considering the same apartments cost only $600/month three years ago, that's a pretty significant increase.
Yeah, that's pretty much what the situation was. The ad stated that it was a Mazda 626 that had been owned by a smoker before me, had a falling roof liner and a few rust spots. Had six or seven photos posted, including one of the engine compartment. I listed the things I had replaced recently, including both sets of brakes and the tires. I had the mileage, the trim style, and the options listed (sunroof, power locks, that kind of stuff).
As an example, a level of detail similar to this ad. I will admit, I didn't think to state explicitly that the vehicle ran, because I just thought that was assumed for a non-collectible car listed at $1500. Clearly this was an oversight on my part. But it probably wouldn't have mattered, because 3/4s of the calls I received asked me questions that were stated both in the title and the ad itself, like the mileage or the year. I honestly don't understand how those troglodytes were able to extract my phone number from the ad without any other relevant bits of data whatsoever.
Rednecks. Put an ad up for a used car, and you won't believe the shit you see.
I had an old beater up a few years ago, I'd been offered $800 in trade, but thought I could do better selling it myself. After a week of dealing with CL people, I just scrapped it for $300 - it was worth the loss just to not have to deal with them anymore.
Seriously, who emails asking if the car has a fucking engine? Is that a factoid that is typically omitted as a sales tactic or something?
Whether or not it's about copyright, the fact of the matter is that the PadMapper guy probably couldn't afford a lawyer even if he was in the right, so he just bowed out.
Why? Not only will they likely discover it anyway, but it is highly unlikely they'll be hurt by it. In fact, I've seen no evidence to reach such a conclusion.
I've seen no evidence to support your conclusion that it's unlikely they'll be hurt by it. So we're even there.
I have no intention of exposing my children to Goatse. Sure, they might not be hurt by it, but I would hypothesize it's even more unlikely that they will be hurt by the lack of hardcore pornography. So I'll play it safe (well, as safe as I can), and not have big gaping assholes as my screen saver just to show that I'm somehow more "enlightened" than the people that filter what their children are exposed to.
From Merriam-Webster: "3a : characterized by punctilious respect for form : methodical "
That's the definition to which I was referring.
And I'm finishing up my PhD in materials chemistry, so yes, it's fully-educated chemists, biologists, and engineers with whom I interact, that enjoy formality. It's funny, when working, we absolutely abhor formality, and shortcut everything left and right, but as soon as it comes down to any kind of written work or public speaking, our words and phrases have more syllables than OctoMom has diapers to change. I can't explain my colleagues' justifications, but for me it's often a game, to see how well I can obfuscate the meaning of a sentence while still maintaining proper grammatical form.
As to autistics, they often get very upset without a formal structure/schedule, and tend to refer to things with complete use of their names.
You probably aren't a parent. Most people here hold your view (as I did) until they have little ones to protect, then decide that the educational opportunity offered by/b/tards and Goatse is pretty much zero, and decide to restrict educational opportunity to the books available at home and in the library.
Terahertz wave scanners, while perhaps dry it's the correct technical term and due to a number of reasons humans absolutely love formality, even more so if they are in any station associated with power.
What planet are you from? Most humans HATE formality, it's only scientists, autistics, and a couple of other weirdos that like it.
How many times have you heard your dad ask your mom to move her "2.0L 2005 Honda Accord ES sedan" out of the driveway so he can pressure-wash the concrete?
How many times did you ask your parents if you could play your "Nintendo Entertainment System" for half an hour after your nightly bath?
Do you send a text to your girlfriend to tell her you will be late because "Interstate 675" is backed up, or because "675" or "the beltway" or "the highway" is backed up?
How many times have you heard President Obama announced as "President Barack Hussein Obama II," or Dubya as "President George Herbert Walker Bush?"
No, people hate formality - it takes too goddamn long. Hence, "body scanners" or "nude scanners" over "full-body terahertz wave scanners." And "nude scanners" just helps to differentiate from a walk-through metal detector, since that is also a "body scanner."
I was going to say the same thing. And if a tesla coil is too pedestrian, there are plenty of other "macro-scale" electrical projects to build, like quarter shrinkers or Marx bank capacitor set-ups for crushing cans. Check out 4HV and the Geek Group for ideas and communities to bounce other ideas off of.
They aren't going to be as good at it as the professionals, but at worst they accomplish nothing except have a little fun, and at best they add something to the scientific knowledge of humanity.
Well, at worst their amateurishly-cultivated strain of HIV ("obtained" from a lady in Vegas) mutates into some airborne ultrapotent strain in its beaker in the garage, until the cat knocks it over, licks it up, and proceeds to spread it throughout the neighborhood, bringing the completely downfall of humankind.
Slashdot Mirror
Except that there are two million Americans over the age of 25 making minimum wage or less* in this country. And the raises most people get after their trial periods are up are usually only fifty cents per hour, maybe a dollar if your trial period wage is $15/hr.
$7.25 or $8.50/hr, you're going to have a difficult time making ends meet.
That said, I totally agree with your sentiments that raising minimum wage again won't solve any problems, and that most people are fucking idiots and have no idea how to handle their money. Give those 'tards 50% more on the hour, and they'll still buy houses and cars they can't afford. The people living on near-minimum wage that can handle their money and would actually see an significant increase in quality-of-life are in the very small minority.
*Less is because of the $2.13/hr minimum wage for tipped employees, which hasn't been increased in 20 or so years.
My thoughts exactly. For retail, $12/hour is a fucking steal. I ran into my old boss from Lowe's a few months ago, and he wanted to bring me back on part-time to cover the end of the night, doing the same thing I did during my early undergrad years, a CSR in flooring. With five years of experience, a good enough reputation that he wanted me back, and desperation to fill the spot so he didn't have to be a salary slave, he still couldn't guarantee me more than $10/hr.
So since crime has been dropping in the US since 1990, that means we're closer to having a true living wage than we have been in 20 years?
I disagree with your assessment. Outside of the alpha cities and a few other bizarre locales like parts of Arizona, the large majority of America is perfectly suited for a single person living on $25K a year, as long as one doesn't have to pay off school loans. The midwest, the south, the flyover states, most of New England, you can have a 1-bedroom apartment for $600 a month without any problem, and many places are even cheaper than that. That's less than the 1/3 of income that every money-management advisor recommends as the maximum amount of income to spend on housing. That leaves you $1200-1300 per month after taxes to spend on food, gas, clothing, a modest car payment, entertainment, and the occasional medical bill (assuming you have insurance). If you don't have insurance, then you're probably fucked even if you make $20/hr.
Whoops. That was supposed to be 'trillion.'
Too many zeros for my poor little public-schooled brain to handle.
Australia also didn't spend ten billion dollars bailing out Wall Street and a defective auto industry and have to finance three wars on foreign soil. Our problems go a lot deeper than just minimum wage.
Except that the teenager living in Mom's basement isn't working 40 hours/week, and so isn't hitting the gross annual income that the living wage hourly pay rate is based on.
And the teenagers that need job experience typically take the same jobs that the people who need the living wage do - fry cook, server, whatever joe jobs you can get without a high school diploma. To deny teenagers that hourly wage while giving it to full-time employees would be age discrimination.
Except that having higher taxes tends to lower the cost of living, since you're getting things like working public transit and effective health care.
I don't know about cheap. I'm looking for a new place to live around Cincinnati, and I can't find a two-bedroom apartment anywhere near my job or school that's much under $800, unless I don't mind replacing my car windows once a month.
I know it's cheap compared to Chicago or NYC or Arizona, but considering the same apartments cost only $600/month three years ago, that's a pretty significant increase.
I work for an airline and get free flights, does that mean that airlines ass rape it's customers?
Hint: the answer's no.
Amusingly, this comes from a person who hasn't had to buy an airline ticket in years and gets to bypass getting felt up by TSA officials.
>LOL Wut? The PCs have been pretty much ahead of the curve compared to Apple on everything but shiny.
OK, pretty strong statement, let's see your proof.
Hmm. . . the fact that Apple has used x86 technology and software for the past ten years.
Yeah, that's pretty much what the situation was. The ad stated that it was a Mazda 626 that had been owned by a smoker before me, had a falling roof liner and a few rust spots. Had six or seven photos posted, including one of the engine compartment. I listed the things I had replaced recently, including both sets of brakes and the tires. I had the mileage, the trim style, and the options listed (sunroof, power locks, that kind of stuff).
As an example, a level of detail similar to this ad. I will admit, I didn't think to state explicitly that the vehicle ran, because I just thought that was assumed for a non-collectible car listed at $1500. Clearly this was an oversight on my part. But it probably wouldn't have mattered, because 3/4s of the calls I received asked me questions that were stated both in the title and the ad itself, like the mileage or the year. I honestly don't understand how those troglodytes were able to extract my phone number from the ad without any other relevant bits of data whatsoever.
Rednecks. Put an ad up for a used car, and you won't believe the shit you see.
I had an old beater up a few years ago, I'd been offered $800 in trade, but thought I could do better selling it myself. After a week of dealing with CL people, I just scrapped it for $300 - it was worth the loss just to not have to deal with them anymore.
Seriously, who emails asking if the car has a fucking engine? Is that a factoid that is typically omitted as a sales tactic or something?
Whether or not it's about copyright, the fact of the matter is that the PadMapper guy probably couldn't afford a lawyer even if he was in the right, so he just bowed out.
Why? Not only will they likely discover it anyway, but it is highly unlikely they'll be hurt by it. In fact, I've seen no evidence to reach such a conclusion.
I've seen no evidence to support your conclusion that it's unlikely they'll be hurt by it. So we're even there.
I have no intention of exposing my children to Goatse. Sure, they might not be hurt by it, but I would hypothesize it's even more unlikely that they will be hurt by the lack of hardcore pornography. So I'll play it safe (well, as safe as I can), and not have big gaping assholes as my screen saver just to show that I'm somehow more "enlightened" than the people that filter what their children are exposed to.
From Merriam-Webster:
"3a : characterized by punctilious respect for form : methodical "
That's the definition to which I was referring.
And I'm finishing up my PhD in materials chemistry, so yes, it's fully-educated chemists, biologists, and engineers with whom I interact, that enjoy formality. It's funny, when working, we absolutely abhor formality, and shortcut everything left and right, but as soon as it comes down to any kind of written work or public speaking, our words and phrases have more syllables than OctoMom has diapers to change. I can't explain my colleagues' justifications, but for me it's often a game, to see how well I can obfuscate the meaning of a sentence while still maintaining proper grammatical form.
As to autistics, they often get very upset without a formal structure/schedule, and tend to refer to things with complete use of their names.
And he definitely won't want it!
You probably aren't a parent. Most people here hold your view (as I did) until they have little ones to protect, then decide that the educational opportunity offered by /b/tards and Goatse is pretty much zero, and decide to restrict educational opportunity to the books available at home and in the library.
Terahertz wave scanners, while perhaps dry it's the correct technical term and due to a number of reasons humans absolutely love formality, even more so if they are in any station associated with power.
What planet are you from? Most humans HATE formality, it's only scientists, autistics, and a couple of other weirdos that like it.
How many times have you heard your dad ask your mom to move her "2.0L 2005 Honda Accord ES sedan" out of the driveway so he can pressure-wash the concrete?
How many times did you ask your parents if you could play your "Nintendo Entertainment System" for half an hour after your nightly bath?
Do you send a text to your girlfriend to tell her you will be late because "Interstate 675" is backed up, or because "675" or "the beltway" or "the highway" is backed up?
How many times have you heard President Obama announced as "President Barack Hussein Obama II," or Dubya as "President George Herbert Walker Bush?"
No, people hate formality - it takes too goddamn long. Hence, "body scanners" or "nude scanners" over "full-body terahertz wave scanners." And "nude scanners" just helps to differentiate from a walk-through metal detector, since that is also a "body scanner."
I was going to say the same thing. And if a tesla coil is too pedestrian, there are plenty of other "macro-scale" electrical projects to build, like quarter shrinkers or Marx bank capacitor set-ups for crushing cans. Check out 4HV and the Geek Group for ideas and communities to bounce other ideas off of.
They aren't going to be as good at it as the professionals, but at worst they accomplish nothing except have a little fun, and at best they add something to the scientific knowledge of humanity.
Well, at worst their amateurishly-cultivated strain of HIV ("obtained" from a lady in Vegas) mutates into some airborne ultrapotent strain in its beaker in the garage, until the cat knocks it over, licks it up, and proceeds to spread it throughout the neighborhood, bringing the completely downfall of humankind.
Man, cats are evil.
It's the income the government takes from you and disposes of.
Genesis is also clear that those first few "days" occurred before he created the sun, hence they weren't actually days at all.
Sorry, just got into a "discussion" with Jehovah's Witnesses at the door this morning about the Bible (not) being the literal word of God.
Or biophysics. Or quantum physics. Or mathematics. Reducto ab absurdum!
I enjoyed biochem a lot more than orgo, though.
I'm pretty sure that Conservapedia is edited by liberals with a sense of humor more often than actual right-wingers.