I encourage all of you to go to the link listed below. It is a story NPR is doing on income inequality and how the gap between the richest and poorest in our country has continued to widen in the last 30 years (particularly in the last 5):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7180618
As a former economics major, and as someone who took a class on income inequality, I may have a unique concern for this issue. BUT, you should to if you ever find yourself asking:
1. Is it appropriate for CEO’s to make 300 times more than the average American worker?
2. How does a society, which claims to be Christian, acknowledge the vast differences in income in light of the Sermon on the Mount and Luke, chapter 6?
3. What role do I play in creating an economy where money is increasingly disassociated from local communities and associated with corporations, mega-industries and the global market?
4. Do other people realize that our society has begun to serve the economy rather than the economy serving our society?
Wes
Monday, February 05, 2007
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Pins and Needles
T-minus three and a half hours before kick-off of the Super Bowl. This is it. The Colts have come to the event that they were destined for; this is the game they should have been in last year ... and that, perhaps more than anything, is why my stomach is doing more flips than Reggie Bush headed for the end-zone.
Two weeks ago - when the Colts overthrew their Goliath - I was supremely confident. The Super Bowl game was just a formality, a small hurdle on the way to blue and white confetti, cheesy interviews with Peyton Manning (with Archie standing beside his son), and Tony Dungy humbly holding the Vince Lambordi trophy.
But, then somewhere between the glee of disposing with the Patriots and a million reasons why the Colts should win, I started to realize that this is the last place the Colts want to be in. What do I mean? Well, the Colts are not the type of team that handles the spotlight well. Indy isn't a "favorite" kind of town.
I just hope the Colts don't lay an egg like they've done in the past. I gotta believe they've been in games like this too many times to not fumble it away in a quivering mass of nerves and mistakes.
But, then again, they've never been in the Super Bowl.
Wes
Two weeks ago - when the Colts overthrew their Goliath - I was supremely confident. The Super Bowl game was just a formality, a small hurdle on the way to blue and white confetti, cheesy interviews with Peyton Manning (with Archie standing beside his son), and Tony Dungy humbly holding the Vince Lambordi trophy.
But, then somewhere between the glee of disposing with the Patriots and a million reasons why the Colts should win, I started to realize that this is the last place the Colts want to be in. What do I mean? Well, the Colts are not the type of team that handles the spotlight well. Indy isn't a "favorite" kind of town.
I just hope the Colts don't lay an egg like they've done in the past. I gotta believe they've been in games like this too many times to not fumble it away in a quivering mass of nerves and mistakes.
But, then again, they've never been in the Super Bowl.
Wes
Friday, February 02, 2007
Definitely one of the funny things I've read recently
I don't know what is funnier: Chewbecca saying, "nobody tells this wookie what to do" or Superman serving as a witness ... you'll see, keep reading ...
Ersatz Chewbacca succumbs to dark side
By Andrew Blankstein, Times Staff Writer
1:41 PM PST, February 2, 2007
A street performer dressed as Chewbacca from "Star Wars" apparently succumbed to the dark side when he allegedly head-butted a tour guide operator in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles police said today.
The incident comes as the Los Angeles Police Department and Hollywood officials are trying to rein in the colorful assortment of actors dressed as various cartoon and movie characters who perform for crowds outside the landmark theater.
After tourists complained that the actors got aggressive and abusive when they refused to pay for posed pictures, the city passed ordinances last year meant to regulate how the characters behaved.
...
The incident was reported about 1:20 p.m. Thursday by security guards who patrol the theater area around the 6900 block of Hollywood Boulevard.
Police said that 6-foot-4 street performer was seen arguing with a 32-year-old Star Line Tours tour guide, who had expressed concern that the wookie impersonator was "harassing and touching tourists" in violation of the city law.
The security guards, who work for the Hollywood Business Improvement District, escorted him off theater property. But police said Young, like the Empire, decided to strike back.
"Chewbacca head-butted the tour guide," Vernon said. "Security guards saw it and ended up detaining him."
The Star Line Tours guide, Brian Sapir, said in an interview today that the Chewbacca character was harassing two young Japanese tourists when he told him to stop. "You could see him exploding in his mask," Sapir said. "He said, 'Nobody tells this wookie what to do."
Young then threw his mask off and head-butted him, Sapir added.
A police source said that a performer dressed as Superman witnessed the assault and was interviewed by police. He was not identified.
In the past, there have been disputes among performers and tourists, who either turn down requests to pose with the characters or refuse to give them donations, Vernon said.
On occasion, the disputes have led to arguments and even fisticuffs between characters as they fight over turf. That led city officials to pass several ordinances regulating the behavior of the street performers.
Under city rules, street performers can't state a price or demand money to take a photo with them, Vernon said. "They only can ask for a donation. They also cannot touch or follow the tourists if they walk away."
Continuing disputes led to a meeting between authorities and about a dozen of the performers, which police said significantly reduced conflict on the boulevard.
"The lesson here is you can have the force with you," Vernon said. "You just can't use illegal force."
Times staff writer Bob Pool contributed to this report.
Ersatz Chewbacca succumbs to dark side
By Andrew Blankstein, Times Staff Writer
1:41 PM PST, February 2, 2007
A street performer dressed as Chewbacca from "Star Wars" apparently succumbed to the dark side when he allegedly head-butted a tour guide operator in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles police said today.
The incident comes as the Los Angeles Police Department and Hollywood officials are trying to rein in the colorful assortment of actors dressed as various cartoon and movie characters who perform for crowds outside the landmark theater.
After tourists complained that the actors got aggressive and abusive when they refused to pay for posed pictures, the city passed ordinances last year meant to regulate how the characters behaved.
...
The incident was reported about 1:20 p.m. Thursday by security guards who patrol the theater area around the 6900 block of Hollywood Boulevard.
Police said that 6-foot-4 street performer was seen arguing with a 32-year-old Star Line Tours tour guide, who had expressed concern that the wookie impersonator was "harassing and touching tourists" in violation of the city law.
The security guards, who work for the Hollywood Business Improvement District, escorted him off theater property. But police said Young, like the Empire, decided to strike back.
"Chewbacca head-butted the tour guide," Vernon said. "Security guards saw it and ended up detaining him."
The Star Line Tours guide, Brian Sapir, said in an interview today that the Chewbacca character was harassing two young Japanese tourists when he told him to stop. "You could see him exploding in his mask," Sapir said. "He said, 'Nobody tells this wookie what to do."
Young then threw his mask off and head-butted him, Sapir added.
A police source said that a performer dressed as Superman witnessed the assault and was interviewed by police. He was not identified.
In the past, there have been disputes among performers and tourists, who either turn down requests to pose with the characters or refuse to give them donations, Vernon said.
On occasion, the disputes have led to arguments and even fisticuffs between characters as they fight over turf. That led city officials to pass several ordinances regulating the behavior of the street performers.
Under city rules, street performers can't state a price or demand money to take a photo with them, Vernon said. "They only can ask for a donation. They also cannot touch or follow the tourists if they walk away."
Continuing disputes led to a meeting between authorities and about a dozen of the performers, which police said significantly reduced conflict on the boulevard.
"The lesson here is you can have the force with you," Vernon said. "You just can't use illegal force."
Times staff writer Bob Pool contributed to this report.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
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