Financial News 2.29

• Bay Area survey: Most residents are unhappy with our quality of life (San Jose Mercury News)
• Coronavirus already sending shock waves through global economy (New York Times)
• Here's three things Millennial are doing correctly with their money (NerdWallet)
• Just how wealthy are 2020's presidential candidates? (US News and World Report)
• Unions want in on California's burgeoning marijuana industry (Los Angeles Times)
• How Gen Z shops Instagram (Glossy)
• On the market: A $50 million Bel Air mansion complete with vintage bowling alley (Architectural Digest)

  

Reflection 3: You Poor Thing⁠—Songs for the Down and Out

For such a bleak subject, impoverishment is a surprisingly common theme for singers and songwriters. Perhaps the topic is so broadly relatable because most of us, at one time or another, have experienced financial stress. For their part, artists have harvested all aspects of monetary destitution for their songs, from desperation to denial to hope.

For this reflection, you will examine, in depth, the lyrics of two iconic songs about being poor. Choose two of the songs from the set of your birthday month to write about.

January - March:

1. Phil Collins, "Another Day in a Paradise"
2. Tom Jones, "I Who Have Nothing"
3. Arrested Development, "Mr. Wendal"  
4. Anaïs Mitchell, "Wedding Song" 
5. Sade, "Jezebel" 

April - June:

1. Loretta Lynn, "Coal Miner's Daughter" 
2. Bruce Hornsby and The Range, "That's the Way It Is"
3. Crystal Waters, “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)
4. ABBA, "Money, Money"
5. Dolly Parton, "Coat of Many Colors"

July - September:

1. Stevie Wonder, "Living for the City"
2. Merle Haggard, "If We Make it Through December"
3. Loggins & Messina, "Danny's Song"
4. Billy Joel, "Allentown" 
5. Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Sixteen Tons"

October - December:

1. "It's the Hard Knock Life" from Annie 
2. Lorde, "Royals" 
3. Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car" 
4. Bobby Gentry, "Fancy"
5. Simply Red, "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)"

Note: You will be responsible for sourcing the lyrics for your songs. It is recommended you find more than one source per song as online lyrics are notoriously inaccurate. Additionally, you should credit the lyricist—which may or may not be the singer—for the words.

Required:

• MLA Style
• Approximately 300 words
• Works cited 

Due: Wed 3.4
 

Week 6 - Mon 2.24/Wed 2.26

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend about 1% of their gross annual income on alcohol—about $565 a year for the average household.

Week 6 - Mon 2.24/Wed 2.26
Read: Nickel—Introduction: Getting Ready - One: Serving in Florida
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Watch—Excerpts from Generation Wealth (2018)
Due: TOULMAN METHOD

Upcoming:

Week 7 - Mon 3.2/Wed 3.4
Read: Nickel—Two: Scrubbing in Maine
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Inside Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Toulmin Model: Should Churches Pay Taxes?

For the past 30 years, a debate has raged over the whether or not churches in the United States should pay federal, state, and local taxes. Proponents often argue that churches do many good works, including attending to the needs of the less fortunate in society. Meanwhile, opponents point to the massive financial reserves and real estate holdings of many churches, all of which is tax-free. What do you think? Should churches’ tax-exempt status remain or must they assume tax liabilities, like everyone else?

For this assignment, you will utilize the Toulmin Model to construct a rhetorically-sound claim for or against churches paying taxes. You will construct ONE claim that will be supported by TWO distinct sets of grounds, warrants, backings, etc.

Note:

• Include a Works Cited below your Toulmin Model
• Utilize at least three sources: Two articles from the eReader AND one source from your own research.

Use THIS template to present your model in outline form.

Required:

• Works cited 

Due: Wed 2.6

Financial News 2.18

• Whaddup, freedom fam!: YouTuber Jake Paul is offering online "financial freedom" courses (Buzzfeed)
• Texas bartender takes to TikTok to highlight the realities of living in a "tip credit" state (Buzzfeed)
• Here is who the ten richest Americans are supporting in the 2020 presidential race (Yahoo! News)
• The 110-year-old Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy (CNN)
• Here is what every American generation spends on dating (CNBC)
• $10 billion: The world's richest man pledges billions to fight climate change (BBC News) 

Week 5 - Mon 2.17/Wed 2.19

Sofia Vergara earned $44 million in 2019, making her TV's highest-paid actress.

Week 5 - Mon 2.17/Wed 2.19
Read: eR—“Why Churches are the Gold Standard of Tax-Exempt Organizations” (Forbes), “A Case for Why Churches Shouldn’t be Taxed” (Colorado Springs Independent), “Why Don't Churches Pay Taxes?” (Los Angeles Times), “We Should be Taxing Churches” (Slate), "Televangelists" (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver), "Churches and Taxes: What John Oliver Got Wrong (and Right)" (American Magazine)
Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“Inside the Toulmin Method” and “Citing Sources in MLA: The Basics”
Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 6 - Mon 2.24/Wed 2.6
Read: Nickel—Introduction: Getting Ready - One: Serving in Florida
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Watch—Excerpts from Generation Wealth (2018)
Due: TOULMAN METHOD

Financial News 2.15

• Finland also has a capitalist economy, so why are they so much happier than Americans? (Business Insider)
• The advice most older Americans would give their younger selves? Start saving sooner! (MotleyFool)
  
• Parasite frighteningly highlights Korean inequality, but it is even worse in America (Washington Post)
• What does $1.3 million buy in San Jose versus Portland and Oregon (NBC Bay Area)
• $200+ a Day: Disneyland admissions are going up again (MotelyFool)
• Save money by auditing your streaming services subscriptions (TechHive)