Showing posts with label Pop Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pop Culture. Show all posts
12/4/17
People Are Stupid
Perhaps a bit heavy on the Christian WWJD stuff, but a solid monologue about the current state of our society and hyper-partisan politics.
6/9/17
"Mahk" Destroys Millenials
This is one of the funniest videos I've seen in quite a while.
If you're not familiar with this YouTube video series, this guy plays a based Boston working class guy named Mark, or pronounced in the Boston accent - Mahk. Mahk is inserted into commercials, mainly from Chevy, and he plays a real life participant who tells it like it is.
This episode had me rolling. Mahk destroys Millenials and Hipster culture.
Subscribe to this guy's YouTube channel: Zebra Corner Updates are infrequent because of the production values involved in the videos, but it's worth the wait.
1/9/17
Some Unsolicited Advice To President Trump
I'm watching my Twitter feed this morning and I'm seeing all the fallout over Meryl Streep who used her acceptance speech at the Golden Globe Awards last night as a soap box to bash Donald Trump. Soon after, PEOTUS Trump took to twitter and issued a tweet insulting Meryl Streep.
By now we all know that Trump is very thin skinned regarding criticism, especially what he considers "unfair attacks" on him. He uses Twitter as his outlet for his retorts. If you're famous enough and you insult Trump, you'll get a personal reply.
I think that's a problem. He's going to be the President Of The United States for God's sake. He should at least act like he has some class.
So, here's my advice:
Mr. President
In my opinion, the best response you can give to all the idiots and assholes out there who criticize, insult, and bait you is to just concentrate on the job at hand. Be a great President. Get the country back on track again. Get illegal immigration under control. Fight terrorism effectively. Get the economy rolling again.
In short, the best way to shut these people up is to put down the smartphone and prove them wrong by actually making America great again.
By now we all know that Trump is very thin skinned regarding criticism, especially what he considers "unfair attacks" on him. He uses Twitter as his outlet for his retorts. If you're famous enough and you insult Trump, you'll get a personal reply.
I think that's a problem. He's going to be the President Of The United States for God's sake. He should at least act like he has some class.
So, here's my advice:
Mr. President
In my opinion, the best response you can give to all the idiots and assholes out there who criticize, insult, and bait you is to just concentrate on the job at hand. Be a great President. Get the country back on track again. Get illegal immigration under control. Fight terrorism effectively. Get the economy rolling again.
In short, the best way to shut these people up is to put down the smartphone and prove them wrong by actually making America great again.
11/29/16
Why The "Fight For $15" Is Idiotic And Self Defeating.
I was watching the news this evening and I saw the story of airport baggage handlers in Chicago who are striking to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Apparently most baggage handlers make minimum wage which is around $10 in Chicago.
This strike in Chicago is just the latest in a nation wide movement to establish a national minimum wage of $15 per hour.
The main supporting arguments I hear from mostly liberal pundits on news programs seem to revolve around the assumption that people with minimum wage jobs are somehow trapped in those jobs and deserve to earn what they call a "living wage". They say things like you can't pay the rent, own a decent car, or raise a family on minimum wage. My immediate reaction to this is "Well yeah, no shit! It's MINIMUM wage, moron!"
I have to ask, who told these people that minimum wage jobs were a career path? Who is telling the this is the best they can do in our society? This is the best you're gonna do, so make the best of it.
Minimum wage jobs, for the most part, are meant to be stepping stones- the first rung on the ladder up. They are meant for people with few or no skills to gain work experience, learn new skills, prove you can show up on time and be a good employee. Then logically, you move up and on to new and better things. That's why they are often referred to as "entry level jobs".
Of course there are some people who just don't have the capacity (mental, physical, emotional) to move beyond these jobs, but those are the very few. Most can and should view these jobs as paying your dues, so to speak. A place where you start building your resume.
But somehow in our society many people seem to have lost ambition. They just want to go to work at a job that isn't very demanding physically or mentally, put in their 8 hours and go home to watch TV, play video games, get high, and wait for their lottery numbers to hit. They have come to see these entry level jobs as their lot in life. They can't get rich being a superstar athlete or musician, so may as well just put it in neutral and coast down the hill.
As the entitlement mentality gains stronger hold over our younger generations, those in these "McJobs" fall for the notion that the government should be responsible for ensuring their economic prosperity through minimum wages. The attitude is "Well I work. I'm not a bum on welfare. So, I should have all the things I want." Somehow $15 an hour has been settled upon as the answer to all their problems.
The truth is $15 an hour for most of these entry level jobs is just not reasonable to expect.
First of all, the free market should be the main determinant of wages. Society places a natural value on certain work. All jobs are not the same. They don't require the same skill set, experience level, or ability.
Also, a single national minimum wage does not take into account the wide variation in the cost of living and local economies around the country. For example, $15 an hour for someone in Manhattan or San Francisco is chump change, while for someone in rural Tennessee it may be higher than the prevailing wage for highly skilled positions like nurses and teachers. One size does not fit all.
By setting a minimum wage, you screw with the natural balance of the free market and incur many unintended consequences.
Minimum wage laws actually end up screwing many members of society. Young people for example.
Youth unemployment is at record highs. Kids in high school who want jobs can't find them. The traditional entry level jobs in fast food, retail, etc. are being filled by adults who have settled for these jobs because in part, the minimum wage is just enough to attract them.
Employers offering these jobs will naturally give them to older people who have been proven to be more reliable versus a kid with no employment history. Since they have to pay more than the market would naturally dictate, employers will go with the less risky option of an older person. They will also hire those who they think will work harder for less. That means immigrants- both legal and illegal. So, it's not only kids getting screwed, but also native born Americans who have the attitude that their labor is worth more than it is.
Some unintended consequences- more unemployed young people with too much time on their hands and no money= increased crime, increased numbers on the welfare roles. Also, more young people will feel the need to pursue higher education levels to increase their employment potential. Less young people will gain the job experience they need to move into skilled labor and trades creating a shortage of people who can compete in those 'blue collar' jobs. More young people graduating from colleges create a glut of over educated young people competing for a limited number of entry level 'white collar' jobs resulting in even more unemployed with many also saddled with crippling student loan debt.
Another consideration is that when faced with rising labor costs, employers will undoubtedly look to reduce those costs through automation and increased efficiency- eliminating positions wherever possible. Just look around and you'll see many examples of this. Computers and robots don't need health insurance, vacations, lunch breaks, or workman's comp coverage. The result is those who do still have jobs will be expected to do more for their pay.
To a certain extent, those pushing for an increased minimum wage are pricing themselves out of a job.
This strike in Chicago is just the latest in a nation wide movement to establish a national minimum wage of $15 per hour.
The main supporting arguments I hear from mostly liberal pundits on news programs seem to revolve around the assumption that people with minimum wage jobs are somehow trapped in those jobs and deserve to earn what they call a "living wage". They say things like you can't pay the rent, own a decent car, or raise a family on minimum wage. My immediate reaction to this is "Well yeah, no shit! It's MINIMUM wage, moron!"
I have to ask, who told these people that minimum wage jobs were a career path? Who is telling the this is the best they can do in our society? This is the best you're gonna do, so make the best of it.
Minimum wage jobs, for the most part, are meant to be stepping stones- the first rung on the ladder up. They are meant for people with few or no skills to gain work experience, learn new skills, prove you can show up on time and be a good employee. Then logically, you move up and on to new and better things. That's why they are often referred to as "entry level jobs".
Of course there are some people who just don't have the capacity (mental, physical, emotional) to move beyond these jobs, but those are the very few. Most can and should view these jobs as paying your dues, so to speak. A place where you start building your resume.
But somehow in our society many people seem to have lost ambition. They just want to go to work at a job that isn't very demanding physically or mentally, put in their 8 hours and go home to watch TV, play video games, get high, and wait for their lottery numbers to hit. They have come to see these entry level jobs as their lot in life. They can't get rich being a superstar athlete or musician, so may as well just put it in neutral and coast down the hill.
As the entitlement mentality gains stronger hold over our younger generations, those in these "McJobs" fall for the notion that the government should be responsible for ensuring their economic prosperity through minimum wages. The attitude is "Well I work. I'm not a bum on welfare. So, I should have all the things I want." Somehow $15 an hour has been settled upon as the answer to all their problems.
 |
| The 'Fight' And It's Unintended Consequences |
First of all, the free market should be the main determinant of wages. Society places a natural value on certain work. All jobs are not the same. They don't require the same skill set, experience level, or ability.
Also, a single national minimum wage does not take into account the wide variation in the cost of living and local economies around the country. For example, $15 an hour for someone in Manhattan or San Francisco is chump change, while for someone in rural Tennessee it may be higher than the prevailing wage for highly skilled positions like nurses and teachers. One size does not fit all.
By setting a minimum wage, you screw with the natural balance of the free market and incur many unintended consequences.
Minimum wage laws actually end up screwing many members of society. Young people for example.
Youth unemployment is at record highs. Kids in high school who want jobs can't find them. The traditional entry level jobs in fast food, retail, etc. are being filled by adults who have settled for these jobs because in part, the minimum wage is just enough to attract them.
Employers offering these jobs will naturally give them to older people who have been proven to be more reliable versus a kid with no employment history. Since they have to pay more than the market would naturally dictate, employers will go with the less risky option of an older person. They will also hire those who they think will work harder for less. That means immigrants- both legal and illegal. So, it's not only kids getting screwed, but also native born Americans who have the attitude that their labor is worth more than it is.
Some unintended consequences- more unemployed young people with too much time on their hands and no money= increased crime, increased numbers on the welfare roles. Also, more young people will feel the need to pursue higher education levels to increase their employment potential. Less young people will gain the job experience they need to move into skilled labor and trades creating a shortage of people who can compete in those 'blue collar' jobs. More young people graduating from colleges create a glut of over educated young people competing for a limited number of entry level 'white collar' jobs resulting in even more unemployed with many also saddled with crippling student loan debt.
Another consideration is that when faced with rising labor costs, employers will undoubtedly look to reduce those costs through automation and increased efficiency- eliminating positions wherever possible. Just look around and you'll see many examples of this. Computers and robots don't need health insurance, vacations, lunch breaks, or workman's comp coverage. The result is those who do still have jobs will be expected to do more for their pay.
To a certain extent, those pushing for an increased minimum wage are pricing themselves out of a job.
8/30/16
The Colin Kaepernick Contorversey - My Two Cents
I'm not going to go too in depth here as I don't think Colin Kaepernick is worth that much of my time. I just want to make a few points.
First is that Colin Kaepernick has every right under our First Amendment to say what he wants and protest as he wishes. Apparently the NFL has no problem with his sit down protest, it's not against their rules, and it sounds like the SF 49er's are OK with it as well. They issued a statement saying so. Also, Kaepernick is not alone in his feelings. Lots of other (mainly Black) NFL players have come out in support of him.
That all said, I personally think Colin Kaepernick is an ignoramus and a world class asshole. His whole protest is based on a false premise, the widely discredited assumption that the police forces in America are full of overtly racist officers who are hunting down young Black men in the streets and assassinating them with impunity. This is absolute nonsense that has been repeated so often by the media and Black community leaders that a large number of the Black (and white) community believe it to be true. Colin Kaepernick is possibly stupid, but definitely ignorant if he believes it.
As for his choice to protest over what he believes, as I said, he definitely has that right. But the choices we make have consequences. By protesting in the manner he has chosen and the anti patriotic statements he has made, he has insulted a large portion of the population. He seems to know this and simply does not care.
In my opinion, I think the answer is simple. If Kaepernick has offended you, take action by not supporting him. Don't go to 49er's games as long as he is on the team. Don't buy 49er's merchandise. Don't patronize anyone who sponsors him. He will go away and fade into oblivion soon enough. He's a sub par quarterback who the 49er's couldn't even trade off over the summer. He's simply not worth any more time or media attention.
First is that Colin Kaepernick has every right under our First Amendment to say what he wants and protest as he wishes. Apparently the NFL has no problem with his sit down protest, it's not against their rules, and it sounds like the SF 49er's are OK with it as well. They issued a statement saying so. Also, Kaepernick is not alone in his feelings. Lots of other (mainly Black) NFL players have come out in support of him.
That all said, I personally think Colin Kaepernick is an ignoramus and a world class asshole. His whole protest is based on a false premise, the widely discredited assumption that the police forces in America are full of overtly racist officers who are hunting down young Black men in the streets and assassinating them with impunity. This is absolute nonsense that has been repeated so often by the media and Black community leaders that a large number of the Black (and white) community believe it to be true. Colin Kaepernick is possibly stupid, but definitely ignorant if he believes it.
As for his choice to protest over what he believes, as I said, he definitely has that right. But the choices we make have consequences. By protesting in the manner he has chosen and the anti patriotic statements he has made, he has insulted a large portion of the population. He seems to know this and simply does not care.
In my opinion, I think the answer is simple. If Kaepernick has offended you, take action by not supporting him. Don't go to 49er's games as long as he is on the team. Don't buy 49er's merchandise. Don't patronize anyone who sponsors him. He will go away and fade into oblivion soon enough. He's a sub par quarterback who the 49er's couldn't even trade off over the summer. He's simply not worth any more time or media attention.
 |
| Colin Kaepernick and his adopted parents |
Just one more personal note- Colin Kaepernick is mixed race. His biological mother is white and his father is black. His father just split before he was born like too many Black men do after they father a child. His mother gave him up for adoption as she was only 19 at the time. He was adopted into a middle class white family ad raised in a loving home among whites in white neighborhoods and white schools. He's taken those opportunities and made himself millions. Now Colin talks about 'his people' and 'The Struggle'. He rails against the injustices against Black people 'like him'. He is a disrespectful hypocrite- a self absorbed man-child not deserving of a fraction of the attention he's getting.
7/12/16
America- Land Of The Squeaky Wheel
In my opinion, America has become the land of the squeaky wheel.
Think about it. Everyone here bitches constantly, on a individual level and more importantly in groups. Why? Because technology has allowed anyone to have voice with a potentially world-wide reach. I have a blog that nobody reads (a couple of them actually). Anyone can post a video that can potentially reach hundreds of millions on YouTube. Anyone can send a message directly to the most powerful people in the world via Twitter and email, and actually get a response from them. People bitching loudly in groups can get even more attention. Our video and sound bite obsessed press is all too willing to put a camera and microphone in front of any group of more than 3 people with a crudely made sign and a well worn chant.
"No ( insert call for government action to correct a poorly articulated perceived social inequity here ), No Peace!"
The biggest goal of any group of professional whiners is to have a major party elected official or candidate to champion your cause publicly. The Democrats pander to groups like Black Lives Matter, La Raza, Occupy Wall Street, Code Pink, and the like, while the Republicans pander to Evangelical Christians, Pro Life, and Pro 2nd Amendment groups.
One of the newest squeaky wheel groups is one that Donald Trump is responsible for empowering- The Working Class White Male. They have been totally ignored in the past, but their support this election cycle has elevated Trump to the Republican presidential nomination.
Personally I'm getting sick of it all. I'm sick of all the bitching and complaining special little snowflakes out there. Get over yourselves.
Then again, I am "squeaking" about this on a blog- basically doing the opposite of what I'm preaching. Is that hypocritical?
2/16/16
Triumph Mocks PC Culture On Campus
Triumph the insult comic dog takes a piss on political correctness at the University Of New Hampshire.
Hilarious video.
I'm amazed that Robert Smigel (Triumph's puppeteer) got away with this. There must not have been any faculty handlers around to stop it. I'm also amazed all these kids stayed for the full treatment. As you can see, many of theme were clearly not amused.
12/19/15
Ladies- Enough With The Fucking Hair Buns Already!
Let's face it, it's hideous. Every time I see some relatively attractive woman with her hair done up in one of these ridiculous styles I can't help think back to an episode of the old TV show "King Of Queens" where the main female character "Carrie" starts wearing her hair up in a bun and everyone, including her husband, hates it but is afraid to tell her.
I ran across this a few days ago and decided this has to stop:
You get what I'm saying here? No wonder she looks so pissed off. It looks like a dog left a steaming 3 coiler on her head:
10/7/15
This fad of chicks with tons of tats
IMO this is just out of control. To me a tattoo on a beautiful woman is like taking a Sharpie and drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa. You’re defacing a work of art- the pristine female form.
The latest and worst twist on this fad I’m seeing more of lately is the text tats. You know, when a woman gets a phrase or whole passage from some book, poem, or song lyric she thinks is so profound and defines her in some way tattooed on her rib cage or back so you have to stop and try to “read” her.
Whenever I see a cute chick all covered in ink I wonder what she’s going to do in 20 or 30 years when her tight young skin is all loose and her tats look more like a Dali painting melting off her body and the paragraph of text no longer carries the same meaning.
I just don’t get it. Tats are forever ladies.
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