Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Baby Boomers: The Villian?

First, you should read this article from the WSJ.

If you didn't feel like reading all that, I'll sum up the character outline they provide Dr. Chris Wayne. He's a doctor who lives in Miami Beach and collected 1.2 million dollars from Medicare in 2008 mostly by providing therapy. He claims he collected it all legally, which seems reasonable as all public policy has loopholes. He is successfully painted as a villain in the article. Which brings me to my point: WSJ painted him as a villain easily because he looks like the child who didn't grow up.

Photobucket

He looks like he never grew up. Almost unnaturally, he dresses himself in everything from the past that he loves. Spikey hair, vintage cars, Ed Hardy sneakers (wait, is that current?), he revels in everything that he feels shows that he is still young and quite rebellious. Being of a generation that is irritated by anything "unauthentic" (I know, it's a vague term, argue with me later), I think we can all find this man enraging. He doesn't appear to have worked very hard for his money, at least any harder than a family doctor. Dr. Wayne just knows how to work the system. In an blogosphere that has a hard on for hard-working America, this is the stuff that drives us nuts.

Photobucket

Which brings me to my next point. The current college/entering workforce generation feels that we got screwed over as the boomer generation will be enjoying Social Security and Medicare on our overburdened shoulders. We complain that they enjoyed America as it was booming, and got good jobs and failed to continue that growth, while retiring on a broken system. To me, Dr. Wayne emcompasses the boomer generation. He appears as the perfect villain to pin these problems on. His lifestyle doesn't represent what I idolize. However, in the boomers' position, I don't doubt that we would have done the same. Maybe we just have to grin and bear our outlook (and stay so fly).

Thursday, December 9, 2010

MS & Co.

Did you buy a MS & Co. selvedge iPad sleeve and not own an iPad 'cause you're too broke? The good news is that you can still use your sleeve and get totally rad authentic fades. I hear there's mad respect on the blogosphere for authentic paper clip fades. Besides paperclips, I'm presenting a guide to some stuff that you can fill your sleeve with and put it to good use.

Photobucket

I think the most obvious thing to put in your sleeve are coins. Though the sleeve doesn't have a zipper, they probably won't fall out. And if they do, just hope that there's an attractive girl around to help you pick them up. And remember, the horse ride machine outside the grocery store is still only 50 cents. Start saving.

Photobucket

Those 3D glasses you got from Jackass 3D? Yea, they've been sitting in my car too. I'd throw them in the sleeve so you're not tempted to use them when driving. It makes the median look like it's in three different places.

Photobucket

Cookies are probably the best thing to keep in your sleeve. When you're in a meeting or in class, it's fun to eat a cookie and try to see if no one will notice. Act like you're chewing cud and people will be too grossed out to accuse you of anything. Also, the crumbs come in handy when you need a snack a few weeks later.

Photobucket

Most textbooks won't fit into a MS & Co. sleeve. At least you will have authentic rips.

Photobucket

A portfolio should fit.

Photobucket

And that sums it up. If you have any ideas for things to put into your iPad-less sleeve, just leave a comment, I'll be sure to add them to the list.

Parting Thoughts: A gift guide is not in order. If you haven't started Christmas shopping yet, you're in trouble.