the smedley log - suburban scrawl

While the new material simmers…

I figure I might as well draw some added attention to the item currently sitting top right in my sidebar. It’s a widget from the Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness, which is in the closing days of its fall donation drive.

The Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness is a local organization dedicated to finding solutions to the homelessness problem in the City of Brotherly Love. They do this without any government funding, so it is truly the donations of the community that make their efforts possible.

If you’ve been sitting on a pile of cash (or even just a few extra bucks) and you want to do something to help a great cause, perhaps you’ll consider donating today. Even if the fall drive is over by the time you read this, don’t worry, they’ll still gladly accept your generosity and put it to good use.

Click here to learn how to donate to PCEH. (Click here if you have a blog or other website and would like to help spread the word yourself.)

YouTube Tuesday: 7 days at minimum wage

This week, in honor of Halloween, a scary story about life at the bottom end of the payscale. It comes via Seven Days at Minimum Wage, a project focused on bringing the experiences of full-time minimum wage workers to light. Below is day one:

More healthcare curiosity

I’ve offered up a new version of the healthcare poll, following up on Spencer’s suggestion in the comments. The new question is, “If you have health coverage, who pays the premiums?” For the purposes of this question, it doesn’t matter if you have an HMO, straight health insurance, etc., just who pays for it (or the majority of it).

Feel free to add answers if you think the ones provided are inaccurate for your situation. The question should stay up for at least a week or two.

Cheery news on the savings rate

This caught my ear on the radio the other day, so I decided to read more about it.

Spending is apparently cooler than saving. Which reminds me of a person I once met who whined insufferably about barely being able to afford basic necessities as he climbed into his Ford Expedition. Things like that could have something to do with it. Of course, the increase of living costs relative to average salary fits somewhere in there too.

Savings Rate at Lowest Level Since 1933

Survivor casting call

Need a million dollars? Like living in the wild? Is an occasional stab in the back your cup of tea?

It’s not mine, but I know a few Survivor fans out there who may be interested in knowing there will be a Philadelphia casting call this Thursday for the all too popular “reality” show.

A business start-up in reverse?

Has anyone heard of Backwords?

It’s apparently a fledgling business proposition to fund the start-up of a Center City coffee/book/music/art shop solely with internet contributions.

I visited the site and looked through it, but it still seems a bit lacking in detail. Intriguing, but ambiguous.

AJS: still waiting for a cure

AJS—it’s unheard of by most Americans, yet it affects so many. It’s a condition almost as mysterious as the factors that trigger it. Any day now I expect to begin seeing ads for the latest AJS remedy from Pfizer or Eli Lilly.

So What is AJS? Well, it’s quite scary, so be forewarned—you might consider sending the children out of the room for a minute or two.

[Read more →]

Help Katrina’s victims

… if you can.

[Read more →]

2.699

I am not looking forward to a time when I will look back and long for the days when gas only cost 2.70 a gallon.

The Philly Ad Network

Philly Future reports the arrival of the sleek new Philly Ad Network, a place where advertisers can reach their audiences through various local blogs. Current weekly unique hits on the entire network number well over a million, and the network is still ripe for expansion.

Read the Philly Future post—I’ll have more later.

A communist wrapped inside a capitalist inside an enigma…

(This post was at least partly spurred by a recent guest post at Ales Rarus—better late than never on the acknowledgement, I hope)

From Wal-Mart Facts – Key Topics:

Wal-Mart’s position on unions. It’s all about taking care of our people. If we do that and do what is right for our communities, we will be fine. We will continue to foster an environment of open communications and encourage our associates to express their ideas, comments and concerns. We are not against unions. They may be right for some companies but there is simply no need for a third party to come between our associates and their managers.

They may be right for some companies but there is simply no need for a third party to come between our associates and their managers? – really? And I’m sure the great corporate citizen and employer, Wal-Mart, leaves that decision entirely to its employees, with no undue influence being exercised from corporate headquarters.

[Read more →]

Furor over legislative raises may prompt minimum wage changes

Philly.com reports that PA legislative history could repeat itself:

HARRISBURG - Almost two decades ago, citizen outrage over a $12,000 legislative pay raise prompted lawmakers to share the benevolence. They boosted Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $3.70, 35 cents above the federal standard.

That 1988 vote was the last time the General Assembly increased the state’s minimum wage. Since then, the federal minimum wage, and thus Pennsylvania’s minimum, has inched up from $3.35 to $5.15 an hour.

Now with neighboring states raising their minimum wages above the federal level and the Pennsylvania General Assembly facing a backlash for the double-digit pay raise it approved for its members this month, supporters here are hoping history will repeat itself. … (read the rest at Philly.com)

Operation Clean Sweep

Operation Clean Sweep is my latest grassroots passion. This really only applies to Pennsylvania residents in my modest audience (ever more modest when limited to locals). Ales Rarus first opened my eyes to it, but I’m also noticing items in other places now, like at Philly Future. Hopefully this welcome little craze will help bring some sanity back to our state legislature.

One can hope.

Anti-Wal-Mart and anti-Wall Street?

Confined Space has this analysis of the Costco gameplan, which contrasts sharply with the Wal-Mart plan. And who would’ve guessed, but it seems to work pretty well.

Jim Sinegal takes less than the average CEO, while his company compensates its employees significantly better than his competitors (including Sam’s Club), and Costco stock somehow performs better, too.

Go figure. I guess that’s something I’ll have to remember next time someone defends Wal-Mart wages with a blind line like “they have a responsibility to their shareholders.”

Conserving energy, and the money it costs

Frank (of iFlipFlop) posts this at Philly Future, opening my eyes to some relatively simple yet effective power (and money) conservation tips at Slow Gardening.

(Slow Gardening doesn’t appear to have permalinks, so if the post in question moves anywhere, just look for “Speaking of Conservation…” posted on May 3, 2005)