Signs the economy is bad: September 29, 2017

Welcome to another edition of "Signs the Economy is Bad" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is the semi-regular (as in when I have time and/or feel like doing it) feature where I scour the Internet in search of the oh so subtle hints that the economy is bad. Sure, pundits may say things are getting better, but what do they know? And to show not all is bad, once in a while we look at how good the uber rich have it.

 I was going to take a short break from doing this feature, mostly because I am trying to keep my mental sanity. But much like Michael Corleone, "just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." A lot fuckery and many signs that the economy is bad have emerged this week, so here we are for at least one more installment.

• That racist troll asshole Milo Whatshisname was going to be part of some bigots' hate fest free speech rally at Berkeley recently. The organizers cancelled the event, but he decided to show up anyhow. Being the firebrand (sorry for the euphemism) he is, the campus had to have additional security, and for the 15 minutes he was there, he left a cost of $800,000. $800K for a campus experiencing budget cuts overall in the bad economy. The cost of "free speech." Story via Al Jazeera. 
• A new study is out confirming what many of us already know: yes, corporate money does influence politics. Learn more from this story via In These Times. A link to the actual study is included. Once more I am reminded of George Carlin speaking on the "real owners." 
• While some people are whining over football players protesting racial inequality, game fans in New England had another issue to complain about: the stadium ran out of bottled water and began charging $5 bucks for tap water (yes, for the stuff that should be free). Story via The Lexington Herald Leader. 
• In news of the stupid, Rapper B.o.B. believes the Earth is flat. Now, that is not the stupidest thing. That would be the fund raiser he has going to fund a satellite to launch into space in an attempt to prove his laughable ignorant stupidity. Want even more stupid? He has a few other "celebrities" who support his belief. Story via The Lexington Herald Leader. 
• In new opportunities, you can now get a degree in Marijuana Studies (it is actually in medicinal plant chemistry, but you get the idea). Story via Big Think.  
• The plight of exploited adjunct professors is in the spotlight again as new revelations show many are so poor and vulnerable they sleep in their cars and even turn to sex work to make ends meet. Story via Alternet.
• Meanwhile, in Stony Brook, New York it seems they are balancing the university budget by cutting back tenure lines and laying off tenure line professors in humanities. Meanwhile, they are adding tenure track folks in STEM. You know, that whole do what the market tells you to do thing. Story via Inside Higher Ed. I bet these people would get along with Kentucky governor Matt Bevin just fine. 
• Meanwhile, rural students are the least likely in the United States to go to college. Story via The Rural Blog. 
• Meanwhile, textbook prices often mean poor grades for those who cannot afford them. Story via Inside Higher Ed.
• I have often said in half jest that librarianship, especially reference work, is a lot like being a confessor. However, I did not mean I wanted to take poverty vows, as the Annoyed Librarian suggests that our profession seems to advocate. 
• Here is more proof that women often get the short end of the stick in the bad economy. Turns out even parents are sexist as they tend to save more for college for a son versus for a daughter. Story via Inside Higher Ed. 
• And what can we blame Millennials for this week? Actually, this week it is more how badly screwed Millennials are. The next hot trend for them is seasonal work in exploitative warehouses like those owned by Amazon. Story via VICE. 
• Plus, as if things were not bad enough, finding decent coffee may get more difficult over time. Story via VICE. 

Meanwhile, let's see how the uber rich have been doing:

• American seniors are getting healthier and richer while they leave the poor behind. Story via The Conversation. 
• Ever wonder how Walmart makes money by pricing things like milk and eggs at very cheap prices? This small video explains it. Via Wimp.com.
• The asshole CEO of Equifax recently resigned after it was revealed his company was hacked and made a ton of people suddenly vulnerable in terms of credit and finances. Naturally, because this is the United States, he not only was allowed to resign instead of going to prison like any other racketeer would, but he also left with a $90 million dollars golden parachute. Story via Boing Boing. 
• Apple is releasing the new iPhone X, and it is apparently a bit steep in price at close to $1,000. Apple's Tim Cook has an answer to people concerned about the price. Shut up and stop whining. Story via  Mashable.