The Awl http://www.theawl.com/ Be Less Stupid Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:50:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 When Rock Said Bad Things About Drugs http://www.theawl.com/2011/07/when-rock-said-bad-things-about-drugs http://www.theawl.com/2011/07/when-rock-said-bad-things-about-drugs#comments Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:50:08 +0000 Alex Balk http://www.theawl.com/2011/07/when-rock-said-bad-things-about-drugs Here you will find a collection of "Rock Against Drugs" PSAs from the '80s. The fact that I can actually remember so many of these indicates that I did not do enough drugs, so I guess they worked. It also means I am old. Anyway, Lou Reed, Phil Collins and Belinda Carlisle make appearances, among others.

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]]> Here you will find a collection of "Rock Against Drugs" PSAs from the '80s. The fact that I can actually remember so many of these indicates that I did not do enough drugs, so I guess they worked. It also means I am old. Anyway, Lou Reed, Phil Collins and Belinda Carlisle make appearances, among others.

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2011/07/when-rock-said-bad-things-about-drugs/feed 3 You Should Protest at City Hall Today for Adult Literacy Programs http://www.theawl.com/2011/06/you-should-protest-at-city-hall-today-for-adult-literacy-programs http://www.theawl.com/2011/06/you-should-protest-at-city-hall-today-for-adult-literacy-programs#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:28:52 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2011/06/you-should-protest-at-city-hall-today-for-adult-literacy-programs Today in City Hall Park—from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.—advocates for adult literacy will be protesting the Mayor's proposed budget. You should feel free to join them!

The City's money for literacy programs is a tiny, tiny part of the budget, but it's constantly being hacked at. All told, just $13 million in proposed cuts (in a $65.7 billion budget) impact thousands of people who are trying to master English.

The City should be throwing money at literacy, to make it the greatest city it could be. That something like a third of New York City residents aren't fully literate in English is a waste of human capital.

And so now literacy-minded folks have to go make the case, so the City Council can restore at least some of this program money.

Last year, at budget time, of course, we looked at the importance of literacy programs. 1 in 3 New York City residents is an immigrant, and half of residents speak a first language other than English in the home. But also, nearly half of people who use adult literacy services in New York are native English speakers who have, by and large, been failed by the school system.

The proposed budget comes to $65.7 billion; it addresses the City receiving a billion less from the country and the state. The City's official deficit is $4.6 billion.

To Bloomberg's credit, he constantly reiterates that both the state and the federal government keep more money than they send back—and budget cuts can be viewed as entirely Albany's fault. This is true! And state money for literacy programs is also being cut.

It's also true that the business-friendly mayor has a role in this, due to his position that if you don't play nice to big corporations, they'll leave. (For where? Bethesda? Detroit? Los Angeles???) Did you know that business taxes in New York City create less than $6 billion in annual City income—only 15% of the city's tax revenue?

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]]> Today in City Hall Park—from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.—advocates for adult literacy will be protesting the Mayor's proposed budget. You should feel free to join them!

The City's money for literacy programs is a tiny, tiny part of the budget, but it's constantly being hacked at. All told, just $13 million in proposed cuts (in a $65.7 billion budget) impact thousands of people who are trying to master English.

The City should be throwing money at literacy, to make it the greatest city it could be. That something like a third of New York City residents aren't fully literate in English is a waste of human capital.

And so now literacy-minded folks have to go make the case, so the City Council can restore at least some of this program money.

Last year, at budget time, of course, we looked at the importance of literacy programs. 1 in 3 New York City residents is an immigrant, and half of residents speak a first language other than English in the home. But also, nearly half of people who use adult literacy services in New York are native English speakers who have, by and large, been failed by the school system.

The proposed budget comes to $65.7 billion; it addresses the City receiving a billion less from the country and the state. The City's official deficit is $4.6 billion.

To Bloomberg's credit, he constantly reiterates that both the state and the federal government keep more money than they send back—and budget cuts can be viewed as entirely Albany's fault. This is true! And state money for literacy programs is also being cut.

It's also true that the business-friendly mayor has a role in this, due to his position that if you don't play nice to big corporations, they'll leave. (For where? Bethesda? Detroit? Los Angeles???) Did you know that business taxes in New York City create less than $6 billion in annual City income—only 15% of the city's tax revenue?

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2011/06/you-should-protest-at-city-hall-today-for-adult-literacy-programs/feed 2 How to Shame Teenage Girls into Proper Prudeness http://www.theawl.com/2011/05/how-to-shame-teenage-girls-into-proper-prudeness http://www.theawl.com/2011/05/how-to-shame-teenage-girls-into-proper-prudeness#comments Fri, 27 May 2011 09:00:38 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2011/05/how-to-shame-teenage-girls-into-proper-prudeness
Slut-shaming, Australian PSA style! Prison Island's new PSAs against teen sexting relies entirely on convincing teen girls that they'll be ashamed for sending someone "intimate" pictures of themselves. Because of course society's totally innate values of guys being cads and girls being gossips are A-okay and just the way things are.

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]]>
Slut-shaming, Australian PSA style! Prison Island's new PSAs against teen sexting relies entirely on convincing teen girls that they'll be ashamed for sending someone "intimate" pictures of themselves. Because of course society's totally innate values of guys being cads and girls being gossips are A-okay and just the way things are.

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2011/05/how-to-shame-teenage-girls-into-proper-prudeness/feed 18 An Exceptionally Detailed Guide to Today's L.A. Election http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/an-exceptionally-detailed-guide-to-todays-l-a-election http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/an-exceptionally-detailed-guide-to-todays-l-a-election#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:20:59 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/an-exceptionally-detailed-guide-to-todays-l-a-election Proposition M! Charter Amendment G! There's so much to know to be an informed citizen today in Los Angeles, and yes, it is time for you to go vote. But look out, there's a feud between the library and the police department! (If you like something more straightforward, here's the League of Women Voters.)

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]]> Proposition M! Charter Amendment G! There's so much to know to be an informed citizen today in Los Angeles, and yes, it is time for you to go vote. But look out, there's a feud between the library and the police department! (If you like something more straightforward, here's the League of Women Voters.)

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/an-exceptionally-detailed-guide-to-todays-l-a-election/feed 2 We Desire That You Subscribe to Jauntsetter http://www.theawl.com/2011/01/we-desire-you-to-subscribe-to-jauntsetter http://www.theawl.com/2011/01/we-desire-you-to-subscribe-to-jauntsetter#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:30:00 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2011/01/we-desire-you-to-subscribe-to-jauntsetter If you subscribe to Jauntsetter this week—it's the once-a-week email about local and fun travel!—you could win, of all things, a heart-shaped 2-quart LeCreuset casserole dish, and there is nothing I want more, so win it and give it to me.

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]]> If you subscribe to Jauntsetter this week—it's the once-a-week email about local and fun travel!—you could win, of all things, a heart-shaped 2-quart LeCreuset casserole dish, and there is nothing I want more, so win it and give it to me.

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2011/01/we-desire-you-to-subscribe-to-jauntsetter/feed 10 The Real Cost of Drinking and Driving (Besides, Like, Vehicular Manslaughter) http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/the-real-cost-of-drinking-and-driving-besides-like-vehicular-manslaughter http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/the-real-cost-of-drinking-and-driving-besides-like-vehicular-manslaughter#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:45:31 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/the-real-cost-of-drinking-and-driving-besides-like-vehicular-manslaughter "Natasha Vargas-Cooper had two drinks at dinner. Her ride home cost her more than $5,000."

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]]> "Natasha Vargas-Cooper had two drinks at dinner. Her ride home cost her more than $5,000."

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/12/the-real-cost-of-drinking-and-driving-besides-like-vehicular-manslaughter/feed 61 A "Lost Pigeon" Poster in Brooklyn: "Responds to 'Dennis'" http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/a-lost-pigeon-poster-in-brooklyn-responds-to-dennis http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/a-lost-pigeon-poster-in-brooklyn-responds-to-dennis#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:20:01 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/a-lost-pigeon-poster-in-brooklyn-responds-to-dennis LOST PIGEON!Oh fine people of Brooklyn, won't you help find 'Dennis'? Last seen crossing Atlantic Ave. by Court Street!

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]]> LOST PIGEON!Oh fine people of Brooklyn, won't you help find 'Dennis'? Last seen crossing Atlantic Ave. by Court Street!

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/a-lost-pigeon-poster-in-brooklyn-responds-to-dennis/feed 20 PSA: New "A Life Well Wasted" http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/psa-new-a-life-well-wasted http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/psa-new-a-life-well-wasted#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:04:43 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/psa-new-a-life-well-wasted You guys all know that the latest episode of A Life Well Wasted, the meticulously crafted podcast about, well, life, has a segment on that dude afflicted with the world's largest penis, right?

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]]> You guys all know that the latest episode of A Life Well Wasted, the meticulously crafted podcast about, well, life, has a segment on that dude afflicted with the world's largest penis, right?

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/07/psa-new-a-life-well-wasted/feed 11 Today on the Web: Huh http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/today-on-the-web-huh http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/today-on-the-web-huh#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:40:40 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/today-on-the-web-huh What's going on on the Internets? Glad you asked! Michael Pollan launched a website and Devo is streaming its new album for 20 cats. Also Feminist Hulk now has 15,000 Twitter followers. Oh and there's a new single-serving site, it is called Is AT&T Still A Bag of Dicks? The answer may surprise... someone.

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]]> What's going on on the Internets? Glad you asked! Michael Pollan launched a website and Devo is streaming its new album for 20 cats. Also Feminist Hulk now has 15,000 Twitter followers. Oh and there's a new single-serving site, it is called Is AT&T Still A Bag of Dicks? The answer may surprise... someone.

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]]> http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/today-on-the-web-huh/feed 3 Ryan McGinness v. Ryan McGinley http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/ryan-mcginness-v-ryan-mcginley http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/ryan-mcginness-v-ryan-mcginley#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:40:23 +0000 Choire Sicha http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/ryan-mcginness-v-ryan-mcginley "An article on Friday about art-related parties in New York misidentified the artist who has been staging a series of weekly parties since last July. He is Ryan McGinness – not Ryan McGinley, a photographer, who also organizes parties, as the article noted." Most confusing New York Times correction ever? Here! We can help, with this handy guide.

McGINNESSRyan McGinness
b. 1972
Likes skateboarders.
BFA, Carnegie Mellon University
Gallery: Deitch (or post-Deitch Deitch)
The presumably not-gay one.
Makes big, jazzy, stencily, explosiony installations, paintings and things. This is him wearing a hard hat and talking about stuff.
How to identify the work: stencil, design, layering, etc.:


McGINLEYRyan McGinley
October 17, 1977
Like skateboarders. [Like(s) skateboarder(s)] [LET ME HAVE SOME FUN PEOPLE]
BFA in Graphic Design, Parsons
Gallery: Team
The gay one.
Shoots post-Nan dreamy photos of pretty pals in natural and urban settings; most are emaciated; most seem like they take drugs; lots are the gay. Does lots of commercial work now, including the NYT mag. This is who goes to his openings.
How to identify the work: usually looks something like an illustration from a hipster's photo Tumblr after too much Thoreau and Whitman:
purty

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]]> "An article on Friday about art-related parties in New York misidentified the artist who has been staging a series of weekly parties since last July. He is Ryan McGinness – not Ryan McGinley, a photographer, who also organizes parties, as the article noted." Most confusing New York Times correction ever? Here! We can help, with this handy guide.

McGINNESSRyan McGinness
b. 1972
Likes skateboarders.
BFA, Carnegie Mellon University
Gallery: Deitch (or post-Deitch Deitch)
The presumably not-gay one.
Makes big, jazzy, stencily, explosiony installations, paintings and things. This is him wearing a hard hat and talking about stuff.
How to identify the work: stencil, design, layering, etc.:


McGINLEYRyan McGinley
October 17, 1977
Like skateboarders. [Like(s) skateboarder(s)] [LET ME HAVE SOME FUN PEOPLE]
BFA in Graphic Design, Parsons
Gallery: Team
The gay one.
Shoots post-Nan dreamy photos of pretty pals in natural and urban settings; most are emaciated; most seem like they take drugs; lots are the gay. Does lots of commercial work now, including the NYT mag. This is who goes to his openings.
How to identify the work: usually looks something like an illustration from a hipster's photo Tumblr after too much Thoreau and Whitman:
purty

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