You think beer is about the party and the taste?
~
January 17, 2007
at 19:15
(Views: 5 )
On the contrary...
contrarian
Location: USA
Last Sign in: February 26, 2008
Member Since: January 3, 2007
URL: http://www.mystrands.com/contrarian
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Journal
Feeling depressed, let down, rejected? Fight back...
~
January 17, 2007
at 2:08
(Views: 13 )
If you can't take another rejection, try this:
Ultimate rejection letter
How to paint a building
~
January 16, 2007
at 21:33
(Views: 11 )
You think you know how to paint a building? So did I. But this guy, on the contrary, really does know how:
How to paint a building
Holidays, from a contrarian point of view
~
January 16, 2007
at 0:52
(Views: 5 )
I have to wonder what is the point of holidays. I know what it was back when "holiday" got its name: It was a chance to take a break from a life that was nasty, brutish and short, to listen to someone talking about how the payoff was a death which was none of those things. This paid benefits for everyone: Labor/peasants got a break; priests got to strut their stuff, and rulers got a somewhat more docile set of peasants.
But now? Life may be nasty for some, brutish for others, and short for the unlucky; but on the whole it is usually none of those things. Heaven on earth indeed! So who benefits from a modern holiday in the US? Not the peasants: The lowest among us work in places that don't lay off for most holidays. Not the religious leaders: Who goes to church on their day off?! It must be a ruling class who wins. So what do they get?
Lets look at the facts.
Holiday pay costs companies 50% more, or they can trade some portion of that for less productivity for the day; and probably somewhat reduced productivity on days before and after too. Assuming that companies really care about bottom line, it can't be big business that wins from holidays.
There are too many distinct and competitive religions for them to get much benefit; and in any case most "holy" days in the US are secular to begin with. Not religion.
How about bureaucrats? They may directly benefit from the day off, but almost all of them get vacation days sufficient for any rational need. The do get more paper to work, and they get to administer to people who are slightly less hostile because they get a few days off. So maybe bureaucrats.
How about politicians? They get serious time off (by giving it to themselves). They get to talk about how important the holiday is, which is critical, since they are constantly running for office. They get companies paying them to not create more holidays, and unions paying them to make another. And did I mention the speeches?
Clearly, holidays are of great benefit to politicians. So, support your local politician: Take the day off!
A quick drawing lesson. From basics on out...
~
January 15, 2007
at 20:38
(Views: 7 )
So you think beauty is skin deep? On the contrary:
How to draw a woman
The point of a boat is to float, eh? On the contrary...
~
January 13, 2007
at 1:25
(Views: 12 )
Here's a series of still photos about a really bad day on the river...
The towboat incident
Breathe. Again. Now think about why that works on a global basis...
~
January 12, 2007
at 2:38
(Views: 6 )
Let them eat cake
~
January 11, 2007
at 17:12
(Views: 18 )
If you think music makes your heart beat faster, your eyes light up, and your mind turn to pleasure, try this link:
The joy of cakes
Animal Planet?
~
January 10, 2007
at 18:01
(Views: 29 )
You might think hands are for working, playing, doing things. But Guido Daniele has a contrary viewpoint.
Guido Daniele - bodypaint
(Warning: Some of the nearby pages are not cubicle-safe)
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