Dave Ramsey: Why credit scores are completely bogus

 

[VIDEO] Dave Ramsey discusses with a caller how a credit score works. What is the process to getting your credit score to zero? Why do a salesperson - say when you get your iPhone from AT&T - might do a credit check ✅ although you're paying cash? How long does any item - student loan, credit cards, car note, etc. - remain on your credit report?

BITCOIN: The future of finance or fool's gold

 

[VIDEO] Bitcoin is what is referred to as a cryptocurrency and you see podcaster Ben Shapiro who actually discussed this on his podcast recently explain the pros and cons of this in this video from March. I do occasionally like to share financial related this on this blog and this is one emerging issue that worth sharing with you all.

Currently a lot of people are investing in this and in some cases making money on this. Currently bitcoin is $47,196.31. That's the price of one bitcoin which can be divided into smaller units called satoshis worth 0.00000001 bitcoin. I just made the connection the smaller satoshis references the identity of the developer of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.

What I'd be concerned about is whether or not I could keep my own bitcoin secure. It's not something you can hold in your hands like gold or silver or even the cash and coin you keep in your pocket. Bitcoin is kept in a digital wallet which could be hacked into unless of course you keep a secure password for your digital wallet.

So for me I'd rather in a time of inflation invest my funds in physical gold or silver which depending upon who you might follow in the media you might have seen advertisements for it. Certain YouTube personalities I follow will advertise for companies who offer investments in those precious metals.

However, one appeal I do see with bitcoin is the ability to transfer funds to another party without having to go through a bank. However, gov'ts want to ban it.

We're hearing about this because of the issues with inflation right now prices for the goods you buy at your store are going up. Bitcoin could be the alternative to the dollar it could be considered an alternate store-hold of wealth. With inflation that generally means for a variety of factors the value of the dollar starts to go down and thus the price of goods at your local retailer starts to rise.

How many of you out there have put any money in bitcoin? What do you typically use bitcoin for?

Mr. Beat reacts to Prager U videos livestream

 

[VIDEO] For your viewing pleasure today at least through 3:00 PM. Prager U is a YouTube channel that has a conservative slant. I view that channel as very informative on social issues, history, and even politics on occasion.

As with all things we consume for news/information whether a newspaper, a cable news network, a YouTube video, a History channel documentary, etc they all have a slant/bias. When you consume the news/information you might find yourself wondering if what you may read or hear is factually correct.

Mr Beat: Every type of government explained

 

[VIDEO] As you may know, Mr. Beat is a social studies teacher or at least he was until he decided to do YouTube full-time. And for me as a political science major this is up my alley. Every type of government from democracies, republics, monarchies, autocracies, presidential democracies, direct democracies, parliamentary democracies, etc.

Mr. Beat presents this almost 20 minute video with David from the YouTube channel World of Antiquity to discuss the types of governments with a few historical aspects of those types. A lot of what we know about republics, democracy, or even dictatorship has a basis in ancient Greece or Rome. So these terms we've heard thrown around has a basis over thousands of years old or perhaps for those of you who are religious before the Christian era.

Here's a question. Do you think of America as a democracy or as a republic?

Geography King: Geographic portrait of Oregon

 

[VIDEO] I first became aware of Geography King - his name is Kyle - when he critiqued various state flags and their state capitols. He's especially critical as he doesn't hold back on those buildings and flags he thought are butt ugly.

Here he refers to Oregon's flag as ugly and Oregon's state capitol building as not a bad building but a strange one for a state legislative building.

Regardless he gives an economic, social and geological view of the state of Oregon and gives me a few ideas of where I should visit for my YouTube channel such as Crater Lake for example. It really is a fascinating state with a fascinating history and even as Kyle who's a native Californian noted, they have a far more eclectic history that their neighbors in the Golden State.

I had the opportunity to visit Oregon over a decade ago and considerations from my job at the time - no paid vacations - precluded me from going at the time. I could've gone but let's just say money was an issue. I have distant relatives in Portland I would've liked to have met and the trip would've been for a family reunion, however,  there hasn't been many opportunities since.

I hope you enjoy this geography lesson.

What about these student loans?

 Well I'm sure even in the middle of a pandemic there are high school juniors and seniors who could use this information right now. If college is in your plan then this graphic from personal finance guru Dave Ramsey is something you should look into. My advice pay for your college in cash and you don't need prestige so while it's nice to go to Morehouse, Spelman, Harvard, Yale or Princeton don't think about how much money you can make in the future. Think about whether or not you can afford going to college without having to incur debt to do so.

Daily Dose of Internet: Transforming leaf into meat

 

[VIDEO] Well you read that title right. The first thing you see is scientists removing cells from a leaf. The idea here is that you can eventually grow anything from animal meat to a human heart by replacing from the leaf's cells with cells from any other organism. Isn't it cool what scientists are working on right now.

That and more of a educational, informative or entertainment interest. Including the last video which is a shot of a very pleasant cat. I hope this made your day better. :) 

Mr. Beat: Cleveland & Detroit compared

 

[VIDEO] Cleveland, Ohio is compared with Detroit, Michigan. Both cities have experienced declines in the last half of the 20th Century. Both are poised to do better in the 21st and they're also midwestern cities such as Chicago or Milwaukee or St. Louis, etc.

Another fun fact of both cities at one point both of them were among the top 10 largest cities in the nation. Detroit was #5 and at one point Cleveland was #7 however now they're #24 & #54 respectively. Both were heavily industrialized with Detroit being dominated by the automobile industry and Cleveland had a history with that also.

Those facts including former Iraqi President Dictator Saddam Hussein receiving a key to the city of Detroit by Mayor Coleman Young and many more in this latest compared video from Mr. Beat.

I want these kids to learn some geography darn it! 

Daily Dose of Internet: How astronauts use the bathroom

 

[VIDEO] Owing to becoming a Star Trek fan one aspiration I had was being an astronaut. One early goal that I had before life took over was to fly on the space shuttle. Perhaps there's a child out there who aspires to fly in space themselves and hopefully they want to fly with a company such as Space X.

So this is why today's Daily Dose of Internet. How many of you wondered how does an astronaut use the bathroom in space? The first portion you see today in this video is exactly that. How does a person use the bathroom in weightlessness?

As always I hope that you learned something new in this video or it made your day just a bit better. Thats what you hear at the end of the video anyway after you've been thoroughly entertained. 

Daily Dose Of Internet: Hamburger left in a closet for 24 years

[VIDEO] I just got to say how disgusting to see a McDonald's meal that doesn't decompose after 24 years. It doesn't look bad just stale, brittle, dry, and the bread doesn't mold. All of it left in its original packaging. It would be quite a find if it was found in a home that you just moved into. It causes me to wonder what's in the food at a McDonald's that it doesn't in anyway break down.

Of course that and other vids contained therein of an informative, educational or entertainment purposes. As is said in the video, I hope you learn something new or this video had made your day.

I hate to do this a day after sharing a long ago video from Mr. Beast delivering food to North Carolina food pantries.

Mr. Beat: Kansas & Nebraska compared

[VIDEO] Well school is going to start soon, so how about we talk about some geography. We compare two Midwestern or Great Plains state of Kansas & Nebraska. "Edutuber" Mr. Beat gives you the lowdown on both states.

I've only passed through both states going further west. Most frequently I've passed through Kansas taking a train to Los Angeles aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief - and even then we're talking about an overnight ride through the state both ways thus you hardly will see anything unless you wake up early. The only time I've never passed through Nebraska was when I was in the 3rd grade a long time ago and not very memorable other than I could say I passed through.

One thing they got going for them, both states have very friendly people. Illinois could learn something from that. Perhaps so could the rest of these United States.

Enjoy.

Your Daily Dose of Internet: Cat Has The Worst Brain Freeze

[VIDEO] Been a while since I've shared one of these videos here. It starts off with a cat having a taste of ice cream and experience what some of us have experience eating ice cream. Usually with me it's an ice cream headache which is temporary but you do feel something. Just as this cat had.

At about 1 min. 20. sec. into this just about 3 minute video we see a barber give his father a makeover that made him look about 35 years younger. It's amazing and I really wanted to draw attention to it, and a lesson that we should take the time out to take care of ourselves. Even with day to day moments such as a haircut.

Either way as Daily Dose states at the end of his videos, I hope you either enjoyed or learned something new from what you just saw.

Daily Dose of Internet: Water That's Been Trapped For Millions Of Years

[VIDEO] Today I'm sharing this video which starts off with a Enhydro Agate which is a rock that has water trapped inside for millions of years. This is the kinds of content you will see from YouTube's Daily Dose of Internet that entertains and informs you. It's a piece of content that hopefully you learn something new or makes your day just a bit better.

Besides my goal is to both inform and entertain, hopefully this vid did the job today

Your Daily Dose of Internet

[VIDEO] Over at The Sixth Ward blog, I've been pretty heavy with the updates regarding the coronavirus here in Illinois and certainly in the city.  Sometimes it pays to take the load off, and especially if many of us are at home adhering to this stay-at-home order to keep people safe from a contagion.

Yes we have streaming services whether Netflix, CBS All Access (which airs my latest favorite Star Trek series ST: Picard) and another favorite of mine the WWE Network. Meanwhile we can always take our Daily Dose of Internet which are often live on Monday's and Thursday's every week. Many of these vids are of an entertainment, informative, topical, or scientific interest.

It's one reason I enjoy sharing those videos here. Hopefully you've learned something new when you see them here.

Your Daily Dose of Internet

[VIDEO] Aside from the introduction to this video which is of the various noises of the very good looking walrus at about 1:20 mins into this video we are treated to clips of penguins running around the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

In light of this coronavirus the Shedd Aquarium (another namesake of former Marshall Field's & Co. president in addition to John G. Shedd Public School) is closed through April 20, 2020 according to their website. So it's in the news that the penguins were released into the public areas of the aquarium now devoid of people to check out the various exhibits.

The penguins running loose even made the news and not just locally if you can believe that. The clips you saw in that "Daily Dose of Internet" was seen on a recent edition of CBS' This Morning .

The "Beerflu"

[VIDEO] At first I wanted to give you all an artsy project (i.e. a pinhole paint can camera), however, that will wait for another time. Today I wanted to share this video with you.

The coronavirus seems like a very scary illness which is spreading around the world. Two cases were found in the Chicago area unfortunately though contained due to the quick work of area doctors.

Still I found this video via a recent Daily Dose of Internet vid that shows the spread of this disease. In the actual video from Daily Dose we get to see a graph of other illnesses compared to Corona that have made the news in recent years. Here we see a 10 minute video about the spread of Coronavirus.

BTW, I just want to add that I only jokingly refer to this as "beerflu" because of yet another YouTube channel I began to follow Front Page Tech. They call Coronavirus the "beerflu" primarily because they would get demonetized for mentioning this illness. Of course another apart of the joke is Corona beverages.

Here's a response to Chicago's preparations for any local outbreaks.

Decline in Black teachers?

I suppose I could be part of the solution. The next question becomes why are these less Black teachers in 2000 vs 2020? The graphic you see below is from the Chicago Teachers Union on ig

View this post on Instagram

Many CPS students of color today will never have a single Black teacher during their time in public school, despite research showing that both Black and white students benefit from having Black teachers. Black history, Black teachers, Black futures? #blackhistorymonth

A post shared by Chicago Teachers Union (@ctulocal1) on Feb 10, 2020 at 6:51pm PST

Chicago's teachers: What are the issues?

I know I've kept on eye on this strike talk for at least the past month. WBEZ has a page that let's you know what the issues are between the city and the Chicago Teachers Union. Perhaps in the posts I've published so far perhaps you've seen some discussion on them.

It's going to be hot out there this weekend...

Information provided by the office of 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer. Information you need to know on beating this heat. Also a listing of city cooling centers if it gets too hot for you at home and outside. Call 311 for the cooling center closest to you and of course if you're concerned about anyone during this heat request a well-being check for them.

It’s going to be VERY hot this 4th of July weekend. Please note the following cooling centers! For all emergencies be sure to call 911. For more info visit: https://t.co/ye5sGCZ8So #coolingcenters #6wardchicago #rodericktsawyer pic.twitter.com/zwnUfnpwQD

— 6th Ward Chicago (@6thWardChicago) June 29, 2018

CPS enrollment: Drops, rises and consequences

Via @ChiTribGraphics

A page you should look at via Chicago Tribune. That in addition to the graphic above:

Chicago Public Schools released 10th-day enrollment statistics and projected changes to school budgets and special education staffing as a result of the changes in enrollment. This is the first year CPS is using this student-based budgeting policy where enrollment is more important than ever. Changes to funding and positions will be finalized based on enrollment as of the 20th day of the school year.

For two of our local schools:

• Bennett
• Harlan 

And of course search for more 10th day enrollment information here.