Community Center idea: Clean Out Your Computer Day

I have had this suggestion for a few years and casually made it, but perhaps it is going to take putting it on paper to convince a few folks.  I've never seen it done as a community event.

Clean Out Your Computer Day
Monday February 10th

I am sure lots of LGBT community centers are searching for each programming. I envision folks bringing their laptops for a morning/afternoon/evening. Move the day to Saturday if you normally have an open house/hours that day.

Materials:
*electronic duster (canned air!)
*screen and keyboard cleaner
*special screen wipes
*tiny tools/screw drivers (I know that I have 2 screws that fell out of my laptop
*your Center's STICKERS or your state LGBT group's STICKERS

Reasons why I think this is great programming
*almost every laptop could use a good cleaning
*almost every laptop could use a good virus scan
*shared resources....rather than buying that bottle of cleaner then never using the whole bottle
*cross generational (youngins can help the less savvy do things like virus scan, etc)

This could be extended to cell phones as well I guess.....someone might donate a stack of iPhone sticky/plastic protectors. The phones need cleaned before those get stuck on as well! Perhaps existing programs like computer education could be moved to this day as well.

I'm fully aware that only a portion of community members have such electronics.

Graph of the Day - December 6th

(Source: CNNMoney)

Mancession? He-covery?
(Update: I hadn't heard the term "he-covery" but a little Googling finds a good early source in the NYT.)

During the peak of the Great Recession many economists and labor experts commented on the gendered nature of job losses. Some coined it the "mancession" because men were losing jobs much faster, so fast that at one point the number of working men and women in the American economy was equal. The graph above illustrates that well. There is more behind it though. Newsweek pointed out in July 2009 that it didn't mean it was all roses and daffodils for working women.

The basic gist: women on average hold more part time jobs and are paid less and the Recession hit hardest on "male" jobs, full time jobs, and higher paying jobs.

So men are recovering faster in the job market? I am sure with more research I would understand it better, but I am more interested in the "what it means" rather than the "why." The new jobs created in the "he-covery" tend to be lower paid than the jobs that were lost. If it is the case that men are taking these jobs then as whole we should see the income of men lowered. Does this mean the gap between average pay for men and women will shrink, but not because women have increased towards parity? Just a thought.

Graph of the Day - September 7th

Source

It's funny how many people look back to the 5o's, 60's, and 70's with nostalgia yet they vote hard core corporatist Republican. You would think that people would figure it out that tax and economic policy matters in creating a more equitable society, one that more people enjoy living in. Income equality matters. Everyone doesn't have to make exactly the same, but everything works better when Americans are all playing in the same economy. As is, the wealthy play in completely different economies, often insulated by geography and other barriers.