- Cattle ranchers have noted that due to last year's drought, there is not enough feed and their herds have been reduced to near historic lows, meaning prices for meat will go up, encouraging ranchers to liquidate their herds to take advantage of the high prices....so the economic signal sent by scarcity is to deplete as much of your stock as possible. I don't think that I am concerned any longer that life-sustaining systems do not meet this "economic model".
- So Walgreen's has opened a "net-zero energy" store in Evanston that it hopes can serve as a prototype for other stores. They predict that the store may generate more electricity than it uses, meaning it may actually make electricity available to the grid around it. So now, I can not only get those plastic circle things that keep your socks together in the wash, almost every flavor of Mike and Ike's, and those towels that are pre-shaped like turbans, but I can get electricity?!?!? Mind. Blown.
- The Mayor just closed almost fifty school buildings for low enrollment, and we now know that the city has fifty schools that are operating and near or over twice their capacity. There are between 62,000 and 80,000 foreclosed and/or vacant properties in Chicago, and approximately 120,000 homeless in the city. Many of both are happening in the same neighborhoods. I am not sure what we lack to make these work, but it certainly is not space or resources.
- The average family of four in 2013 spends $9,144 on the employee portion of healthcare expenses (a total cost of $22,000 overall), and $8,388 on groceries. Federal poverty line for a family of four is $23,550. The rest of "life" on $6,018.
Enjoy the journey!
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