MORONICLES

December 12, 2007 - Moderator

Talking Jesus Action Figure Sells Out At Wal-Mart

http://consumerist.com/consumer/trends/talking-jesus-action-figure-sells-out-at-walmart-332085.php

November 28, 2007 - Moderator

I have panhandled twice.  The first time I was working two jobs, 7 days a week, and pulling in about 8 bucks an hour.  At that rate, I earned about $320 a week before taxes, and about $250 after.  A grand a month, in a city ranked in the top ten of most expensive cost of living cities in America, Austin.  My student loan payments were $300 a month, my rent was $400 (with a roommate), my gasoline was about $250 in my very used Chevy pickup, and the rest of the cash went to utility bills, food, and alot of beer.  So, I decided I would try a "social experiment".  I removed my B.A. degree from the wall in its nice frame, taped a piece of paper to the bottom of it, and when I reached 183 & Braker Ln. in mid-afternoon, I wrote on the piece of paper: "College Grad, Anything Helps".

I made $22 bucks in 2 hours.  $11 (ELEVEN) bucks an hour, begging.  I got business cards, money, a guy passed by at one point and flicked a quarter at me.  When I lunged to catch it, he snapped a picture with his disposable camera.  Another guy pulled up in a maroon F-350.  He squinted at the framed degree and asked, "Where's that from?" 

I said, "University of Texas".  He replied, as the light turned green and he pulled away, "Shoulda gone to A&M."

November 26, 2007 - Moderator

"I don't know what the next level is...but I was there."
Tim O'Connor (investor?) on the renovation of the Austin Music Hall, as reported on KEYE News

Military Veterans' Unemployment Rate -
According to NORC, The University of Chicago, Jan. 1, 2007


"Looking at Outcomes [There are four key labor market outcomes of interest in this part of the study: whether the respondent is employed, unemployed, out of the labor force, or in military service in the weeks after they exit the military Table 2 reports these outcomes for each of four snapshots: week 1, 13, 26 and 39 after exitiii.] A brief examination of the table reveals that of the 156 respondents who were interviewed subsequent to military exit, 22% were unemployed in the first week after exit, 28% were out of the labor force, 0% were in the military and 47% were employed. This represents a 32% unemployment rate on the part of military veterans."


November 25, 2007 - Moderator

FOR WHAT AM I THANKFUL? Once again, it is that time of year we [Americans] are forced into thinking that we must take a step back from life and give thanks for things we normally take for granted.  This is a good thing for us procrastinators. 

For one, I am thankful for my Texas public school educational background that accounts for my lack of seriousness, ambition, and the ability to pay attention for more than thr-- 


Submit your MORONICLES to submissions@eaglespeakmedia.com with your full name and "MORONICLES" in the subject heading.