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Shopping camp: just what the youth of America needs
Yes. You read that right. A camp to teach children how to shop. Is this our answer to the recession? Give me a break.
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The Big Outcome of the '60s: The Triumph of Capitalism
if you find interesting adding Lacan to sociology and history, read the whole article.
"The commons of external nature are threatened by pollution and exploitation (from oil to forests and natural habitat itself); the commons of internal nature (the biogenetic inheritance of humanity) are threatened by technological interference; and the commons of culture -- the socialized forms of "cognitive" capital, primarily language, our means of communication and education, but also the shared infrastructure of public transport, electricity, post, etc. -- are privatized for profit. (If Bill Gates were to be allowed a monopoly, we would have reached the absurd situation in which a private individual would have owned the software texture of our basic network of communication.)
We are gradually becoming aware of the destructive potential, up to the self-annihilation of humanity itself, that could be unleashed if the capitalist logic of enclosing these commons is allowed a free run. "
if you find interesting adding Lacan to sociology and history, read the whole article. ... more -
Does Being An "Ethical" Corporation Pay? MIT Study Says YES.
For corporations, social responsibility has become a big business. Companies spend billions of dollars doing good works—everything from boosting diversity in their ranks to developing eco-friendly technology—and then trumpeting those efforts to the public.
But does it pay off?
(article continues)
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This study is interesting in light of recent conversations on Current on the topic of corporate responsibility vs. greed, CEO vs. worker pay, etc. My contention all along has been that corporations, bound by their duty to provide shareholders with maximum return on their investments, will only act responsibly when consumers start to reward them when they do and punish them when they don't.
So let this serve as another reminder to keep the pressure on EACH OTHER -- as consumers -- to demand more of the companies that serve us, and then watch as the corporations eventually follow suit. For corporations, social responsibility has become a big business. Companies spend billions of dollars doing good works—everything fro... more -
what will the extreme right do to checkmate the left
cause we must accept that the right's brain storming sessions are quite huge, and they only choose and have chosen what benefits them the most, period. so when they are "virtually" chilling, compared to other averages of right wing activity, one can only out think them by..... well, by doing the same thing, but having the advantage of knowing what their flawed issues are (aka inequality)
so, that article talks about that "virtual pause", and this one
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/opinion/29rich.html?_...
talks about how a new terrorist attack may or may not "help"
i do not know what their next move will be to checkmate the left, but i do know that their only chance in this highly rational and enlightening technological era we are lucky to live in, would be to rule by force or be ruled by reason; and common sense, logical reasoning and equality have never been part of their agenda.
the rule of law helped the spreading of abusive powers that used to be monopolized in the king, queen or any other ruler of the land. law put people against one another, layers of employees who are not responsible for what their employers do are the ones answering questions when shit hits the fan. the culture of eliminate or be eliminated cannot continue.
maybe the system we created checkmated itself? im not sure, but both sides have to make up their minds. cause we must accept that the right's brain storming sessions are quite huge, and they only choose and have chosen what benefits them ... more -
Saving Our Youth
Revolutionary Sista Damali Abrams and BETJ Host Abiola Abrams discuss what's happening with our youth and the solution to the problem. Revolutionary Sista Damali Abrams and BETJ Host Abiola Abrams discuss what's happening with our youth and the solution to the problem.... more
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Childhood poverty costs the U.S. about $500 billion a year
Persistent childhood poverty costs our country about $500 billion a year by way of lost productivity, school drop-outs, crime, and growing numbers enrolled in nutrition and public assistance programs. Persistent childhood poverty costs our country about $500 billion a year by way of lost productivity, school drop-outs, crime, and gro... more
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Cuba: the Socialist vs. Capitalist debate
In the past weeks and months people have been trying to work out how far exactly Raúl Castro has been willing to push through reforms. Anyway does all this account to the “death knell” of socialist Cuba as we know it and the emergence of a new capitalist state, or rather as rational steps to perfect Cuba’s statist economy? This is the debate that’s been played out in a number of opinion pieces I’ve stumbled across in the British press of late. In the past weeks and months people have been trying to work out how far exactly Raúl Castro has been willing to push through reforms.... more
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Mistakes on the Way to Success
Some of our best ideas should never get beyond the early planning stages. We should continue to dream.
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Vegetarianism as a Solution to Food Shortages
It takes about 7 pounds of corn to produce 1 pound of beef. Average American meat consumption per year is 273 pounds. That is an awful lot of corn. It takes about 7 pounds of corn to produce 1 pound of beef. Average American meat consumption per year is 273 pounds. That is an awful... more
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Felicity Lawrence on how crops like soya came to dominate our diet
Huge areas of the Amazon rainforest are being cut down to satisfy global demand for soya. But how did this crop and a handful of others come to dominate our diet so completely? In an extract from her new book, Felicity Lawrence investigates the faceless trading giants who really decide what goes on our plates. Huge areas of the Amazon rainforest are being cut down to satisfy global demand for soya. But how did this crop and a handful of other... more
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Schools to kids: "We'll pay you if you study harder"
Schools, under pressure to boost student achievement, are offering incentives — field trips and cash, for example — to motivate students.
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A very slippery slope ... it's one thing for parents and grandparents to give out dimes and dollars for good grades every quarter, but quite different to institutionalize that behavior within school walls.
[I'd opine a bit more, but my wife just offered me two bucks to take out the garbage ... can't pass that up!] Schools, under pressure to boost student achievement, are offering incentives — field trips and cash, for example — to motivate studen... more -
How Do America's Super Rich Get Away with Acting Like 'Just Folks'?
It took an angry public to get progressive economic reforms after the last Gilded Age. But where's the outrage today?
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The Worst Business Advice Ever. Or Is It the Best?
“When you’re competing against companies that have so much more, the only answer is to do less,” Jason and David told me. “Do less than your competitors to beat them. Instead of one-upping other companies, one-down them. Instead of out-doing other products, under-do them.”
I get it, I responded: Less is more, right? Jason and David shook their heads. “No, less is less—because more is not better! Everyone tries to do too much: solve too many problems, build products with too many features. Our goal is to do less, to build half a product rather than a half-assed product. So we say ‘no’ to almost everything. If you include every decent idea that comes along, you'll just wind up with a half-assed version of your product. What you really want to do is build half a product that kicks ass.”
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This really does make you think a bit about what it is that most businesses are really trying to accomplish. How did everything get so complicated? Wouldn't everyone be better off if things were simpler? (Or would we all just be unemployed?) “When you’re competing against companies that have so much more, the only answer is to do less,” Jason and David told me. “Do less tha... more -
I HEART (To Hate!) CEOs
They all like PROFIT! They're all RICH! They're all ... new?
14 of the top 15 U.S. food companies have hired new CEOs in the last three years. A lot of Current posters seem to like to shoot CEOs for sport, so I thought I'd arm you all with the latest news on what strategies these new food company CEOs are implementing -- including passing on commodity costs to consumers, closing manufacturing plants, and firing workers -- for no good reason other than to pad the pockets of their shareholders.
[Sarcasm sequence complete.] They all like PROFIT! They're all RICH! They're all ... new? ... more -
U.S. Falling Behind in Innovative Cell Phone Use
Many parts of the world are leapfrogging the U.S. in the use of cell phones and other technologies for social and economic empowerment because they are not burdened, or advantaged, by the infrastructure of the past. Many parts of the world are leapfrogging the U.S. in the use of cell phones and other technologies for social and economic empowerment... more
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Why is an Anti-Obama Smear Blog on Google News?
I am probably asking too much, but I just wish Google News would limit itself to sources with at least some sense of either independence or balance. I am probably asking too much, but I just wish Google News would limit itself to sources with at least some sense of either independen... more
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McCain confused over energy subsidies
McCain is opposed to subsidizing clean and renewable energy on the grounds that subsidies are bad; however, he favors subsidizing the nuclear industry on the grounds that we need clean and renewable energy; all whilst opposing a bill that does, in fact, seek to build clean and renewable sources of energy (which nuclear is not) and still provides plenty of subsidies to nuclear energy. McCain is opposed to subsidizing clean and renewable energy on the grounds that subsidies are bad; however, he favors subsidizing the ... more
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15% of American Children in Poverty
The existence of hunger in America is awful, but the fact that American children are going hungry is also an embarrassment. The numbers are startling: in 2006, over 15% of children lived below the poverty line, and 12.6 million children lived in households that were unable to always afford enough food. Of those, 430,000 children were particularly bad off, directly suffering from reduced food intake. The existence of hunger in America is awful, but the fact that American children are going hungry is also an embarrassment. The number... more
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A Genius Outside the Academy
The Hip Hop Caucus tour featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. Yearwood is a minister, community activist, military chaplain, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop. A powerful and fiery orator. The Hip Hop Caucus tour featuring Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. Yearwood is a minister, community activist, military chaplain, and one of ... more
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Meet the rulers
Experimental cartography meets anti-corporate resource under the umbrella of slick web design with They Rule, a site that allows its users to seamlessly explore the business connections between America’s ruling elite. Experimental cartography meets anti-corporate resource under the umbrella of slick web design with They Rule, a site that allows its u... more
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Capitalism
