I realize I have fallen into a bit of a problem with results

I was a Project Manager. I trained Project managers, and did it well. However, I recently listened to a podcast that pulled something out that I have used. In my work, defining the desired result and then working backwards to achieve it is hard-wired into my brain.

Looking at the country, I tend to do the same thing. I am afraid of the outcome of my country IF everything I am afraid of happens. So I see everything bad that does happen through that lens, rather than looking at how it actually is. I might be horribly right that everything is going to the dogs. Then again, I might ascribe some actions and outcomes to an end result that isn't really there.

It doesn't mean I am wrong on everything, but it might mean I am overreacting to some things. I can't see it because I am convinced of where this will end if we don't stop it. It is an interesting take on people's views in general, and mine in particular.

"Beginning at the end" and working backward is a problem-solving technique where you start with the desired outcome and then trace the steps back to the initial conditions. This approach is particularly useful when the beginning of a problem is unclear or when a direct approach might be complex. It's also helpful in planning, where you might start with a deadline and then work back to determine the steps needed to meet it. 

This is a real life proposal from our Head of Immigration and a reality show producer....

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/producer-swears-reality-show-for-citizenship-wont-be-a-complete-dystopian-nightmare/

We are watching Rocky

 We have a friend's dog for a while, Rocky. The owners are traveling until Monday. So he's hanging with us.

Eurovision is this week-end

 Eurovision is this weekend and I am so excited!!! I won't bore you with the details :see the Netflix movie "Eurovision" with Will Ferrell to get the full picture.

But, to get you ready, I am including this song, which did not win, but was kind of perfect for an example experience - "Give That Wolf a Banana". It is a request to give the wolf that ate grandma a banana. Really.

I am of 1.5 Minds about this.

 I am of two minds about this, and I might be stretching it. I think it is a 100% good idea, with only a smitch of WTF.

Let's start with the good.

In Colorado Springs, teachers are being priced out of the district where they teach. This is a common enough issue that it has happened before in Palo Alto, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and more. In these four cities, public workers were able to live until housing prices rose to the point they couldn't afford them.

It isn't just teachers, it is policemen, firemen, and others that can no longer afford to live in the communities they work in.

So, Colorado Springs is collaborating with a company to build a tiny home village for teachers. It will be a quaint area with individual homes, each about 325 sq. feet. They will have a bedroom, a full kitchen, a living area, and a bathroom. Additionally, the "village" will feature walking paths, raised gardening beds, and a communal kitchen/event space.

The homes will be built on a soccer field on campus. And about 75% of the teachers are interested in living there (there will be fewer homes than that). Here are some images:

BUT...

Here is my problem. I agree with the solution, but this should not be a problem. 

Why can't we pay teachers enough to live on? Sure, the tiny home option is excellent for these people, but why is it a problem to begin with? I don't have kids, but I would like enough money to be paid (yes, from my taxes) to those who will shape the next generation.

I know I am a progressive snowflake who wants to bring socialism to America for saying this, but... We are a rich country. Instead of subsidizing Exxon and Shell, why can't we pay teachers more?

FFS

FFS

If you are going to list the 10 largest cities by population, LA is number 2. That is correct.

Unfortunately, of the millions of great pictures of Los Angeles, you choose one of (checks notes) Beverly Hills.

Idiots.

Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills 

Made in America - Would We Pay More?

One of the reasons the President has claimed he put tariffs on foreign goods was to move manufacturing back to America.** 

Americans have always said they are willing to pay more for American-made products. So he tested how true that was. He sells filter shower heads. Right now, he sources them from China. He tested the cost of them made in China with the costs of making them in America, with the same margins. (I am not sure what tariff rate he used in testing. This was done when there was still a 145% tariff. I don't know if he used that or the old 64% tariff before Trump. The results would be even more skewed if he used the new (now removed) tariff rates.

Anywho, you can guess what he found.

For the Made in China version, he sold 548 units.

For the Made in America version, he sold 0 units (zero).

There is a significant cost increase, but that happens when you move manufacturing to the US. It seems this is not a slam dunk.

* He has also said the reason for tariffs is to bring in billions of dollars, but that falls apart if we reduce tariffs as much as we have. Even with tariffs, that free money comes from consumers.