Here we go again. . .
We start this week with
Education News
- Higher education costs keep going up, and the University of Chicago is making sure to stay right on top of that. They are poised to become the first university to charge $100,000 a year. Via Hechinger Report. Holy shit! People, seriously, a small pro tip: fancy university does not mean better, so if you can afford to go to some state school (assuming you do want to go to college) instead, preferably in-state, do that.
- As if cost was not bad enough, getting into college or university may get harder for some given poor skills. The most recent NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) shows a decline in U.S. educational achievement. Via Hechinger Report.
- On a positive, college athletes may be getting a break as the NCAA finally voted to let players get paid for sponsorship deals. Via Inside Higher Ed. Granted, the NCAA and the colleges and universities will keep exploiting those student athletes, but at least now the students may get some compensation.
- However, not all colleges have big football and/or basketball programs to bring in big money to the campuses. In fact, some smaller colleges struggle financially and have to find ingenious ways to make ends meet. In other words, they need to hustle in the Bad Economy (this story could have gone under "Hustlin' in the Bad Economy). One way is to serve as wedding venues and charge for such service. Via The Atlantic. I will tell you this much. When the Better Half and I got married (some years ago now), we did get married on campus at our university, and it was a bit more affordable than some private venue. However, do keep in mind cost can vary based on things like, for example, if the campus you are looking at is a serious tourist attraction (this can drive up costs) versus a lesser known place or a big state university.
Next, we go over to the farmlands in
Rural News
- For starters, farm bankruptcies are up. Via The Rural Blog. Sure, the weather has been bad in recent months, and the Pendejo In Chief's trade wars with places like China have not been good for them (even though so many of them enthusiastically voted for him and keep supporting him. You really can't fix stupid). However, the bankruptcy story has more: "Growers are also becoming increasingly dependent on trade aid and other federal programs for income, figures showed in a report by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest general farm organization." Farmers taking a "handout" or help from the government? Really? Say it ain't so. . .
- Some farmers are trying to put up the good fight, but finding financing is not easy, and it is getting more difficult. As a result of traditional banks not being so generous in providing farmers with loans, some farmers are turning to some "nontraditional" loan options to make ends meet. Story via The Rural Blog. Among the reasons this is an issue: "While such high-interest loan providers can be a lifesaver for farmers in the short term, their interest rates are double those of traditional farm lenders." It's been described as "shadow financing."
- On a different issue, via Forward Kentucky, a report where "Appalachian communities say prison jobs are a 'phantom promise.'" In a nutshell, rural communities with little options either attract the attention of some big prison project, or they hope to attract one in hopes of generating a lot of local jobs. However, that hope rarely happens, and the reality is a lot more complicated than these communities think. This article is worth reading.
Meanwhile back in the US colony
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| U.S. troops invading Puerto Rico during Spanish American War, 1898. |
- The Daily Beast looks at how the U.S. screwed up Detroit, and now they will screw up Puerto Rico (even more than they have fucked it up already).
- And if the above is not bad enough, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was happily allowing all sorts of fraud in Puerto Rico's power grid repair contracts. Via Latino Rebels. The article highlights findings from an audit of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' oversight of contracts in Puerto Rico by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (link to the audit report, which is included in the article).
The Bad Economy Around the World
- In Latin American news, the coup that ousted Evo Morales in Bolivia is a big deal. However, once you look closely, you see the often common pattern of outside interference and the Real Owners safeguarding their interests (i.e. Morales was not too friendly to big corporations seeking to exploit his country, imagine that). It boils down to one very valuable mineral. Read this story out of Truthdig to learn more.
In Other News of the Bad Economy
- We recently celebrated Halloween here in the United States. It is all fun, costumes, candy, so on. However, there are signs things may be going a bit too far. How far? How about half a billion dollars. . . for pet costumes? Seriously. Story via Salon.
- In another sign things are going too far, here is the latest fuckery out of Google: they now plan to offer checking accounts. As if them invading your privacy and selling it off was not bad enough, now they want your banking too. And if that was not bad enough, they are partnering up with Citibank, notorious for their shadiness to put it mildly. Story via Inc.
- In First World Problems, Disney+ streaming service debuted this month, albeit with glitches. So now suddenly people are realizing the irony of leaving cable, because it has way too many channels, in favor of a la carte service, and now, we got, lo and behold, too many separate streaming services. Story via VICE.
Once more, we look at ingenuity in making a buck or two with folks. . .
Hustlin' in the Bad Economy
- I am sure some folks have heard that there are fetishists out there who will buy used women's underwear. So an enterprising woman could make some bucks selling a few soiled undies. Now, with a renewed interest in any and all things retro, grandma is raiding her closet for her old lingerie as folks want to buy vintage lingerie. It is becoming quite a business to seek the stuff out in second hand stores and then resell it online for profit. Story via The Daily Beast.
- Meanwhile, people making a living for no other reason than having some fame are raking it in as "influencers." Story via BBC. I will be honest: I find the whole idea of social media influencers vapid and shallow, but hey, more power to ya if you can make money at it.
- Via Remezcla, this was my favorite story of "Hustlin' in the Bad Economy" this week. This Latino Twitter user will post "yikes" under your ex's selfies on social media, and he does it for $5 each. This is one of those stories where I go, "why did I not think of that?"
- Now this one I admire. A luxury hotel offers Tarot card readings as part of the amenities at their restaurant. Story via Departures. That is the kind of gig I'd love to do, so hey, any high end restaurants or hotels out there, or even hey, medium tier, want a Tarot/oracle card reader, let me know.
And finally this week, the wealthy have been suffering a little but still mostly living it up. . .
Uber Rich
- Aww, poor Bill Gates is a little worried he may not have enough money to live on if the rich are taxed a bit more to help out with things like public services and schools (things he does benefit from too by the way). How worried is he? The man, who is worth about $107 billion (yep, you read that right) worries that he could be forced to live on $7 billion instead. Story via VICE. One that is seriously exaggerated in the sense any tax plan would not just do that. And two, let's be honest, no one is crying over a guy who would STILL have $7 billion in that scenario. As the kids say, hey Bill, "OK Boomer!"
- The real estate market for the uber rich continues to suffer from the challenge of trying to get those tightwads to buy a property. So sellers keep tossing perks into the deal. The latest deal this week is offering travel services with your purchase, such as private jet amenities. Story via Departures.
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