Here’s this Friday’s links sent by readers.
* Nancy encourages you to donate to a big cat rescue organization.
* Joan wants you to know about Occupy Education, “a collection of adults and children’s messages that challenge public school to become something more than it is – messages that dare public school to serve students’ passions instead of politicians and vendors’ coffers.”
* Victor sent a notice about an event that happened earlier this week for this worthy cause, where you can donate Amex points or Continental miles as well as greenbacks.
Finally, not really a pimp, but commenter hitchiker sent this comparison of the message NY Mag put on a protester’s chest versus his message (click to embiggen):
I pimp all to serve all on Fridays – my email is at the upper right, send me your links.
Update: How could I miss our own ABL’s Fall fundraiser? Here it is.
TheMightyTrowel
that alteration says everything there is to say about the gen-X/boomer dismissal of the rising generation of young voters. Well done NY MAG.
scav
and to get you energized, they’re just taunting us now: Board Pay Rises 49% at British Companies
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
So, is economy like weather, or is it like climate? If it’s like climate, then I have to disagree with his statement. The people in control of the market right now are the cancer. On the other hand, if it is like weather, then I agree.
arguingwithsignposts
@TheMightyTrowel: Way to troll for the generation wars there.
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
@arguingwithsignposts: Well, you know, it wasn’t the Republicans in Texas that made it so that you cannot use your student ID to vote, it was the Gen-Xers (like me).
/snark
jeffreyw
Don’t forget breakfast!
wilfred
New York Magazine is still owned by the Wasserstein family, I think. The patriarch Bruce was a big Wall Street billionaire player.
Definite 1% ownership. Note to self: don’t even read it for free.
Special One
What is with all this pimping? Next you’ll be doing the gimping and tinkling just like Sven!
Be champions.
TheMightyTrowel
@arguingwithsignposts: Dude, I’m gen-x – my younger cousins and friends siblings have such a bigger view of the world than we ever did and a lot of people my age see that and there’s laughter (look at the 19 year olds trying to change the world) and envy (why wasn’t I that together at 19). Changing a sign from a condemnation of the national/global economy to ‘sucks to be me’ is a pretty clear crystallisation of both of those attitudes.
arguingwithsignposts
@TheMightyTrowel: well, to be fair, we don’t know the age of the art director who ordered that ‘shop. Could have been a millennial. And those attitudes certainly are not indicative of an entire generation. (gen-x here)
Comrade Nimrod Humperdink
Just for fun on your Friday morning
TheMightyTrowel
@arguingwithsignposts: I’ll accept that, but I’ll also point out that it’s characteristic of the attitude of the ‘adults in the room’ at the current moment to mock the ideals/passion/sincerity of the ‘youth’ and the editor who chose the cover illustration is likely over 27 if not over 50.
arguingwithsignposts
@TheMightyTrowel: what is the age cut off for gen-x again? I can’t keep track.
Also, I think the 20 year “generation” thing is pretty much useless when discussing social phenomenon anyway.
TheMightyTrowel
I think it’s current late 20 somethings and under. I actually fall right on the dividing line but round up to gen-x because of how incredibly different my childhood/worldview is from the kids who grew up with constant access to computers, mobile phones and the web – i remember becoming really aware as a senior at university that the kids applying socialized and communicated in totally different ways to me and my friends.
arguingwithsignposts
@TheMightyTrowel: yes. I remember the first time on a college campus when I noticed everybody texting or walking around with a mobile to their ear.
magurakurin
@TheMightyTrowel: wait a minute. You’re not actually sure where the “dividing lines” are but you’re sure that this magazine cover shows how the people in this imperfectly defined and exactly unknown to you generation are dissing another group in an equally imprecise “generation.” Maybe this magazine cover is actually only and indication of what a dickhead the cover editor is…regardless of his or her generational age.
kindness
Have you seen the morning comic over at DKos? It’s quite good.
Moral Dilemma.
singfoom
Just to get some facts in here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_X
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y
I’m a Gen-Xer, one that has supported OWS from the beginning and I’m disgusted by that NYMag cover. They might have well just changed it to “I want your money, rich jerks.”
Disgusting.
Rafer Janders
@wilfred:
Bruce Wasserstein of investment bank Wasserstein Perella and private equity firm Wasserstein & Co. (among others).
Fun fact: his sister is Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein.
hitchhiker
The story itself was just as bad as the cover — OWS cast as the entitlement generation who did all the right things feeling gypped, etc.
The guy in the photo is 24 & I’ve known him all his life. For him to be made the face of annoyed entitlement is an irony I can’t even describe.
arguingwithsignposts
@hitchhiker: Hell, they should be pissed about being gypped. Lots of folks have been. But it’s an economic swindle that has fingerprints of people from numerous generations (What gen was Reagan again?). They could have as easily put a group photo on that cover with people from all age groups with that message on a banner.
Paul in KY
@hitchhiker: He oughta look into modeling. Good way to make some money.
Bill Section 147
@hitchhiker: The guy in the photo and all of his friends should spread this “before & after” anyway and everywhere.
This is a beautiful, visual and simple way to let everyone know what #ows is up against. Doesn’t need much more explanation.
But I would reverse the order. First is who he is and second is what they want you to believe.
Don
Wow, I’m shocked they’d alter that in such a way. How is that any different than the scandal revolving around the NYT running those altered foreclosure photos? They took a shot and altered its meaning in a non-transparent way. That is not journalism.
John X.
It is kind of funny to work with the younger generation. I’ve been doing so for a few years.
It used to be kind of despairing, to be honest. The current generation of kids desperately wanted to work hard, put on the suit and become an organization man/woman. They bought into the system completely and totally.
As a Gen Xer, this was more than a bit depressing, but it fit into the worldview. The great struggle for a lot of my generation was figuring out how to make it in a world where everyone seemed destined for a corporate job. The issue, as it was in the 80s, was about how not to sell out. Silicon Valley thrived by inventing “fun” ways to work without being a suited drone.
That wasn’t the struggle for the younger generation. They believed in volunteering, doing a lot of extracurricular activities, interning and filling in the resume slots to be the best prospective employees they could be.
And the system has refused to give them jobs, pays them less than my generation with less benefits, loaded them up with college debt and generally fucked them coming and going.
The powers-that-be are steadily radicalizing a generation that, five years ago, bought into “the Man’s” worldview in a way that made my generation gag. And The Man rewarded them by fucking them over hard and fast before they even got their first job.
So today, they’re flirting with starting a worldwide revolution. It’s almost funny when you think about it.
Adrienne
@John X.:
I’m a part of that generation (26), and this is a perfect reflection of our progression.
Gustopher
Even worse than having his message changed like that is to have his message completely ignored while people simply objectify him.
Wow, that boy is really cute. Sigh. Swoon, etc.
Ok, got that out of my system. NY magazine is just scum. I hope the art director ends up being the victim of our Galtian overlord grifters and looses just enough of his retirement money on some scheme that he is left slightly uncomfortable in retirement.
WereBear
This little fellow turned out to be too sensitive for a home with two big dogs and three children with lots of friends.
Adopt little orange guy!
So if you can’t resist this little face, and live in the NYC/New England area, let me know you are ready to love him!
Paul in KY
@Gustopher: Saying the NY magazine is scum is like saying bears shit in the woods & the pope is Catholic.
Young people are looking for work. If this guy can get some modeling work, then he can improve his life.
Uncle Clarence Thomas
.
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Well, I’m glad someone around here will finally admit to being objectively pro-grifter.
.
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Kalan Sherrard
hey thanks so much for posting this. that’s me in the article and i was pretty pissed about the condescending pathos of that picture and article. OWS is an exciting, novel, diasporic phenomenon. it’s got the longevity, horizontalism, and sometime root-radical analysis that we haven’t seen in american political economy at least since the 30s, and i think its dynamic enough to be called a “movement”, maybe even a becoming.
what a cheap recuperation. or maybe just a thick-headed unthinker fulfilling the role they’ve been served and molded for. that’s depressing
(@Belafon : its a cancer because its modeled on infinite growth as a requisite for health in a world of finite resources. that can only lead to cannibalism. we need a plateau economics)
Kalan Sherrard
@hitchhiker: who r u whove known me 4eva?