When I read this article:
From a small Spring Valley factory, the Deering Banjo Co. is having its best year ever, defying the U.S. skills gap and California’s manufacturing doldrums. It has expanded and trained its own workforce and expects to top $4 million in sales for the year ending June 30.
I immediately thought of these Peanuts cartoons:
I think a lot of us could use a banjo right about now.
My mother worked in Disney World’s entertainment offices (of one type or another) for about 19 of the 20 years she worked for WDW. She said good banjo players could work just as much as they wanted to, between park performances and convention work.
Always something for me to fall back on, I guess.
Always something for me to fall back on, I guess.
Perhaps, but that information is at least 13 years out of date, the theme parks have cut back on entertainment and the convention business has probably slowed down.
Besides, what would you do with 80 degree days in January and February? You’d surely melt….
You’re forgetting: I’m a St. Louisan. Heat and humidity hold no terror for me.
Back when I worked for Laclede Steel (the other side of the river), my office was located above the furnace of one of the finishing mills. Directly above it. Even with full air conditioning the heat there was over 100.
You’re forgetting: I’m a St. Louisan.
You know, I’ve heard comments like that from people from lots of places. They almost all wilt when they’re actually here. The exceptions are people from west Louisiana and the parts of Texas adjacent to it. It’s MUCH worse there, I hear, and I tend to believe them- they all seem to be relieved to be HERE out of the heat and humidity! But St. Louis? Nah, ain’t buyin’ it.
Maybe we all don’t need a banjo.
How about a ukulele — I have one of those! My son plays it.
Need to give the Millennials banjos. They’re going to need it
People like me have had the heart of their professional lives ripped out. These kids aren’t even getting a decent start.
I saw that, too. Was thinking about posting on it.
The part that struck me was the observation that a college degree is a signal of social status. They just figured that out?! When a bachelors degree is no longer a reliable signal of status, emphasis changes to post-graduate degrees. When post-graduate degrees are no longer reliable, it will be something else.
For most people that nice, comfortable, reliable sign that they’ve made it will remain forever out of reach because that’s what those signals are for—to keep out the riff-raff. Most of us are riff-raff.
They just figured that out?!
Well, Harvard was involved. Allowances must be made.
To give concrete and personal examples, I have eight nieces and nephews, all “Millennials”. One is still in school, four are employed and doing quite well, one is just out of school and looking, two are underemployed. They’re all white, good-looking, non-drug addicted, law-abiding, college-educated, hard-working, conscientious young people, two or three sigmas in intelligence.
If that’s how they’re doing, what in the world will the remaining 95% of their cohort do?
If that’s how they’re doing, what in the world will the remaining 95% of their cohort do?
At this point in time, what difference does that make?