2010-03-22
Unemployment Levels - An Eye Opening Animation
I stumbled upon some interesting statistics for the US during a "class" I attended today (part of a set of "classes" I'm required to take for aid during my unemployment which began February 17th, 2010).
It shows, by months, the unemployment levels in the US starting in January 2007 and moving forward. It's obviously an "overview" and does not give any detail by job type, ethnicity, gender, etc... but it does give a sobering look at what's been happening for the past few years.
The original Flash animation is found here, while there is a YouTube link to a copy that is faster to load and watch, but at the time of this posting, is only through December of 2009.
I've been theorizing for years that, as technology advances, and as population increases, we will need less and less employed individuals to service "everyone". I wonder what the "final unemployment numbers" will be once everything has settled. Will they be even higher than they are now? Lower? Hmm.
It shows, by months, the unemployment levels in the US starting in January 2007 and moving forward. It's obviously an "overview" and does not give any detail by job type, ethnicity, gender, etc... but it does give a sobering look at what's been happening for the past few years.
The original Flash animation is found here, while there is a YouTube link to a copy that is faster to load and watch, but at the time of this posting, is only through December of 2009.
I've been theorizing for years that, as technology advances, and as population increases, we will need less and less employed individuals to service "everyone". I wonder what the "final unemployment numbers" will be once everything has settled. Will they be even higher than they are now? Lower? Hmm.
2010-03-16
Time To Delete MySpace?
A story today on Slashdot makes me think it's finally time to just shut down the MySpace account that I have (plus those that I host for local schools). The story links to more information about the fact that MySpace is now planning on selling data on it's users to agencies that want it. It's not exactly a new practice, but it's enough for me to think I may be done checking for messages that I very rarely get there any more.
I'm far more interested in William Shatner's new MyOuterSpace.com website anyway.
I'm far more interested in William Shatner's new MyOuterSpace.com website anyway.
2010-03-14
Daniella Turns 21
March 14, 1989. My first child is born. She's about six weeks early (all of my kids were early to varying degrees). She's barely a football in my arms. I'm about 10 minutes late to her birth thanks to traffic on the 10 Freeway as I race from Pomona to Monterey Park.
She's the first born Malena child, "One of Four" for those who are Borg-inclined. One of the "Mighty Four". She is also a fast learner, and even at an early age, starts establishing patterns of behaviour that you can see in her for many years to come. She loves swinging, to skate, and helping her sister and brothers like a big sister should.
Her every accomplishment is something she proudly displays and shares. She knows she can do just about anything, and she's ready to prove it at any time. Teachers love her. She spends her early years in one bedroom with her siblings in "those bunk beds". She tends to feel like she has to take control to make sure some things get done right (not sure where she got that from....).
Middle school comes and she's playing the trombone. She smiles a lot and is coming into her own, becoming a true band-geek and doing well in school. She has a few pet peeves, and could do without a couple teachers, but she survives 6th, 7th and 8th grade and a brand new middle school, not to mention two moves of the family (to our first house, then to our own home)
Boys start catching her eye. You'd never be able to find consistency in those she ends up liking, so I gave up trying to figure out what "her type" was. She doesn't really date until she meets a young man who she is still very close to even today. She's an uber band geek while at Spruce Creek High. She finished high school, and life after high school hits like a brick. Some time is spent away from home briefly. She starts working, eventually making her way to management at local restaurants. A car, another car, lots of rims, stereos, and eventually a car wreck (as a passenger) that comes very close to killing my baby girl (19 years old, almost 6 feet tall, very mature looking... my baby girl).
Now she's 21. "Legal". She's an adult "in every way" as far as the law is concerned. How can that be? She was just born a little while ago... wasn't she?
My little girl is all grown up. She's becoming a CNA. She has her own money and her own plans with her own friends. I love her, she loves me.. but she's moving on. It's very... hard to take. But at the same time, it's what happens, and as much as I will miss her when she ends up on her own (soon, too soon?), I also can be happy that I have a lifetime of memories with her. The good, the odd, the weird, the uncomfortable, and even the "bad". It's all been a learning journey. She'll always be my first-born, my little football, Danigurrrl, Mighty 1 of 4, that wench, that beautiful woman, the "male version of me", the entity who stole my heart on March 14, 1989.
She's the first born Malena child, "One of Four" for those who are Borg-inclined. One of the "Mighty Four". She is also a fast learner, and even at an early age, starts establishing patterns of behaviour that you can see in her for many years to come. She loves swinging, to skate, and helping her sister and brothers like a big sister should.
Her every accomplishment is something she proudly displays and shares. She knows she can do just about anything, and she's ready to prove it at any time. Teachers love her. She spends her early years in one bedroom with her siblings in "those bunk beds". She tends to feel like she has to take control to make sure some things get done right (not sure where she got that from....).
Middle school comes and she's playing the trombone. She smiles a lot and is coming into her own, becoming a true band-geek and doing well in school. She has a few pet peeves, and could do without a couple teachers, but she survives 6th, 7th and 8th grade and a brand new middle school, not to mention two moves of the family (to our first house, then to our own home)
Boys start catching her eye. You'd never be able to find consistency in those she ends up liking, so I gave up trying to figure out what "her type" was. She doesn't really date until she meets a young man who she is still very close to even today. She's an uber band geek while at Spruce Creek High. She finished high school, and life after high school hits like a brick. Some time is spent away from home briefly. She starts working, eventually making her way to management at local restaurants. A car, another car, lots of rims, stereos, and eventually a car wreck (as a passenger) that comes very close to killing my baby girl (19 years old, almost 6 feet tall, very mature looking... my baby girl).
Now she's 21. "Legal". She's an adult "in every way" as far as the law is concerned. How can that be? She was just born a little while ago... wasn't she?
My little girl is all grown up. She's becoming a CNA. She has her own money and her own plans with her own friends. I love her, she loves me.. but she's moving on. It's very... hard to take. But at the same time, it's what happens, and as much as I will miss her when she ends up on her own (soon, too soon?), I also can be happy that I have a lifetime of memories with her. The good, the odd, the weird, the uncomfortable, and even the "bad". It's all been a learning journey. She'll always be my first-born, my little football, Danigurrrl, Mighty 1 of 4, that wench, that beautiful woman, the "male version of me", the entity who stole my heart on March 14, 1989.
I love you, Dani.
2010-03-09
Religious Zealots Promoting "God's Hate"
Hate.
Why would any church want to promote such a thing? How can any group feel that promoting such horrific ideas will either (a) uplift a benevolent God, (b) unify people for a "good cause", or (c) allow families to grieve for their dead children who are defending "the American ideal"?
Please note the well-informed,highly intelligent, proud CHILDREN holding the signs in this particular case. Thank goodness they have the right to choose to be part of this "noble cause", eh? (somebody smack their parents, very hard, please...) Sad.
I'm shocked we haven't heard that this "church" has been destroyed, burned down or otherwise obliterated from the face of the planet. I know that some feel that America and/or the Catholic Church and/or any number of other labeled groups are "the great Whore" or "Babylon" or whatever other hateful names people have come up with, whether through a book that people claim is "without error" (the bible), through appointed pastors and priests, or just through hear-say that gets blown out of proportion. And of course, we have "freedom of speech" here in America (which I'm enjoying right now by posting rhis, right?). But just as bad as any Nazi proclaiming "purity reasons" for murdering untold numbers of people is repugnant, this makes me utterly sick.
It's no better than racism, hating "homos", or even something as simple as southerners versus westerners or blonds and brunettes. This is a good example of why I choose to be labeled an "Agnostic Theist" (and one I think my father probably would have shared if he'd cared enough to label himself while he was alive). I have never felt "organized" (hah) religion was a good thing. And though I will certainly not hold "all religions" responsible for this one idiotic Baptist group, I am thoroughly disgusted as a Christian and a person who chose to be "Baptist" in my formative years to have any association, present or past, with a group promoting this. Perhaps someone should show up at their loved ones' funerals and hold up signs that will upset them, cause them more pain, and generally promote hate and disdain. It's free speech, after all... right?
When did God start *hating*? Someone's verrrrry confused. No wonder so many people hate "organized religion". :-( How can we spread any message of God's love when things like this are happening? This is surely a more public display, but it's something that happens everywhere. It's not just "an opinion". It's the active spreading of ideas that get planted into people's heads, especially impressionable young people, which cause ongoing strife and intolerance. (oops, I used a word that I know many religious leaders hate - "tolerance")
I look forward to the day when we are enlightened. Unfortunately, we have to wait until we "pass on" (go to the next plane of existence, or as it's known more simply... DIE) to gain this knowledge. Right? (sigh) And, if I need to say it... I'm not a homosexual (or black, or Jewish, or handicapped, or part of an organized religion any longer - just an average Sicilian-American).
Why would any church want to promote such a thing? How can any group feel that promoting such horrific ideas will either (a) uplift a benevolent God, (b) unify people for a "good cause", or (c) allow families to grieve for their dead children who are defending "the American ideal"?
Please note the well-informed,highly intelligent, proud CHILDREN holding the signs in this particular case. Thank goodness they have the right to choose to be part of this "noble cause", eh? (somebody smack their parents, very hard, please...) Sad.
I'm shocked we haven't heard that this "church" has been destroyed, burned down or otherwise obliterated from the face of the planet. I know that some feel that America and/or the Catholic Church and/or any number of other labeled groups are "the great Whore" or "Babylon" or whatever other hateful names people have come up with, whether through a book that people claim is "without error" (the bible), through appointed pastors and priests, or just through hear-say that gets blown out of proportion. And of course, we have "freedom of speech" here in America (which I'm enjoying right now by posting rhis, right?). But just as bad as any Nazi proclaiming "purity reasons" for murdering untold numbers of people is repugnant, this makes me utterly sick.
It's no better than racism, hating "homos", or even something as simple as southerners versus westerners or blonds and brunettes. This is a good example of why I choose to be labeled an "Agnostic Theist" (and one I think my father probably would have shared if he'd cared enough to label himself while he was alive). I have never felt "organized" (hah) religion was a good thing. And though I will certainly not hold "all religions" responsible for this one idiotic Baptist group, I am thoroughly disgusted as a Christian and a person who chose to be "Baptist" in my formative years to have any association, present or past, with a group promoting this. Perhaps someone should show up at their loved ones' funerals and hold up signs that will upset them, cause them more pain, and generally promote hate and disdain. It's free speech, after all... right?
When did God start *hating*? Someone's verrrrry confused. No wonder so many people hate "organized religion". :-( How can we spread any message of God's love when things like this are happening? This is surely a more public display, but it's something that happens everywhere. It's not just "an opinion". It's the active spreading of ideas that get planted into people's heads, especially impressionable young people, which cause ongoing strife and intolerance. (oops, I used a word that I know many religious leaders hate - "tolerance")
I look forward to the day when we are enlightened. Unfortunately, we have to wait until we "pass on" (go to the next plane of existence, or as it's known more simply... DIE) to gain this knowledge. Right? (sigh) And, if I need to say it... I'm not a homosexual (or black, or Jewish, or handicapped, or part of an organized religion any longer - just an average Sicilian-American).
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