yes, it's the age-old question - form vs. function.
See, I got a lot of moolah for Xmas. Which is nice, cuz I can choose a non-standard gift. And after considering a lot of things (here is just a small list: Wii, which would include Beatles Rock Band; Nintendo DSI; a new wardrobe with shoes; a new handbag; a new mattress; a new tooth, which I decided isn't really a gift; Sirius radio for my car; a new TV; a renewed subscription to match.com; a subscription to some other dating service; a trip to Switzerland; a trip anywhere; and new socks), I narrowed it down to 2 things.
1. FORM - a gym membership. This would be a recurring expense, but the Xmas money could take care of the initial fees and a couple of months. In the summer months, I have been pretty good with getting out there and taking some walks. But when it's cold or rainy, I totally slack off. A gym (a good gym) could take care of that. However, with gym memberships in my past, I have always felt like I was wasting my money, because I never keep up my enthusiasm for going. I'm good for say the first month, and then I go maybe 2 or 3 times a month after that. There's always some excuse. I admit, it's totally my own fault, but I hate that I wasted the money.
2. FUNCTION - a GMAT prep course. I've been trying to study for the GMATs for about 6 months now and I'm failing miserably. Much like exercising, any excuse will do. I was aiming to take the GMATs this spring but I'll never make that deadline at this rate. A course could put me on track and get me ready in time.
At this point, I'm kinda leaning towards the gym membership - I mean, who doesn't want to lose weight and look good? But a little tiny part of me says that the GMAT is the better investment. Hmmm... well, if you have any thoughts, please weigh in. Thanks.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies. --Groucho Marx
What's going on with me? Well, I use Twitter much less now. Prolly this summer, I was all about it, but now I've got all these random strangers following me, and I don't know what they want to hear. It's too much pressure being that funny in texts.
Ok, so there's more to my life than Twitter. Improv is going strong. Loving it. Got a great troupe and really getting to know them.
Work is crazy but that's cuz it's the holidays. Whadya expect?
Roommate is moving out. And it's prolly for the best. We found another roommate so all is good. My other roommate is good.
In fact, last night we had a conversation, in which I professed that the U.S. is moving towards a communist/socialist state. Capitalism has run its course, and we are starting to see our downfall. I predict that we'll have 2 or 3 more recessions, with very light periods of upturn in the middle that will give us false hope. Each of these recessions will serve to widen the gulf between the super-rich and the poverty class, and dwindle the middle classes (with most of them becoming poverty-stricken). When we've reached the point where we have virtually no middle class (or people who are posing as middle class, but actually deeply in dept - oh wait, no, we have that already), government will no longer have a substantial tax base. Unable to support itself, government has 2 options.
A. To be bailed (bought) out by the super-rich, thus creating a plutarchy (Plutocracy + oligarchy). Some would claim that we will/have become a "corporatocracy." But I think we've seen the start of the decline of certain corporations. Anything can happen from there on out; after all this is AMERICA! But it's worth it to mention that "Marxism-Leninism believes that all capitalist countries follow a plutocratic government mixed with imperialism, and that the only way to change it is through a mass revolution by the proletariat. The plutocratic government's social mobility deficiency is a result of exploitation of the masses, preventing the workers from moving up." I've copied that from Wikipedia. Anyhoo, this option puts us at a workers' revolt.
The other option ...
2. To take control of industries/corporations/businesses in order to support itself. These businesses become government-run and/or subsidized. (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bueller?) The government now controls prices, either through subsidizing or by being competitive (think FDR's New Deal), therefore they also control wages.* The middle class begins to expand again. Because profits from these industries go back in to the government's coffer, the services that government can provide expand.** Moreover, the industries that government now controls become part of the services that they can provide. It could start with something as small as ... say ... health care. Just saying.
*As long as government is not paying factories in other countries, which would be difficult given how many corporations have moved factories to other countries for cheap labor.
**Provided we have leaders who aren't lining their own pockets, which would be difficult given how many politicians line their own pockets.
Both options kinda put us right back at socialism/communism. I doubt we'd have violent revolutions, but maybe that's what people always thought before. You know what? I'm just rambling. But Obama said it was time for change. I think that change will come so slowly that we won't notice it, but it's coming. It's needed.
"Art is always and everywhere the secret confession, and at the same time the immortal movement of its time." --Karl Marx
"Well, Art is Art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does." --Groucho Marx
Ok, so there's more to my life than Twitter. Improv is going strong. Loving it. Got a great troupe and really getting to know them.
Work is crazy but that's cuz it's the holidays. Whadya expect?
Roommate is moving out. And it's prolly for the best. We found another roommate so all is good. My other roommate is good.
In fact, last night we had a conversation, in which I professed that the U.S. is moving towards a communist/socialist state. Capitalism has run its course, and we are starting to see our downfall. I predict that we'll have 2 or 3 more recessions, with very light periods of upturn in the middle that will give us false hope. Each of these recessions will serve to widen the gulf between the super-rich and the poverty class, and dwindle the middle classes (with most of them becoming poverty-stricken). When we've reached the point where we have virtually no middle class (or people who are posing as middle class, but actually deeply in dept - oh wait, no, we have that already), government will no longer have a substantial tax base. Unable to support itself, government has 2 options.
A. To be bailed (bought) out by the super-rich, thus creating a plutarchy (Plutocracy + oligarchy). Some would claim that we will/have become a "corporatocracy." But I think we've seen the start of the decline of certain corporations. Anything can happen from there on out; after all this is AMERICA! But it's worth it to mention that "Marxism-Leninism believes that all capitalist countries follow a plutocratic government mixed with imperialism, and that the only way to change it is through a mass revolution by the proletariat. The plutocratic government's social mobility deficiency is a result of exploitation of the masses, preventing the workers from moving up." I've copied that from Wikipedia. Anyhoo, this option puts us at a workers' revolt.
The other option ...
2. To take control of industries/corporations/businesses in order to support itself. These businesses become government-run and/or subsidized. (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bueller?) The government now controls prices, either through subsidizing or by being competitive (think FDR's New Deal), therefore they also control wages.* The middle class begins to expand again. Because profits from these industries go back in to the government's coffer, the services that government can provide expand.** Moreover, the industries that government now controls become part of the services that they can provide. It could start with something as small as ... say ... health care. Just saying.
*As long as government is not paying factories in other countries, which would be difficult given how many corporations have moved factories to other countries for cheap labor.
**Provided we have leaders who aren't lining their own pockets, which would be difficult given how many politicians line their own pockets.
Both options kinda put us right back at socialism/communism. I doubt we'd have violent revolutions, but maybe that's what people always thought before. You know what? I'm just rambling. But Obama said it was time for change. I think that change will come so slowly that we won't notice it, but it's coming. It's needed.
"Art is always and everywhere the secret confession, and at the same time the immortal movement of its time." --Karl Marx
"Well, Art is Art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does." --Groucho Marx
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The most wonderful time of the year
Yeah, so I haven't updated in a while. I almost did it at work, but I thought better of it. Besides, very busy there what with the holidays and all.
I myself have been busy. I am LOVING my new improv troupe. They're a bunch of "guys" and that's actually pretty fun. Very supportive and conversational in that fantastical improvical way, that's just makes you have a crush on EVERY guy you meet that does improv. Some of you may not know what I mean, but trust me, it's a wonderful world when that's the case. My first show went pretty well, and I got a couple of compliments. It meant especially a lot to me that the rest of the troupe complimented my performance, because then I feel like I'm doing my part. They are hysterical and dying to learn my real age.
I'm also volunteering still. I've changed locations and the new location has a very different dynamic with the kids. To be honest, it's a lot harder now, but it makes me think that they really need good people and what I do there is that much more important because of it. So I'm sticking it out to see what can be accomplished.
I'm also prepping for the holidays. I've done a lot of my holiday shopping already (a FIRST for me!). I've got my tickets home. Ill be there two WHOLE days this time, so that's good.
AND I finally took care of my car. Got new tires and replaced the timing belt. Ready for the winter. In addition, Dec 24 is my LAST car payment! I'm so excited. What will I do with an additional $289 a month?
Oh yeah, pay for my tooth! That's right! Yeah, I get the screw put into my jaw on Dec 17. Wish me luck! God, I hope they knock me out for that.
And lastly, no dating lately. Sad, but true. Enh, I really can't devote that much to it during the holidays, especially with work. And, now with the improv and volunteering, it's near impossible. I'm exhausted. I can't even find the time to order new checks. Seriously.
I myself have been busy. I am LOVING my new improv troupe. They're a bunch of "guys" and that's actually pretty fun. Very supportive and conversational in that fantastical improvical way, that's just makes you have a crush on EVERY guy you meet that does improv. Some of you may not know what I mean, but trust me, it's a wonderful world when that's the case. My first show went pretty well, and I got a couple of compliments. It meant especially a lot to me that the rest of the troupe complimented my performance, because then I feel like I'm doing my part. They are hysterical and dying to learn my real age.
I'm also volunteering still. I've changed locations and the new location has a very different dynamic with the kids. To be honest, it's a lot harder now, but it makes me think that they really need good people and what I do there is that much more important because of it. So I'm sticking it out to see what can be accomplished.
I'm also prepping for the holidays. I've done a lot of my holiday shopping already (a FIRST for me!). I've got my tickets home. Ill be there two WHOLE days this time, so that's good.
AND I finally took care of my car. Got new tires and replaced the timing belt. Ready for the winter. In addition, Dec 24 is my LAST car payment! I'm so excited. What will I do with an additional $289 a month?
Oh yeah, pay for my tooth! That's right! Yeah, I get the screw put into my jaw on Dec 17. Wish me luck! God, I hope they knock me out for that.
And lastly, no dating lately. Sad, but true. Enh, I really can't devote that much to it during the holidays, especially with work. And, now with the improv and volunteering, it's near impossible. I'm exhausted. I can't even find the time to order new checks. Seriously.
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