It’s been thirty-one years since John Lennon was shot dead outside the Dakota Hotel in Central Park West. Since then, fans from around the world meet at the Strawberry Fields sign on December 8th to express their love to the fallen working class hero.
Sound By Patricia Rey Mallén
On November 17th, thousands marched in Lower Manhattan to mark the two-month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. It was also an opportunity for the demonstrators to show their anger and determination after the NYPD shut down Occupy Wall Street’s headquarters in Zuccotti Park. But some of them, like Mighty Xee, think this was inevitable, and even desirable. Xee believes the now famous movement against corporate greed will only get stronger, despite Mayor Bloomberg’s tour de force.
Even though one could find heroes and villains in Zuccotti Park, Occupy Wall Street is far from a fairy tale. However, several kids have been seen in Occupy Wall Street headquarter. In fact, many teachers and parents find it important for the young to go down there and understand the movement against corporate greed and economic inequality.
That is why Jessica Foard, a teacher in a community high school in the Bronx, brought her students to Zuccotti Park. As for Dave Crawford, he crossed the country from Colorado to visit New York City with his sons and said the famous encampment was an essential spot.
As The New York Post puts it, the path of New York City Marathon is paved in gold.
In fact, according to Mayor Bloomberg, New York’s economy will run green with some $350 million in marathon-related activity.
This Sunday’s five-borough road race that attracted more than 47,000 runners also attracted many supporters and spectators – so many potential customers for the stores and cafes that border the race’s path.
In Brooklyn, dozens of people gathered all along Bedford Avenue to cheer the runners :
On Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn by Camille Hamet
Kyle Avallone, who works at Colador Café on Bedford Avenue, said the number of customers had doubled this Sunday :
“The food traffic doubles” by Camille Hamet
Fred Nelson is a regular customer and he said the cafe is usually not as crowded :
Lunch watching the marathon by Camille Hamet
That is why James Mc Grath, who is moving from Brooklyn to London, decided to sell his furniture this Sunday when he realized that the race was passing by his door :
Capitalizing on the marathon crowd by Camille Hamet
Two weeks ago, I asked my readers whether the economy was affecting their sex life. And it turned out that my readers were also students, who have been even more flat broke since the economy collapsed.
So then what happened to their bed?
Of the students surveyed, 33 percent said bad news about the economy was a source of stress and anxiety. 25 percent of them said these stress and anxiety were affecting their libido. Only 6 percent of the students surveyed said their own economic situation was affecting their sex life.
Nevertheless, most of the respondents think there is a strong link between one’s economic situation and one’s sex life.
“I’m sure there is a definite relationship between how much money a man may make in the market one day to whether or not he decides to initiate sex with his partner or visa versa,” said an anonymous respondent. “Like you said, money is sexy.”
Some of them learned that lesson at their own expense.
“I had spent four years in college pretending poor person even though I lived off my parents’ money, which was very sexy to college girls who read too many books,” said Sean, 25 years old. “When I moved [back] home, however, and actually had no money, I also had no sex. My economic situation has most definitely affected my sex life. Girls are expensive.”
“It’s tougher to have games when you’ve got nothing to back it up. You can’t try to pick a girl at a bar and tell her, ‘Hey, wanna go back to my mom’s place ? I’ve got an XBOX, you can be my Playstation,’ ” said Vincent, 22.
Rodrigo, 31, reminds us that girls also are affected by the economy.
“I think for many that only relied on one way to meet others of the opposite sex will suffer. However, the economy is not biased towards either males or females, so we are all in it together,” he said.
And one of them advises you to be creative if you’re broke.
“More or less willing to go out and spend money when my cash is limited. Otherwise though, there are plenty of ways to date without spending much or anything at all,” said Amital, 22. “The key is to be open and honest and also think creatively.”
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Thousands of anti-Wall Street protesters gathered in New York City’s Times Square on Saturday, supported by a global day of demonstrations. People demonstrated against corporate greed and economic inequality in Asia, Europe and Canada. In the United States, protesters also … Continue reading
They say money is sexy. So then what happens to your bed when the economy collapses?
Obviously it’s harder to take a girl out when you are flat broke. Especially if you are too old school to split the bill. Not to mention the fact that you moved back to your parents’ since you couldn’t find any job after you graduated. And most girls aren’t impressed by basements.
But even for those of you who are involved in a relationship and don’t need to spend their salary in drinks and dinners any more, the economic recession might have been a synonym of sex life recession.
In fact, massive numbers of layoffs, a big drop in the stock market and declining home values are just so many stressors. And while the couple’s worrying about money, mortgage and job stability, sex drives may decrease…
Here’s a short survey that can help me understand how the economy interacts with sex life. Thank you for filling it out!
As Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asked the U.N. to accept his country as full member this past Friday in New York, and even though it is doomed to failure as long as the U.S. stands in the way, Palestine is already paying economic price for its quest for recognition.
The World Bank forecasts GDP growth of 7% in the Palestinian territories in 2011, as compared with 9% in 2010. In its opinion, this slowdown is primarily due to the decline in foreign aid. But it is also due to the U.N. push, insofar as it creates uncertainty and discourages the private sector from investing. In fact, the possible consequences of the Palestinian approach are as varied as worrying: resumption of violence, establishment of Israeli military checkpoints between the West Bank cities, resignation of Abbas, and suspension of U.S.aid ($500 million a year).
“Businesses have stopped hiring and at least one bank merger and a significant investment from the United Arab Emirates have been postponed,” Jihad Wazir told the Financial Times, governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority. “It’s not so much the vote itself, but concerns about the Israeli response,” he said. This week, Israel threatened to withhold a portion of the $1.2 billion it collects each year in taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority if the latter pursued statehood recognition. As Mohammad Mustafa, head of the Palestine Investment Fund, put it in an interview with Bloomberg Television, the Palestinian economy could collapse within weeks without these funds.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at Davos World Economic Forum in 2007
This marked economic slowdown is a real blow for a nation that has nonetheless made important strides in the field of institutions, health, services, and education. The economic growth reached 9.3% in 2010, ahead of Israel’s 4%. While 55% of economic activity is based on the public sector, imports of cars rose by 77% between 2009 and 2011. During this period, 389 new companies have emerged in the West Bank. Even Gaza, which undergoes a partial blockade, has an exceptional level of 15% growth. But unemployment remains extremely high in both Palestinian territories: 16.9% in the West Bank and 37.4% in Gaza, which is still facing the extensive damage caused by Israeli military operations during Operation Cast Lead in late 2008.
According to World Politics Review, which refers to an IMF report, the biggest drag on Palestinian economic development has actually been the occupation itself:
“In short, the current economics of the Palestinian territories should not be seen as a reliable omen of a Palestinian state’s economic prospects after independence, but rather as a particularly anomalous and dysfunctional set of conditions that exist in large part because of the absence of Palestinian sovereignty. Earlier this year, the IMF estimated that, were it not for the effects of conflict and Israeli restrictions since 1994, the current GDP of the West Bank and Gaza would be 88 percent higher than its current level.”
In fact, the context of Israeli occupation has direct consequences on the Palestinian economy:
Well, it appears that Palestinians will still have to wait a bit longer before prospering. As an aside, it is remarkable that the countries that already recognize Palestine as a state represent over than 75% of world’s population but less than 10% of the global economy.
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Like 14 million other people in the US, you are unemployed. While there are many cons about your situation, there is also one big pro: you now have plenty of time to do what you have always wanted to do. Even though hunting for a job is becoming a full-time job in and of itself, you can also use a bit of this free time to make yourself a more appealing job candidate.
1- Learn a foreign language. Not everybody is born a bilingual. But speaking at least one foreign language is a much-appreciated skill and always looks good on a résumé. Plus, learning a foreign language can be done on the cheap. For instance, it is very easy to find a native French speaker who wants to practice English and have a conversational exchange, especially in an international city like New York.
2- Volunteer. Working with a non-profit organization as a volunteer will give you a good reason to get up in the morning. You are not only being helpful, but you are also keeping your skills sharp. And who knows? You might make a useful contact or two. If you want to give it a try, you may have a look on Helping.org, which lets you search by zip code and interest.
3- Start a blog and build your personal brand. Start a blog about the industry you want to go into in order to show your ideas and connect with people. Or share your own experience being unemployed. A blog also provides interesting contents for social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, where it is very important for you to be active if you want to build your personal brand. For those of you who are not geeks, here is a guide to get started.
4- Do some public speaking. Find a way to improve your communication skills. It is essential for you to know how to speak about yourself and highlight your abilities, especially during the stressful job interview. So join Toastmasters or any club or association that needs a speaker.
5- Exercise! Not only it is good for your health, but also exercise is a great outlet for stress and worry. Plus, you will look great for your next job!