Should have done this with a lighter colored dog.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Thursday, May 19, 2016
In space, no one can hear you bark
Particularly proud of the red lighting reflecting on the bottom of the dog's face.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Monday, January 11, 2016
Math, The Lottery, and Policies
I've seen a lot of people doing (incorrect) math regarding the topical Lottery. Somehow, people are coming up with millions of dollars for all US citizens, but really they're off by a few zeros and it actually falls short of five bucks a person.
The lottery is estimated at $1.3 billion. That's 1,300,000,000 dollars. The US has a population of 323 million (SOURCE, I'm rounding up because I can). Simple math tells us that (WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR TAXES) $1.3 billion / 323 million people is $4.025 per person. I think we can all agree that would be a giant let-down if the money was divided that way. What about some other ways?
[all calculations are not accounting for taxes]
$1.3 billion for each of the 3.6 million teachers (source) is about $360 per teacher. Not too shabby, it would almost cover the $400+ average amount each teacher spends out-of-pocket on classroom supplies, instructional materials, and books annually (source).
About $53 for each student who is eligible for free or reduced lunch (source), which makes about 20 lunches for each of them (source). That's ~960 million lunches.
$433 for each of the 3 million nurses in the US (source).
$108,000 for each summer camp in the US (source). $118 per camper or $865 per staff member at those camps.
But beyond what could happen, let's just understand what most likely will happen: 1-3 "lucky" individuals will receive a portion of this money. They will either use the money to help fuel their ambitions or waste it on frivolity (article | biased "source").
I think if the lottery teaches us anything, it should teach us how small sums of money from masses can make a difference, it just needs to go through the right channels. Taxes do just that for our country, and as tax season begins to approach, we should take a look at who controls where our tax money goes and if we have the power to change that.
I'm going to make this into an infographic if I care enough.
Let's do some real math.
The lottery is estimated at $1.3 billion. That's 1,300,000,000 dollars. The US has a population of 323 million (SOURCE, I'm rounding up because I can). Simple math tells us that (WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR TAXES) $1.3 billion / 323 million people is $4.025 per person. I think we can all agree that would be a giant let-down if the money was divided that way. What about some other ways?
[all calculations are not accounting for taxes]
$1.3 billion for each of the 3.6 million teachers (source) is about $360 per teacher. Not too shabby, it would almost cover the $400+ average amount each teacher spends out-of-pocket on classroom supplies, instructional materials, and books annually (source).
About $53 for each student who is eligible for free or reduced lunch (source), which makes about 20 lunches for each of them (source). That's ~960 million lunches.
$433 for each of the 3 million nurses in the US (source).
$108,000 for each summer camp in the US (source). $118 per camper or $865 per staff member at those camps.
But beyond what could happen, let's just understand what most likely will happen: 1-3 "lucky" individuals will receive a portion of this money. They will either use the money to help fuel their ambitions or waste it on frivolity (article | biased "source").
I think if the lottery teaches us anything, it should teach us how small sums of money from masses can make a difference, it just needs to go through the right channels. Taxes do just that for our country, and as tax season begins to approach, we should take a look at who controls where our tax money goes and if we have the power to change that.
I'm going to make this into an infographic if I care enough.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Yom Kip-cure
Last year around this time – in the Gregorian calendar that is – I was just waking up in the hospital. I had spent about three weeks being essentially unconscious lying in a potpourri of kickass beds. I write 'essentially' because I know there were certainly times I was conscious, but I was very much unaware of my surroundings, what was happening to me, and the general passage of time. I recall hearing doctors saying derivatives of the phrase “life-threatening” quite often. I’m sure they were attempting to explain the extremely rare blood disease I had to either me or my family. A disease called non familial Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) basically killed off my red blood cells, effectively removing my body’s oxygen transport system.
Spending the next few months learning how to walk, remembering how my handwriting works, and dealing with the overwhelming nature of the world outside a hospital room was difficult; but I was presented with a challenge I was ready to undertake. I was lucky enough to not have to worry (too much) about medical expenses or my own cost of living as I transformed from lying on my parents couch in a daze all day to being able to walk down their street on my own. Stairs were difficult and showers were dangerous. As I was beginning to feel more like a regular human, and as my doctor appointments were dwindling to three a week, I discovered I had lymphoma. Ultimately it really wasn’t too troublesome in comparison - and I do not mean this to demean anyone who has had any form of cancer. Simply the combination of me catching it early and having just survived one of the rarest blood diseases out there put my stage 1 diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma fairly low on the danger list and it truly didn’t impact me mentally that much. I did however take a big hit from the resulting chemotherapy, radiation, and mix of other horribly timed illnesses I contracted in the ensuing months. Only recently have I been feeling like myself – being able to jump (an average white-man’s jump height), able to run and write, think clearly and be happy.
Throughout this past year, I lost my best friend, two jobs, and a huge gap in my memory. I’ve gained strength (both physical and mental), a new-found love and appreciation for family and caring friends, a full medicine cabinet, and a perspective few people have on the universe. Never have I believed in God, but the traditions, community, and culture that religion brings to our lives is unequaled. As this season of the Jewish high holidays comes to a close, I want to take the time to thank you for your support and care, your texts and cookies, medicines and visits, late night phone calls and early morning emails, cute dog pictures and funny puns, weekly dinners and random gift baskets, favorites and likes. I’d like to thank you for your love.
I don’t normally share much about myself, but I’ve learned that doing so is an important half of every friendship. And to paraphrase a Ron Swanson quote, I’m not here to half-ass life, I’m here to full-ass it. So here I am sharing things about me, but I aim to find a happy medium with those about whom I care and those who care about me. Life is odd, we don’t have to be grateful for it, but might as well take advantage of the opportunities presented.
Good Yom Tov, keep in touch.
Spending the next few months learning how to walk, remembering how my handwriting works, and dealing with the overwhelming nature of the world outside a hospital room was difficult; but I was presented with a challenge I was ready to undertake. I was lucky enough to not have to worry (too much) about medical expenses or my own cost of living as I transformed from lying on my parents couch in a daze all day to being able to walk down their street on my own. Stairs were difficult and showers were dangerous. As I was beginning to feel more like a regular human, and as my doctor appointments were dwindling to three a week, I discovered I had lymphoma. Ultimately it really wasn’t too troublesome in comparison - and I do not mean this to demean anyone who has had any form of cancer. Simply the combination of me catching it early and having just survived one of the rarest blood diseases out there put my stage 1 diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma fairly low on the danger list and it truly didn’t impact me mentally that much. I did however take a big hit from the resulting chemotherapy, radiation, and mix of other horribly timed illnesses I contracted in the ensuing months. Only recently have I been feeling like myself – being able to jump (an average white-man’s jump height), able to run and write, think clearly and be happy.
Throughout this past year, I lost my best friend, two jobs, and a huge gap in my memory. I’ve gained strength (both physical and mental), a new-found love and appreciation for family and caring friends, a full medicine cabinet, and a perspective few people have on the universe. Never have I believed in God, but the traditions, community, and culture that religion brings to our lives is unequaled. As this season of the Jewish high holidays comes to a close, I want to take the time to thank you for your support and care, your texts and cookies, medicines and visits, late night phone calls and early morning emails, cute dog pictures and funny puns, weekly dinners and random gift baskets, favorites and likes. I’d like to thank you for your love.
I don’t normally share much about myself, but I’ve learned that doing so is an important half of every friendship. And to paraphrase a Ron Swanson quote, I’m not here to half-ass life, I’m here to full-ass it. So here I am sharing things about me, but I aim to find a happy medium with those about whom I care and those who care about me. Life is odd, we don’t have to be grateful for it, but might as well take advantage of the opportunities presented.
Good Yom Tov, keep in touch.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
The reason this tweet is the funniest of the bunch:
Imagine little kids writing poems in a competition. Not there yet? Let me give you some examples...
The Kadimahnik who just learned what Haikus are:
Imagine little kids writing poems in a competition. Not there yet? Let me give you some examples...
The Kadimahnik who just learned what Haikus are:
I love you so much,The Taster who barely understands poems or love:
Today the blue team will win,
Dear judges - Go Blue.
I love you,The Tzofim kid who's super into limericks:
you love me.
We're a happy family.
With the red team winning and a punch from butt to you!
Won't you say you love me too?
Bikkurim! What's the theme? I'm on Green,And finally, the Teva Trek camper who just got into spoken word, Poetry SLAM!:
We prevent them from winning like a vaccine.
Marathon is up next,
We win in all subjects,
Make sure you wear your sunscreen.
YELLOW!Also yeah, sometimes I favorite my own tweets. But only the good ones.
Yesterday I was playing my cello. I was eating some jello. I was having a conversation with a very strange... fellow. It was mellow.
The whole thing was great! Look at me postulate the state's fate.
I was rhyming way before you were born! The sweet sweet corn. I hope you won't be the one to mourn.
The fact that we will be victorious. Because we're glorious, notorious. The other teams want to be whore-ing us.
You'll see tonight when we win. Feel goosebumps on your skin, hairs on your chin chin. And your mouth it will grin.
Woah, man. Why can't I have more than 30 minutes to write this? I was going for like 4 pages here...
Don't you hear me bellow?
GO YELLOW!
Friday, July 31, 2015
Hey there Quinny did you have fun while I was out?
I bet you licked yourself, yeah without a doubt!
Did you sleep the whole time?
Did you bark at some cars?
Were you able to look outside at the stars?
Were you waiting for me?
Were you hoping for Todd?
Do you want to borrow a siddur so you can pray to God?
Sometimes I sing to Quinn (the dog) when I get home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
