Does hard work really pay off anymore?
By Thom Hartmann A...
For most of our lives, we've been taught that hard work pays off, but most of the super-rich didn't make their money by working hard. According to a new analysis by Paul Buchheit of UsAgainstGreed.org, those at the top make most of their money by betting against the American people. The wealthy elite makes a fortune by speculating on rising food prices, which means that they profit by making it harder for people around the world to afford to eat.
As if that isn't evil enough, the super-rich also bet against mortgages, so that they could make a profit when Americans could not longer afford to stay in their homes. And, once millions of Americans found themselves out on the street, the private equity firms swooped in, bought up the foreclosures, and rented them back to the very people that they swindled out of their homes. The super-rich rake in even more by gambling on Wall Street, screwing over Main Street, and buying off the politicians that help make it all possible. The only hard work that the billionaires face is walking the fine line between so-called investing and criminal activities like bribery, fraud, and manipulating the market.
Our nation used to really value hard work, and that work was rewarded with a better life and brighter future. But, for the last three decades, the super-rich have rigged the system, and managed to convince many of us that we're just not working hard enough. The time has come to stand up, speak out, and fix this broken system while we still have a chance. We work hard, we play by the rules, and we need to fight for an economy that pays off for more than the top one percent.
Comments
#2
kend: Why don't you move to "half way" (in the middle) between Canada and Phoenix so that you can enjoy a temperature without extremes. How about Flagstaff? That's half way between (the middle) Phoenix and Canada, isn't it? See, compromise...that's what it's all about! ;-}
#3
kend: " They want there nose in everyone's business as they know how to run your life better then you do."
And that is not also the agenda of Conservatives?
#4
Palin you have me confused with Mexicans. Canadians respect your laws and borders. I can't move Down there Without the proper paper work and what I do would take a job from a American. By the way Pocatella Idaho would be half way For me. Nice place though.
Conseratives don't want to tell someone how wealthy they can be, or tell us what health care system we can have. They don't think they should limit how big a company can be. conservatives want to limit the amount of taxes to just paying for basic needs not taxing so everybody can have cable TV and cell phones. I think you might get my point, so no conservatives don't have running my life on the agenda.
#5
kend: Yes, I know that Flagstaff is not really half way from Phoenix to Canada...I was just trying to kid you about your idea of half way or middle. If Phoenix is Conservative and Canada is liberal (just hypothetical, mind you) then the current Democrat Party is Flagstaff. If the current Democrat party was really middle, they'd be in Pocatello, Idaho right now. But they aren't they are stuck in Flagstaff...very close to Phoenix (about 120 miles).
I've been to all four places (but not politically) a number of times.
I do tend to agree with you, though, that we shouldn't be taxed to pay for poor people's cell phones and cable TV. But we should be taxed to pay for everyone's healthcare and education. Remember that it is the "successful" business person who can "wheedle" blood out of turnips. All they have to do is use psychology in their TV and Movie and billboard commercials to spend what little they have....make them want what they shouldn't buy...and make them use credit so that they will be forever enslaved by those who screwed them out of their money to begin with and then condemn them for being so stupid. Make them feel like a Prince, in order to get their money, then treat them like the paupers that they are...right?
#6
Quote Palindromedary:Quote DAnneMarc:They are one of the few churches who actually adhere to the principles of the Bible.
You mean that they "overturn the money changer's tables" or "go down into the land of Canaan, kill every man and man-child...take the women and girls as sex slaves...steal their property" or "offer their young females to be ravaged by the deviates who want to bugger their male guests" or "generally treat women as chattel" or "sacrificing one's son at the alter on on a cross?" That kind of thing?
If I may jump in, I think what Marc meant was that they follow the principles of the Gospels. The Bible is such an amalgam of stuff that has so many contradictions that you can justify just about anything you want from the Bible. I may believe in God - and I don't know yet what form it takes or what nature it has - but of one thing I am sure and that is that the Bible is not the word of God, at least, not one, anyway, that would have my allegiance - or my credulity.
Whatsa matter with overturning money changers' tables? You got a thing for private property rights?
#7
WHERE have all the good jobs gone?
long time passing
WHERE have all the good jobs gone?
long time ago
WHERE have all the good jobs gone?
jobs are export number one
WHEN will they ever learn?
WHEN will we ever learn?
WHERE have all the good jobs gone?
long time passing
WHERE have all the good jobs gone?
long time ago
WHERE have all the good jobs gone?
corporations ship them every one
WHEN will they ever learn?
WHEN will we ever learn?
#8
Quote ChicagoMatt:Nowadays, the point system is based on the income level of the block you live on. So my daughter, who starts high school next year, did not get into one any of the selective enrollment schools with her score (890 on a 900 scale). Our block is classified as "high income". If we lived in a "low income" block, she would have gotten in to any of the four selective enrollment schools with her score. They've just replaced the racist policies with classist policies. In essence, I put more into the Chicago Public School "pot", because my property taxes are higher than most, but my own children can't get into the nicest schools. Do you see how someone in my position might feel like they are being punished for being successful, even if it is an overused term?
Let somebody else have some success too, or, at least, an equal shot at it! I don't accept that affirmative action is racist and applaud affirmative action on the basis of class or family income level. It's less fair, I would hold, to deny a child opportuniy because their parents are not wealthy, putting aside, for the moment, whether or not they are "deserving" of their poverty.
Sorry for my earlier comments - before I edited them out - I thought I had to address the issue of the unfair funding system but couldn't find a nice way of saying it without inadequately stating the case. I tried several before this last version.
#9
A poor laborer I knew once said, "The harder you work in this country the less you get paid and the more money you steal the less time you do in jail." That was around the time Conrad Black, CEO of Hollinger International, the newspaper firm which published the Chicago Sun Times, The London Daily Telegraph and The Jerusalem Post, among others, was in the news for sealing $80 million from the firm. It was expected that he would do no time in jail - he eventually served 5 years.
The poor work harder than anyone else They work hard, shitty, most repulsive, detestable and dangerous jobs - often two or three at once - for nickels and no insurance or benefits. The poor are so poor, or so underpaid, not because they don't work hard but because, unlike the rich and better off, they lack power.
A very stark example illustrating this would be that of the undocumened worker. Undocumented workers are famous for their untiring dilligence and brilliant competence - and also for their extreme poverty (or undercompensation). Their undocumented status gives them a severe disadvantage in negotiaing with an employer as to make their negotiating strentgh practically nil.
Any individual laborer lacks the power to negotiate a free and fair contract with an employer of almost any size or potency but does when combining and uniting with other workers and laborers and bargaining collectively.
#10
Quote Kend:I just have to mention to all my global warming freinds. We are in May and we just received a foot of snow and going to have a high tempature of zero today (32 US) our average temps have dropped severally over the last 5 years. I know I am being selfish but can global warming please come back I can't take it any more. I feel like I am in one of those little glass bubbles you shake and it snows and someone just keeps shaking the $&@#ing thing
Kend, the last 15-20 years have all been the hottest on record almost in ascending, consecutive order. This winter was anomolous. From what I understand, we in the U.S. got below normal temperatures while the Arctic had 20 degrees above normal temps because the warm air displaced their cold air and sent it down here. Anyway, that's the science of it so it'll be back, no doubt.
#11
You can see race based affirmative action as reverse racism but I think that's a kinda short sighted, "small picture" view of it. Its purpose, of course, is to make up for unjust disadvantages that are found in the structure of our society resulting from more active past and current injustices when dealing out a limited number of opportunities..
It is possible to take that victim stuff too far and play the race, gender or whatever of victim card but I don't think it happens as often as you might think. In any case, it doesn't change the fact of genuine victimization.
#12
Sorry cop out. I have freinds that work in the Arctic your science is wrong. The last 3 years have been some of the coldest on record. Maybe world wide temps averages are warmer I am just whining about where I live. You do know temps havn't even gone up two degrees on average we have only recorded temps for about 150 years out of hundreds of millions. Maybe that is normal. In Canada we have reduced our green house gases. Not that it matters we are only responsible for about 1.6 % of the worlds emissions. It is China and India we have to worry about. i think they should have to clean it up or everything from there gets a huge import tax. Our problem is we focus too much on n. America where the problem isnt as bad. I am not panicIng yet Though. Sorry I didn't want to start a climate change debate. I have given up long ago. Keystone is a perfect example how stupid it has become. There is no logical reason why it hasn't been approved if it wasn't good for the US Trans Canada would have been told to piss off long ago. Obama can't say no as he knows the would come back to haunt him when gas prices sky rocket after Canada is forced to sell its oil offshore. I am told by my oil buddies they have been told it will get approved next January. After the mid terms.
#13
anarchist cop out: Actually overturning money changers tables is a very good idea. I have nothing against it.
#14
Didn't they stop using the term "global warming" awhile ago, in exchange for "climate change" or, lately, "climate wierding"?
The fact that it's May 4th, and I am still wearing my coat here in Chicago concerns me.
I have faith that someone, maybe some evil corporation that wants to make a lot of money, will figure out a way to get the pollution OUT of the atmosphere. It will be difficult though - the really bad stuff is right on the edge of space. I'm thinking weather balloon-mounted scrubbers of some sort.
#15
Actually overturning money changers tables is a very good idea. I have nothing against it.So that's why the tables, and everything else at the Curreny Exchange is behind bullet-proof glass...
#16
Let somebody else have some success too, or, at least, an equal shot at it!
How does my success stop anyone else? And asking a parent like myself to NOT give every advantage to my own biological children, to try some pipe-dream Progressive social experiment, goes against my basic parenting instinct.
I wish we could apply your logic to dating. Back when I was single, I didn't think it was fair that I didn't have a real shot at Megan Fox. Those rich Hollywood types were keeping her all to themselves.
#17
Quote Palindromedary:You mean that they "overturn the money changer's tables" or "go down into the land of Canaan, kill every man and man-child...take the women and girls as sex slaves...steal their property" or "offer their young females to be ravaged by the deviates who want to bugger their male guests" or "generally treat women as chattel" or "sacrificing one's son at the alter on on a cross?" That kind of thing?
Palindromedary ~ No! Perhaps I should have said "Christian" principles of the Bible. However, it is true when you get down to it that any church that reveres the Bible as the word of God is going to be cherry picking the verses and books that it wants to believe. It has to because so much in the Bible clearly contradicts itself. Yet most of my dealings with the Baptist church of the ghetto has been in an official capacity servicing their office equipment. It is quite amazing the difference between a Baptist church in the ghetto and one in a white affluent neighborhood. You might get a kick out of this. When dealing with the black magistrates of the very same church I find them to be honest, appreciative, generous, humble, and very friendly. When dealing with the white magistrates of a very wealthy Baptist church I found them to be deceptive, cheap, bitter, arrogant, and vindictive. One call in the rich church I'll never forget. I did everything I could to help them and keep the costs down. It was a miracle I got their equipment back up at all considering how neglected it was. However, they needed about $2K of parts to really fix it. I told them what I did was temporary and that was it--a day or two, two weeks at best at minimum use. They never approved the estimate. Six months later we get the call that the machine is down again and they want immediate service because we were just there. Come on. Give me a break. Luckily I keep copies of all my paperwork. When I got there I was both blown away by how much they used the machine that I told them only had a bandaid on it. (Actually, I was also quite impressed by my own handiwork--almost as much as I was shocked by the Deacon's lack of faith in my advice.) He wanted me to bandage the machine for another 6 months. When I told him that was impossible he became furious and threatened to sue us. Not wanting to--not being able to--continue the conversation without saying anything nasty I excused myself. I had to laugh on the way to the car because the guy totally screwed himself by not believing anything I told him. (I kinda suspected he might be like that when I first met him which is why I took the time to put it all in writing and have him sign it the first time I went there. His threatened lawsuit was dead in the water from the word go and he was completely SOL.
Whenever I've gone to poor churches in my business capacity I'm always inspired to see these poor people volunteering for food drives, running homeless kitchens, participating in out reach programs, or even serving the homeless who are waiting in line as I arrive. I have yet to stumble upon any rich churches doing the same with the same enthusiasm.
That's just my business experience. Between you and me I hate servicing churches. I just don't feel comfortable in them for many reasons. I also have a conflict of interests charging them. It seems like something I should be willing to do for free in many instances; yet, contributing to the obvious sham some of these churches are is equally abhorrent to me. I'd prefer just not dealing with them all together. They give me the creeps. However, that is not my decision.
Quote Palindromedary:With all those slaves, who willingly accept their lowly condition while letting others trample all over them, why should the ruling elite, or their wannabes, try to deviate from this easy exploitation-of-others path?
Palindromedary ~ You make a very good and sad point. I thoroughly agree.
By the way, I'm sorry I even brought this up. No hard feelings I hope.
#18
Mark, I'm with you on race-based Affirmative Action. The only reason I didn't participate in this part of the discussion earlier (other than a project I'm working on) is that I'm tired of arguing with people about Affirmative Action. Lots of white folks are outraged by it and call it "racist", which I think is hogwash, but there's no way of getting through to these people who hate it. I view it as a legitimate effort to level the proverbial playing field a little bit. I know there are at least some black professionals who would still be stuck in the margins, doing menial low-paid grunt work, if it weren't for Affirmative Action. This is why I think it was a good policy; it accomplished what it was supposed to accomplish while in effect. But Affirmative Action is history now, so there's no point in beating that dead horse anyway… - AIW
#19
It is quite amazing the difference between a Baptist church in the ghetto and one in a white affluent neighborhood.
Don't you think you might be a little predjudiced by your own preconceptions? Like maybe you're on the lookout for snobbery from the rich people? Maybe not.
I'll admit that, sometimes, when I am in a predominately black area of Chicago, I think the people there are mad at me already, just for being there. So I'm on the lookout for behavior that reaffirms my preconceptions, all while ignoring the behaviors that do not.
Or, when I go shopping at a high-end store, I still fill out of place and look for behaviors that confirm my "snobby counter person" stereotype. Even if the people helping me are nice, I don't see it.
That's just my business experience. Between you and me I hate servicing churches. I just don't feel comfortable in them for many reasons. I also have a conflict of interests charging them. It seems like something I should be willing to do for free in many instances; yet, contributing to the obvious sham some of these churches are is equally abhorrent to me. I'd prefer just not dealing with them all together. They give me the creeps. However, that is not my decision.
Without getting too much into your business, is it not your decision because it's not your company, or because there are laws preventing discrimination when it comes to customers. If it's the later, do you see how someone in the wedding industry might feel if they are forced to service a gay wedding?
Or maybe I am muddling issues too much. I've been known to do that.
#20
Quote anarchist cop out:If I may jump in, I think what Marc meant was that they follow the principles of the Gospels. The Bible is such an amalgam of stuff that has so many contradictions that you can justify just about anything you want from the Bible. I may believe in God - and I don't know yet what form it takes or what nature it has - but of one thing I am sure and that is that the Bible is not the word of God, at least, not one, anyway, that would have my allegiance - or my credulity.
anarchist cop out ~ Well said! Very, very, well said!!
#21
Even the Catholics, well the priest at my parish at least, who also happens to be my boss on the school side, he calls the Bible a "Myth that leads us to the truth".
A good book to read is "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. It's in the humor section. He writes down every single rule in the Bible, and does as many of them as he can in one year. Like dropping a small pebble on the shoe of a woman in the park - his version of "stoning" her.
Not that anyone cares, but I came to Catholicism on my own as an adult. Besides the spiritual aspect of it, there is also the practical and useful part of it. It's a big, powerful organization here in Chicago. Not a bad thing to join if you can. Much like the Teamsters or the AFL-CIO in that regard.
#22
Pal -- Where exactly in the constitution is that freedom fighter? The only ones I can find are definitely not fighting their own government.
#23
Quote ChicagoMatt:Don't you think you might be a little prejudiced by your own preconceptions? Like maybe you're on the lookout for snobbery from the rich people? Maybe not.
ChicagoMatt ~ Absolutely not! The vast majority of my customers are from wealthier areas. I have built up a great rapport with people who I would never see eye to eye with politically. Most Conservatives I service are great people. They show their appreciation for my talents as well. I had no preconceptions on how this well to do Deacon was going to treat me. I treated him like everyone else. His demeanor struck me odd at our first meeting which is the only reason I made sure to cover my butt. (That and the fact that charge calls warrant that action regardless of who you are dealing with.) It is just a coincidence that my reality and my instincts turned out to be a genuine match. Remember, it took six months for this engagement to come to a head and this man's true colors to be made apparent.
Quote ChicagoMatt:it's not your company, or because there are laws preventing discrimination when it comes to customers. If it's the later, do you see how someone in the wedding industry might feel if they are forced to service a gay wedding?
ChicagoMatt ~ Not at all. Churches give me the creeps because you never know from one to the other where they are coming from. Nevertheless I have never denied my services to anyone. I repair a wide variety of facsimiles and copiers. I enjoy it because I enjoy the idea of free speech. I believe that everyone should be able to have their say and say it as loud as they want to as many people as they want. After that, let the chips fall as they may.
#24
DAM -- Wonderful commentary!
#25
Kend -- I guess I need to repeat over and over. Global Warming has inebriated the jet stream. If you are witnessing ususual weather it is probably global warming.
#26
DAnneMarc: Very good story! Thanks! No hard feelings..not that fragile actually. And I sure do know about those hard to please customers who expect something for nothing...especially when those people can easily afford it.
#27
The vast majority of my customers are from wealthier areas.
I feel like there are people on this blog who would call that "aiding the enemy". Just kidding...
This is why I am not so concerned about any coming "uprising of the oppressed" or anything like that. One of the busiest highways in Chicago during rush hour leads from the city to the wealthier suburbs (The Edens, for you locals) - an army of workers, going where the money is. I used to be one of them years ago. I think, when it comes to grabbing pitchforks and torches and getting back at the people who "oppress" you, cooler heads will prevail. The poor working poor will think about all of the nice, upper-middle-class people they know, and continue on about their normal lives.
#28
I repair a wide variety of facsimiles and copiers.
Interesting nonpolitical anecdote: Every year, the students bring in reams of paper for the teachers at my school on Day 1. I am one of the youngest and most technologically-advanced teachers at my school. We have a school set of Ipads, but I am literally the only one who knows how to use them, so my students get to use them all of the time. I scan and email them worksheets, links to videos, etc...
Anyway, by this point in the year, all of the other teachers have run out of paper, while I don't even know how to turn on the copy machine because I've never had to use it. So when the call went out for "any extra paper", and I answered with about 60 reams, my boss asked me how I did it. I told her I just scanned everything, and now I have to give a presentation of how to do that to my peers over the summer. That is, now the boss wants the whole school to go paperless. My evil Conservative side's first reaction was that now I will have to share the Ipads...
#29
kend -- Regarding your freinds in the Artic, is there any chance they are employed by carbon corps? With respect to the XL Pipeline, Trans Canada said it was going to rise the price of gas. The dems in our congress tried to bring up a law to require some small percentage of the XL fuel would be used in the US. The repugs would not even let them introduce it. The XL pipeline only benefits billionaires like the Kochs. It is being piped to a duty free port in Texas. The US does not even receive the usual tax revenue. The reason they have not been told to piss off long ago is because the billionaires own our government.
#30
Quote ChicagoMatt:How does my success stop anyone else? And asking a parent like myself to NOT give every advantage to my own biological children, to try some pipe-dream Progressive social experiment, goes against my basic parenting instinct.
I wish we could apply your logic to dating. Back when I was single, I didn't think it was fair that I didn't have a real shot at Megan Fox. Those rich Hollywood types were keeping her all to themselves.
Other people have kids too, I'm asking you, once again, to not be so self obsessed, like you're the only parent in the world. All kids deserve an equal chance and there are limited opportunities. Your kids would likely do alright even without that one high school.
How do you know Megan Fox even wants you? You know before capitalism, in feudal society, there was a system of arranged marriage. Everybody got a mate, might not've been the prettiest one but everybody got one. There were no old maids or the converse.
Then, with capitalism, people generally get someone of their own level of attractiveness. It seems you get the amount of attractiveness in a mate that you can afford to buy with your own attractiveness.
Even before feudalism or capitalism, in a pre agricultural society there wasn't even monogamy, because there wasn't private property. There wasn't need for monogamy because there was strong community and the entire community raised the kids. It took a village, as it were. There was a general sexual freedom and you would've had your shot at Megan Fox.
#31
You know before capitalism, in feudal society, there was a system of arranged marriage.
I knew an Indian guy who had an arranged marriage. The first time he met his wife was when she flew to the USA, two days before their wedding. The way he described it, it made a lot of sense - none of the hassles of dating that other people had to go through.
#32
ChicagoMatt ~ If you didn't already you might want to know that today's digital copiers have scanners built into their document feeders. They take a bit of training to learn how to use, however you can automatically feed your originals into the feeder--usually at somewhere around 35 pages per minute. In the same way many of our clients today buy the machines solely for its network printing capabilities, many also buy them for their network scanning abilities. You can actually scan a large 60 page two sided document in a couple of minutes and either have it stored on the Hard Drive of the copier, sent directly to your computer, or even emailed to you, or a specifed group. A lot faster and more efficient than a desktop scanner. The newer models even scan in color and have character recognition software so that the output PDF file can be searched and edited.
#33
They still have arranged marriages in some countries...some Muslim countries. Ayaan Hirsi Ali had an arranged marriage but she escaped to the Netherlands before they could impose that on her.
But of recent news...
"EARLIER this month Brandeis University rescinded its offer of an honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born women’s rights activist, saying its officials had not been fully aware of some her more scathing remarks on Islam. Conservatives have accused Brandeis of muzzling Ms Hirsi Ali and bowing to Muslim pressure groups. Liberals have wondered how the university could possibly have overlooked Ms Hirsi Ali’s condemnations, not just of radical Islam, but of Islam as such."
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/04/ayaan-hirsi-ali
I flew into and out of Saudi Arabia about 8 times when I lived and worked there. And I had heard that a stewardess had cracked a joke on one flight, not one that I was on though, that went something like: "Attention: All passengers please fasten your seat belts for our landing into the 16th century." I understand she was fired.
#34
Do you know what those really old machines were called, where there was a big drum that was hand-cranked and there was purple ink and that's how they used to make copies? I vaguely recall those from when I was a kid.
Anyway, the copier we have here is about one step above from that, from what my colleagues who actually use it tell me. The beauty of scanning things is that I can just use the same scans year after year. Most textbooks now feature an online code where you can just view the book and the worksheets online. I can just email students the link to the specific chapters. As long as there is a physical copy of the textbook per student, it's not a copywrite violation. If we bought just one copy, scanned and diseminated it, that would be different.
I only use the textbook for Social Studies. English is novel-driven. I'm working on my summer reading list for the students right now actually. It's a lot of pressure to find a good novel for a diverse group, reading level and interest-wise.
I really, REALLY want to teach "Dune", but it's WAY too hard for these grade levels. I've read it a few times and am still trying to figure some of it out.
#35
ChicagoMatt: I remember that a while back you mentioned Khan Academy. I think that is a fantastic idea. Even those tutorials on youtube.com are a great idea. Although some people suffer communication skills and some have very bad audio (eg:computer fan whirring in the background) or background music which makes understanding the speaker almost impossible. But every once in a while I find excellent, clear and understandable youtube tutorials. Another problem with some of these youtube videos is that they happen in a classroom setting where the teacher uses an overhead projector or blackboard and the video can't properly capture very clearly what is being shown. Also, the background noise of the class fidgeting around, coughing, etc. detracts from that kind of setting. The best ones are when it is not a classroom setting. Some of the best youtube classroom settings are MIT or Harvard or Stanford...some of the top Universities put out some fairly good youtube videos. An example of one of the best classroom videos are the CS50 lectures by David Malan of Harvard U.
#36
DAM -- how do feed a book into those scanners? -c8
#37
DAM -- How does one feed a book into one of those scanners? - c8
#38
The best ones are when it is not a classroom setting.
I converted a closet in my house into a recording room. My videos are just my hand writing things on a marker board, in fast-motion, with me doing a voiceover, explaining what my hand is writing. Throw in a few graphics and background music, and wha-la! It's a little time consuming, but can be used year after year. It gives me time to come on here and blog during class, since the students are watching me teach on their Ipads.
This is probably a testament as to the mindset of today's young teens, but they pay more attention to anything presented to them on a computer screen than they would in real life. I could put a camera in front of me, have half of the students in my class and the other half down the hall, watching the same thing via livestream, and the students down the hall would understand the concept I just taught better than those in the room, because they paid more attention.
I do all of this on Macs. I just counted, and there are twelve Apple products in my house, for a total of about $5,000. I think they are notorious for keeping their profits overseas, but their products make my life so much easier, and my teaching so much better. I don't think I can boycott them.
Plus, at Chicago's 10.25 percent tax rate, that's about $512 in taxes the Feds, state, and city got from me thanks to these purchases. So I guess I helped the local economy a little.
#39
chuckle8: I always rip the pages out of the book so they fit first! But careful....those hungry scanners will bite! ;-}
#40
Quote ChicagoMatt:Do you know what those really old machines were called, where there was a big drum that was hand-cranked and there was purple ink and that's how they used to make copies? I vaguely recall those from when I was a kid.
ChicagoMatt ~ They were called "Duplicator" machines and yes, I remember them well. If your copier is "one step ahead from that" then I can only conclude that it is an "analogue" copier. Analogue means that other than the main logic board that controls and coordinates between the sensors, clutches and motors that there is no other digital circuitry. As such it cannot scan. The difference between "analogue" and newer "digital copiers" is basically how the image is read and how it is written to the drum. (Yes all copier technology since the duplicators still use drums.) There is little other difference. The polarity of electronic charges are reversed in digital copiers however the overall mechanical technology is the same.
With an analogue machine the light is reflected off the original and then sent through a series of mirrors, a lens, and slit glass to be directed to the drum surface where it is eventually transferred to the paper. Digital machines basically work the same way except for three added parts. In the scanner, the light reflected off the mirrors are direct through a lens to a CCD (Charged Coupling Device). This device is an array of sensors that converts the light into digital electrical impulses. That signal goes to a System board that process it and stores it on its Hard Drive. The System board is basically a mini computer in the copier. When printing the signal is sent to either a Laser Optical Unit or an LED array that writes the image to the drum. The fun part is that in between the reading and writing the signal stored on the Hard Drive can be manipulated in all sorts of ways. It can be sent to an external computer. It can be edited. And it can be stored on the copiers Hard Drive for printing out at later times. In addition, signals from your computer can be sent to that System Board and printed out without having to scan. In essence, new digital copiers are a computer sandwiched between a scanner and printer.
There is also an accessory board available that connects the System board to the telephone line enabling your copier to also be a fax machine.
It really is time for your school to upgrade. Almost any analogue copier I know of is obsolete and parts are no longer available.
#41
Quote chuckle8:DAM -- How does one feed a book into one of those scanners? - c8
chuckle8 ~ You don't. Like Palidromedary suggests, ripping the pages out of the book works. I wouldn't advise that.
You can also scan one page at a time. However, that is time consuming.
The newest digital copiers have a feature called "magazine scan". You still have to place the book on the glass however, when this mode is selected the scanning carriage moves to the middle of the glass. You place the open book--print side down--on the glass with the seam placed directly over the red line on the carriage. When you hit the start button the machine scans one page and then moves over to automatically scan the other page. Then you turn the book over, flip the page, and repeat until you have accomplished your goal.
There is no easier way to scan a book that I know of. You cannot run a book through a document feeder, only a stack of pages. However, two scans at once, instead of one, is better than nothing.
#42
I hope you get paid well for all of your knowledge - something that is rare and deserving of a higher income. Of course, now I sound like a liberal, deciding how much someone should get paid, while not being the person that pays them myself. Maybe you all are rubbing off on me.
Quote The fun part is that in between the reading and writing the signal stored on the Hard Drive can be manipulated in all sorts of ways. It can be sent to an external computer. It can be edited. And it can be stored on the copiers Hard Drive for printing out at later times. In addition, signals from your computer can be sent to that System Board and printed out without having to scan. [/quote:Or, if we want to be paranoid about it, it could be sent to some central NSA underground bunker, where thousands of men in black suits read each and every scan, and are building a secret file on each of us, just waiting for the right time to arrange an "accident".
[quote] It really is time for your school to upgrade. Almost any analogue copier I know of is obsolete and parts are no longer available.
Believe it or not, parochial schools (which are the majority of private schools) are more cash-strapped than the public schools. That's why I don't think a lack of finances is the root of the education problem in this country. But if we really want to go paperless, like my boss wants, there's going to be at least one good scanner here. I had to buy my own for my classroom needs, but it's not designed to handle as much as it would get if the whole school jumped on board.
#43
ChicagoMatt ~ In the past I've also worked in several parochial schools. I've never seen one where they only had one analogue copier and couldn't afford to upgrade. Most schools have several copiers--one in the library, one--or more--in the teacher's lounge, and at least two in the main office. One of our best customers is such a school, a Catholic parochial grade school as a matter of fact, that has bought sets of two of the highest end, and fastest, monocolor digital machines at least three times in the last 15 years. They ugrade about every 6-7 years and have full maintenance agreements that includes toner and staples. I hate to say it but I personally think the management of your school is screwing their teachers and students big time.
Another note. Our company often get's right offs for donating equipment to churches and schools which we do frequently just to make room on our shop floor. They aren't the latest machines; but, we always check them out and make sure they are in good shape before going out. Of all the travesties I've seen in the various schools I visit I've never seen a school with just one obsolete copier. There really isn't any excuse for it. You need to call around. You'd be surprised at what you can find. However, I'd avoid buying anything off the internet. I've seen horror stories. Typically those boxes come from lease returns. Dealers swap out the innards before they go back to the lease company who sells them to online vendors who sell them in new boxes. The meters say 0 but the innards say 1 million +. The prices are incredibly low. However, you get what you pay for. Only deal with an authorized reputable dealer in your area... Someone you can take the thing back to easily who has a phone number as well as an address.
#44
The parochial schools may be a little different there than in Chicago. Here, all grammar schools, not just the private ones, are K-8. No middle schools. All one building. And every church has a school attached to it. Well they all did in the 60s, when the schools were filled. at its height in the early 60s, my school had about 600 students. It's been in a decline ever since then. Now we're down to just over 200 students. That's more of a reflection of the rise in tuition because of the need to pay lay teachers, since there aren't enough nuns anymore, than a reflection of people's lack of faith.
Part of the problem is most of the Catholic schools are still open, so we're competing against each other for the same students. The latest movement has been to combine several schools into one building, to keep costs down, but then people get mad because they want their neighborhood school that they can walk to.
Besides the fact that I just scan everything in my room, I also don't use the copier because it's in the teacher's lounge, and I don't like to go in there. I go straight to my classroom in the morning, eat my lunch there, and go straight home in the afternoon. With the exception of a friendly "hello" in the hallway, I don't see much of my coworkers, and that's just fine with me. Probably my anti-social right-wing I-can-do-better-on-my-own side rearing its head again.
#45
I was surprised when I went to Office Depot to buy a scanner and an ink cartridge, 03A, for my laser printer. The scanner was $80 and the ink cartridge was $125.
#46
Quote ChicagoMatt:I also don't use the copier because it's in the teacher's lounge, and I don't like to go in there. I go straight to my classroom in the morning, eat my lunch there, and go straight home in the afternoon. With the exception of a friendly "hello" in the hallway, I don't see much of my coworkers, and that's just fine with me. Probably my anti-social right-wing I-can-do-better-on-my-own side rearing its head again.
You mean it's your undeveloped social side due to your isolation because you bought into the right wing myth of the isolated individual, `a la Robinson Crusoe.
#47
Chuck, your scanner & cartridge purchasing experience really rang my bell. For years I've noticed how cheap printers are and how they gouge us for the ink. I was paying $20 for these little teenie ink cartridges that probably wouldn't fill a thimble, yielding less than twenty pages of script per cartridge. It is a huge rip-off. I did some calculating and figured out that it was costing me about 75 cents per page. That's seven times what it cost me to put my stuff on a flash drive, take it to the local printer's and print it there. I also do this with our digital photos now. Saves me TONS of money as well as a plenty of aggravation, as our printer had given me a lot of grief as well, malfunctioning and cranking out lots of stuff that went right into the trash.
Anyway Chuck, when your $125 cartridge runs out, you might want to consider this as an option. - Aliceinwonderland
#48
You mean it's your undeveloped social side due to your isolation because you bought into the right wing myth of the isolated individual, `a la Robinson Crusoe.
Perhaps. I literally get uncomfortable around my peers. I don't know what to say, don't know what I should be doing with my hands, affraid I'll do something embarassing, etc... I'm MUCH more comfortable in front of students. I always figured it had something to do with growing up as part of the Internet generation. I like being able to see my thoughts on the screen before I send them out into the world, which you can't do when just conversing with people.
On a lighter note, I think my height also has something to do with it, particularly when talking to women. It's hard, if you're a foot taller than most people, to look down at them and NOT look like you're looking down their shirt, particularly now with the warmer weather and the plunging necklines. I have an irrational fear of offending someone that way. So I do my best to avoid the situation.
#49
Printer companies follow the crack-dealer model. The first hit is cheap (the printer). It's when you come back that they make their money (the ink).
#50
They're not making "their" money on my nickle! I've bailed from that racket. There ARE alternatives. - AIW
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