Jerry's Odd Corner of the Internet
May 2012
40 Hour Work Week Minimum Wage Cannot Afford 2 Bedroom Apartment | Geekosystem →
geekosystem.com
Hey guys, just because you might’ve been having a good day, here’s a depressing chart about the quality of apartment life in the United States. Whether it’s somewhere expensive like New York, or somewhere cheaper like Ohio, minimum wage in any state in the country cannot afford a two bedroom apartment.
If you’ve ever been apartment hunting, you probably already know that it ain’t no picnic, but the above chart lets you know, at least, that it ain’t no picnic anywhere else. The minimum amount of hours working on minimum wage that can afford a two bedroom apartment is 70 hours per week, while the more “attractive” states, like California, Florida, and New York require over 88 work hours per week. If you’re wondering, there are only 168 hours in a week. If you pulled down minimum wage in New York City, and tried to afford a two bedroom apartment, you’d be working more hours (88) per week than you wouldn’t be working (80). If you’re trying to sleep by the old standard of 8 hours of sleep per night, you’d be sleeping 56 hours per week, which leaves you with only 32 hours of leisure time over the course of seven days.
Now, it’s worth noting that not everyone making minimum wage would be trying to afford a two bedroom apartment by their lonesome, and generally speaking, people attempting to rent a two bedroom apartment would probably have a roommate who also has some kind of income. However, there are situations wherein a roommate that pulls down an income isn’t possible, such as a single parent that needs another bedroom for a child.
The numbers in the above chart utilize the list of minimum wages by state found over on Wikipedia, coupled with any given state’s Fair Market Rent figure. The FMR system provides a handy set of menus that allows one to check out the average rent of any given area in a state.Play around with that if you want to see how much cheaper life would be somewhere else, but be warned, it can get pretty upsetting that a four bedroom apartment near a beach in some other state is cheaper than your one-and-a-half bedroom, two roommate apartment where all the windows somehow face a brick wall.
There's something about these "zombies in Florida" jokes that I just really don't like.
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i love a-rach: Three things to never say to your trans*friend as requested by anon
At one point in your life you are bound to run into a trans* person, a genderqueer person or someone who challenges the way you view things. Hopefully, you’ll befriend someone (unless they’re an asshole - it’s okay to not be friends with someone if they’re an asshole, but not just because they confuse you) who does fall into one of these nonbinary (i.e. male/female) categories.
We all want to be good friends right? Well, most of us do. There are certain things you should never say to a trans* person, even if they have been your best friends since the womb. Let’s just take a look at that right now.
1. What you (generally) say: What is your real name / Sorry, you’re still (insert birth name) to me / What is your actual name, etc.
Why you shouldn’t say it: You have to understand that a transperson’s identity is very fragile. Even the strongest of trans* individuals still has issues with self-perception and dysphoria. Accidentally dropping one of these into a conversation is bad. Why? Because using words like “real” and “actual” gives off the not so subtle vibe that their current identity is the opposite of these words, fake. If a person wants to disclose the name they were given at birth with you, they will. Saying that a person is still a name they don’t identify with can make a trans* person feel like you don’t accept their identity, which can be devastating, especially on a bad day. When you’re questioning everything you’re supposed to feel about yourself, having a friend do it just perpetuates the confusion and self-hate.
What you should say: I’m sorry, it’s going to take me awhile to adjust but know my mistakes aren’t out of malice or me not accepting you, but sheer habit.
2. What you (generally) say: So do you want me to call you a dude/chick now? / Am I supposed to call you by your actual titles or not? / Are you a guy or girl? / What do you want me to call you?
Why you shouldn’t say it: If a trans*person is to the point where they are publicly transitioning, throwing around words can be a lot more harmful than helpful. The way a trans* people carries present themselves is a very important and conflicting point of interaction. It is literally trying to rearrange the way society sees you in order for it to match up with how you feel internally. Carelessly referring to a trans*person as their wrong gender, or implying that their presenting gender is not their “real” gender is extremely hurtful and can come off as an attack and a show of disapproval. While every person will prefer their own set of pronouns, assuming or wrongly addressing your friend is a bad way to go.
What you should say: What pronouns do you prefer?
3. What you (generally) say: So is sex different? / How will you do it if you don’t have the right parts / Are you gay then?
Why you shouldn’t say it: Number one, a person’s sexual identity has absolutely nothing to do with their gender identity. Nothing. Whatsoever. Nothing. As in, not related at all. Number two, how would you like someone busting in, asking your girlfriend what your sex noises sound like or your favorite toy to use, or something equally embarrassing? What a trans*person does in the privacy of their bedroom is of no concern to you, and just because you’re curious and confused does not mean you get to objectify people to feel better about yourself. If you wouldn’t ask your girlfriend’s protective father about it, or your grandmother, then you shouldn’t ask a trans*person.
What you should say: Nothing.
misianese submitted:
I’ve basically decided that if any woman feels uncomfortable with an uncircumcised penis, or thinks it looks strange, or refuses to have date/have sex with a guy who is uncircumcised, then in turn, SHE should be okay with it if a guy decides he doesn’t want to date her for her natural appearance and thinks she should get a boob job (or some other form of cosmetic surgery).
If you’re going to dish out that kind of offence to someone’s natural body, be willing to accept it in return.————————————————————
Yep. It goes both ways. If you expect someone to have cosmetic surgery, don’t get upset if they expect the same from you.
Reblog if you want one of these in your askbox:
- A compliment
- A story
- Why you follow me
- If you met me what would you do
- A cute message
- One thing you want to tell me
- One thing you want to know about me
