Song of the Day: Phoebe Bridgers - Smoke Signals

Another new singer, another great vibe.

Smoke Signals, by Phoebe Bridgers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAKg267JgBE

Song of the Day: Farina - Copas de Vino

New singer.  The "next Shakira"?  Love the vibe in her music.

Copas de Vino - Farina [Video Oficial]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIV3WusvaRw

Government Sucks

Okay, I need to vent today.  Government sucks.  What a bunch of scammers.  Braves stadium deal rammed through, screw the taxpayers.  And now another "Ed-SPLOST" here in Cobb County, Georgia.  Bunch of fake, pretend conservatives.  They make me sick.

I had no idea there was an election coming up, and then I saw one or two signs last week talking about the Education SPLOST, vote yes for our kids or some such crap.
Ed-SPLOST V

Why do we still need SPLOST?
Because  Cobb's  learning  environments  and  infrastructure require ongoing maintenance and to continue providing the most effective instructional resources for Cobb students.
Ed-SPLOST I (1999-2003) and Ed-SPLOST II (2004-2008) were responsive  to  years  of  rapid  population  growth,  providing for construction of 21 new schools, 1,982 new classrooms and funding a myriad of capital improvements.
When  enrollment  trends  flattened  after  2008,  the  District's needs  shifted  toward  revitalization  of  outdated  facilities.  Many  Cobb  schools  are  more  than  40  years  old  and  have inadequate space and resources to best serve students.
Ed-SPLOST  III  (2009-2013)  and  Ed-SPLOST  IV  (2014-2018) focused  on  giving  new  life  to  existing  facilities,  replacing some  of  the  oldest  and  least  efficient  school  buildings  and refreshing     the     District's     technology     resources     and    
infrastructure.
Ed-SPLOST V (2019-2023) will concentrate on construction of new classrooms with the goal of housing approximately 2000 new  students  projected  to  enter  the  District  within  the  next five  years.  Ed-SPLOST  V  will  also  continue  to  focus  on modernizing the District’s older schools and facilities

There is absolutely nothing "special purpose" about this spending.  This is all spending that should be part of a normal operating budget.

Furthermore, how is it "special purpose" funding if it has been going on continuously since 1998?

Worst of all is the timing.  This shows beyond a doubt how dishonest they are.  This SPLOST is supposed to start in 2019.  2 0 1 9!!!  So why pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to hold a special election now, in early 2017???  Why not hold it during an election when there are other races and questions on the ballot, in the Fall?  Why?  Because they don't want anyone to know about it, and they have succeeded.  When I went to vote this morning (advance voting) there was only me and one other person voting.  The place was empty.  Way different from waiting in a line outside the building during the presidential election, and the least people I have ever seen in a voting facility.  This is a disgrace.

More about how they lie to us about SPLOST:
Cobb school board calls for Education-SPLOST vote after tense meeting, by Mary Kate McGowan

Note that they are choosing to spend the extra $40 million above and beyond what they said they "needed" for their "special purpose" tax.  This shows once again that there is nothing special purpose about it.  They are mismanaging their facilities and they expect the taxpayers to pay for it.


I also found out that my blue MARTA cards are expiring.  I was told when I got my first blue card that I'd never need another one, value would never be lost.  What a bunch of fucking liars.

Song of the Day: O.A.R. - I Go Through

I haven't posted in a while, so I apologize to you, my seven* readers.

Anyway, I heard a song the other day that touched me.  Check it out.  I love the lyrics.  And the song reminds me of one of my daughters in particular, who can be very direct.  So I dedicate this song to her.    :)

"O.A.R. - I Go Through (Official Music Video)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcd3BIP-ly0



Lyrics, from AZLyrics.com:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/oarofarevolution/igothrough.html

"I Go Through"

That ivory tower's looking tattered and tired 'round the eyes
Ain't getting much sleep at night
My daddy told me politicians never learn the golden rule
Do unto others, as you'd have them do to you

But you go 'round and around it
You go over and under
I go through

Foot on the table, running car, and tuck my kids in at night
The American Dream in real life, yeah
My mom's an Angel, cigarette smoke like a halo 'round her hair
Sun is shining right behind her standing there

You go 'round and around it
You go over and under
I go through
You go 'round and around it
You go over and under
I go through

You break my legs, then make me walk
You seal my lips, and demand I talk
You blind my eyes, then ask me if I like what you drew
Yeah, you do

You go 'round and around it
You go over and under
I go through
Oh, through, go on

My kid he asked me, "daddy when you coming home to me from work?"
If I'm being honest, man, that hurt

So I go 'round and around it
I go over and under
He goes through

You break my legs, then make me walk
You seal my lips, and demand I talk
You blind my eyes, then ask me if I like what you drew
Yeah, you do

You go 'round and around it
You go over and under
I go through
I go 'round and around it
I go over and under
She's go through

We go 'round and around it
We go over and under
We go through



*estimated

Silicon Valley Bubble

I was disheartened to see this job posting today (maybe it's been up for a while, I just saw it today, December 6, as I first type this) from Google.

I first heard of the job from this article from The Daily Mail:
Suddenly Obama-friendly Google needs a 'conservative outreach' manager to help shape agendas with policy makers after Donald Trump's election win
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4004220/Google-advertises-conservative-outreach-manager-Donald-Trump-s-election-win.html


Here's the Google job:

Manager, Conservative Outreach and Public Policy Partnerships
Google
Legal & Government Relations
Washington, DC, USA

https://www.google.com/about/careers/jobs#!t=jo&jid=/google/manager-conservative-outreach-and-public-washington-dc-usa-2141570013&

I'll post the description here, because it won't be open forever.

As a member of Google's Public Policy team, you help shape various product and issue agendas with policy makers inside and outside government. In addition, you will help advise our internal teams on the public policy implications of their products, working with a closely coordinated and cross-functional global team. The role requires significant experience either working with or in government, politics or a regulatory agency as well as an ability to grasp complex technical and policy issues.
As a member of Google's Public Policy outreach team, you will act as Google’s liaison to conservative, libertarian and free market groups. You are part organizer, part advocate and part policy wonk as you understand the world of third-party non-governmental advocacy organizations. You are eager to represent Google among those organizations. You can work a room, tell Google’s story in an elevator or from a podium and work with partner organizations on shared projects to advance Google’s public policy goals.
20th century laws don't always solve 21st century problems, and Google Legal crafts innovative approaches for tackling some of the toughest legal challenges of the information age. Whether you're a patent attorney, an intellectual property expert or an engineer headed to law school, Google Legal lets you tackle unanswered legal quandaries and create new precedents. Our innovative services raise challenging questions that demand creative and practical answers. We provide those answers by working at the crossroads of the law and new technology, helping Google build innovative and important products for users around the world.

Responsibilities

• Manage Google’s partnerships with conservative, libertarian and free market third-party advocacy organizations, think tanks, and activists.
• Represent Google externally at meetings and events held by advocacy organizations.
• Organize programs and events to help advocacy organizations better understand Google’s products and services.
• Meet regularly with organizations and work closely with groups on joint projects.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• BA/BS degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of direct experience in or around national politics, either in government or in advocacy roles.
• Direct experience working with conservative groups, advocacy organizations, think tanks and foundations on issue campaigns or public policy advocacy.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with difficult political and policy issues.
• Experience with conferences/events and large trainings; willingness to attend events after hours and on the weekends as needed.
• Self starter with the ability to think, plan, and execute large projects.
• Effective public speaker, excellent communicator and external representative who can help promote Google products, policies and people in panels, one-on-one meetings and large group settings and can help translate complex ideas and requests into understandable language and action plans.

I'm not even sure where to begin commenting.  I think it's sad that government is so big that companies feel that they need "public policy" teams.  I think it's doubly sad that a company like Google specifically needs someone to reach out to conservative groups.  It's not like they don't already have an army of people doing outreach and public policy.  What, were conservative and libertarian groups previously ignored?  It appears that the answer to that is yes, since they feel the need to hire someone to reach out to them now.  What was the default mission of the group they already had?  I think the fact that they need to hire someone for this purpose speaks for itself.

You think that Silicon Valley is not in its own bubble, its own echo chamber?  Think again.  I have seen it first-hand.  It is real and it is stifling.

Quote of the Day: Bob Marley on Curves

Saw this quote the other day.  Looked it up and found it was by Bob Marley.  Very simple and true.

"The most beautiful curve on a woman’s body is her smile."  - Bob Marley

Song of the Day: Ruth B - Superficial Love

Heard this song in concert recently.  Completely unexpected from an opening act.  Amazing.

"Ruth B - Superficial Love (Mahogany Session)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh-sF9HOh7o

Did you hear how Ruth B first got noticed?  Check this out, from Billboard.com:
"Ruth B's 'Lost Boy' And The Story Behind The Year's Strangest Hot 100 Hit"
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7334174/ruth-b-lost-boy-hot-100-hit-finding-neverland


Finally, here are some of those Vines, from Ruth B:
"Ruth B Vine compilation - Best Singing Vines w/ Song Names"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DWS6Z6faJY



Song lyrics for Superficial Love, from AZLyrics.com:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ruthb/superficiallove.html

"Superficial Love"

You're really cute, I must admit
But I need something deeper than this
I wanna know when I'm looking at you
That you don't only see the things you want to

'Cause I'm not perfect, I'm flawed
And if you don't like that, get lost
'Cause I don't want it if it's fake
I don't want it if it's just for show, for show
I just want it if it's real and I'm thinking I should let you know, you know

This superficial love thing got me going crazy
Baby if you want me, then you better need me
'Cause I'm so done, not being your number one
And if you wanna keep me, then you better treat me
Like a damn princess, make that an empress
'Cause I'm so done, not being your number one
This superficial love

Fun at first, I won't deny
But I want more than just what meets the eye.
I wanna know when you're looking at me
That you see deep into my personality

'Cause I want authentic, not just for fun
If this love is plastic, it'll break on us
'Cause I don't want it if it's fake
I don't want it if it's just for show
I just want it if it's real and I'm thinking I should let you know

This superficial love thing got me going crazy
Baby if you want me, then you better need me
'Cause I'm so done, not being your number one
And if you wanna keep me, then you better treat me
Like a damn princess, make that an empress
'Cause I'm so done, not being your number one
This superficial love

I can feel you on my lips all the time
But I just wanna feel you in my heart and on my mind
I can feel you on my lips all the time
But I just wanna feel you in my heart and on my mind
I can feel you on my lips all the time
But I just wanna feel you in my heart and on my mind
I can feel you on my lips all the time
And this ain't right

This superficial love thing got me going crazy
Baby if you want me, then you better need me
'Cause I'm so done, not being your number one
And if you wanna keep me, then you better treat me
Like a damn princess, make that an empress
'Cause I'm so done, not being your number one
This superficial love

I can feel you on my lips all the time
But I just wanna feel you in my heart and on my mind
I can feel you on my lips all the time
And this ain't right, this superficial love.