Signs the economy is bad: May 25, 2018 edition

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.

Welcome to the Memorial Day Weekend 2018 edition of "Signs the economy is bad." The summer season may starting. People may be heading out to the  beach, the lake, other destinations. The movie blockbusters are in theaters, and things may look good. However, the bad economy still continues, so here are the stories for this week.

• Given recent school shootings and other bad publicity, it is not always an easy time to be a gun maker. However, not many gun makers whine over people in social media saying "mean things" about them or their product. This one did just that. Via Mother Jones. Break out the little violin. 
• Because nothing good comes out of the Pendejo In Chief being president, it seems your beer may be next to suffer. Why? Because among the tariffs he is proposing are tariffs on aluminum. What are beer cans made out of? Aluminum, and a good amount of that material is imported. Story via Mother Jones. 
• Amazon keeps trying to find ways to diversify and make sales in new markets. Their latest endeavor? Trying to sell surveillance technology to law enforcement and selling people out. Story via Pacific Standard. 
• Under "it could not happen to a nicer guy" news, turns out George Zimmerman is broke and deep in debt to the tune of $2.5 million. Story via Kentucky.com. Again, break out the little violin. 
• Due to the bad economy, many adult children need to live with their parents. Most usually live in harmony. However, once in a while, an adult child overstays their welcome. Here is a case where the parents had to sue their 30-year old child to evict him out of the home. Story via VICE.
• Last week, there was another of those school shootings, this time in a Texas school. Among the dead was a substitute teacher. As if that was not bad enough, the surviving spouse of that teacher is now crowdfunding to get funds for his medical care. Story via VICE. This is an illustration of the kind of country we live in where Americans would rather let others die as long as they do not have to share anything with anyone. Because instead of working for something like universal care for all, Americans prefer the spectacle of forcing a patient with a terminal illness to make a funding campaign and hope someone gives him a few pennies. 
• Meanwhile, back in the U.S. colony, there are plenty  of companies making profits off Hurricane Maria and its devastation in Puerto Rico. Story via Latino Rebels. The story includes the full report. 
• Things are not good for college graduates. It turns a large number of them remain underemployed after getting their bachelor's degree. Story via Inside Higher Ed. 
• One more story from higher education. Many universities and colleges are scrapping majors left and right due to the bad economy. Barbara Fister argues that getting rid of majors is not really the best solution. Story via Inside Higher Ed.
• In public schools, things are not better as they now have 20% less school librarians since 2000. Story via Signature. 
• In a statement of the obvious, turns out that a healthy diet is not always possible, if at all, for low income people, even when they receive SNAP benefits. It is not only just getting the right food, which is already difficult as is if you are poor; other factors are involved. Story via The Conversation.

And let's check out how the uber rich are doing this week:

• Whoever the hell Rick Owens is (link to his Wikipedia entry), he has fans. And now, when they get hungry, they can go over to Fred's Downtown in New York City and get his $28 burger. So, what makes the burger so special? According to the article from GQ, ". . .the bun is branded with Rick Owens’ signature (yes, they got custom miniature brands made, and no, you can’t buy your own). The burger and the bundle of fries are both tied up in a “ribbon” of fancy licorice, which tastes like fennel-flavored candy. It picks up a bit of salt from the French fries, which results in a flavor not unlike that salty licorice all your friends bring back from their trips to Iceland." Oh, but wait, there is more: "The burger, served on a custom-branded brioche bun, is made with “locally sourced, grass-fed, non-GMO beef” and topped with “locally sourced, grass-fed, non-GMO Havarti cheese.” (The sourcing was, apparently, extremely important to Rick.) On top of that go ultra-slouchy caramelized onions and garlic mayonnaise. The whole thing is served on a black cloth napkin embroidered with the designer's name (in case you forgot it!)." By the way, this burger is considered "an entry point" item, i.e. if you want something Rick Owens, but you can't afford his other stuff, this is the cheapest item you could get. For the rest of you plebeians, there is always McDonald's, Burger King, etc. 
• Finally for this week, if you want to take a really exotic vacation, and you have money to burn, how about a $50,000-a-night underwater hotel room in the Maldives? Story via Mother Jones.