Loading ...Writing, Schooling, Cocaine, Race, Los Angeles
By Evan ~ October 13th, 2007. Filed under: world news.
• A site called 10 Zen Monkeys ran an article on the 5th asking if the Internet has been good for writers, or if it has made them obsolete. The writers who were questioned appeared hesitant to state a definitive answer, electing instead to share examples of how the Web has transformed their careers. Typical solipsistic writer syndrome stuff. Several of the interviewees managed to plug their books within the first sentence! In my opinion (that’s why you’re here, right?), professional writers (”those who specialize in writing well”) should still be able to rise above the masses who fancy themselves writers because they operate cultural/political blogs or e-zines. If anything, the Internet has provided countless new avenues for finding work. Every major publication has an online presence, many of which are driven by content independent of what consumers find at the local newsstand. To say that the Internet has a negative impact on writers seems kind of lazy to me. Then again, I haven’t gotten any writing jobs in about two years. [story]
• “Does Going To College Pay? Answer Isn’t Simple” Finally, a headline that speaks to me. Actually, I guess it doesn’t, seeing as how I’m two years removed from my college experience. According to the article, each additional level of education a person completes will be rewarded with an increased income. The median high school graduate earns roughly $26k a year, while a college graduated earns $42k. This is as far as I read into the article. Then I started crying and wondering how I’ve only earned two hundred dollars in the last four months. Clearly, going to college does not pay. [story]
• Drug mules? Try Drug roaches. According to the AP, a customs officer in the Netherlands decided to more-closely inspect a shipment of dead bugs from Peru and found that cocaine had been concealed in the bug’s hollowed-out carcasses. I don’t know about you, but I’d be kind of interested to see some dealers around here switch to this delivery technique. I mean, if the product is already cut to hell with baby laxatives, baking powder and No Doz, what’s the difference if some roach guts find their way into your blow? [story]
• Before you say anything, I don’t actually read Shameless (the website “for girls who get it”), I just saw this link on another page and thought it was fascinating. I guess a new Wes Anderson movie saw release this week, and one eagle-eyed woman decided to explore the “race as novelty” theme that continually appears throughout Anderson’s films. Look, I’m not saying that I agree with her sentiments about how products of middle-class, predominantly white suburbia find people of color to be exotic and quirky, I’m just saying that when I was a young child, I used to call my cleaning lady “Aunt Jemima,” and the woman on the syrup bottle “Dolores.” In my innocent, underdeveloped mind, they were interchangeable. [story]
• Welcome to Los Angeles: The Boringest Place on Earth. At least that’s what reading CNN’s website would have you believe. Along with Headline News and Travel + Leisure, they’ve compiled a list of America’s favorite cities. When it comes to culture, shopping, people, food and cityscape, Los Angeles is quite literally left off the lists. It’s public parks and spaces, access to outdoors, farmer’s markets, ethnic foods, museums and galleries all pale in comparison to Washington, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, Portland, Philadelphia (really?), Denver and Minneapolis. Where Los Angeles really sets itself apart from the competition is the category of “People.” As far as resident Angelenos are concerned, we’re the 25th most friendly city (out of 25), The 25th most intelligent city (also out of 25), the 19th most worldly, and the 22nd most fun. Sure, Los Angeles ranks in the top ten for attractiveness, but that’s to be expected. I live here. At the end of the day, we Angelenos are less favorable than the fine people Nashville, San Antonio, Santa Fe, and Charleston. And we’re only two-tenths of a point cooler than people from Orlando and Atlanta. C’mon people, what the fuck? [story]
