tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post1713010324160739453..comments2023-09-13T02:04:00.931-04:00Comments on Latvian-American Adventures & Opinions: Birthday Cake / Why Do Americans Work So Much? / Latvian BobsledDziesmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00563380904245865832noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post-88440096510228906652014-02-25T09:55:50.274-05:002014-02-25T09:55:50.274-05:00I suspect that such articles have been written, sh...I suspect that such articles have been written, she was just trying to make the point that working so much is not all that it's cracked up to be. She recently wrote a book called "Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time " (http://us.macmillan.com/overwhelmed/BrigidSchulte). Chronic "busyness" has become somewhat of a status symbol among middle class and upper class families in this country. So, not only do American work too much, we run around and do too much other stuff - overschedule their kids, etc. No leisurely Sunday strolls in the Schwarzwald here! Yes, in many way, the American way of life is VERY different than in many other countries.Dziesmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00563380904245865832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post-37954821323025273372014-02-25T09:46:49.833-05:002014-02-25T09:46:49.833-05:00Absolutely. Obviously, anyone trying to survive on...Absolutely. Obviously, anyone trying to survive on minimum wage (a piddly $7.25 an hour in most places, which translates into $290/wk or $15,080 for a 52-week year with no vacations whatsoever) is clearly not the target audience. I mean, really, how many people can afford a $75,000 car? Only someone who lives in what looks to be a $3 million house! Even median household income in the US for 2011 was $50,000... The ad is aimed at what we nowadays like to somewhat snarkily call the 1%.<br /><br />And - really - has any 90 yr old ever looked back on her or his life and said, "Boy, I do wish I had spent more of my time working and less time with family and friends!"???Dziesmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00563380904245865832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post-4238724769868052752014-02-25T09:40:44.458-05:002014-02-25T09:40:44.458-05:00I was a bit flabbergasted when I started reading h...I was a bit flabbergasted when I started reading her blog...I'd been admiring them and loving the 'raksti' on Sunday evening, then Monday I find out she's the mastermind behind the ornamental design. She's a GVV grad, so I feel like our community can take a bit of credit, too. ;-)Dziesmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00563380904245865832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post-41105587685138982742014-02-25T07:53:54.601-05:002014-02-25T07:53:54.601-05:00I can't watch the ad, but I found the article ...I can't watch the ad, but I found the article interesting. It would have been nice if the author had gone into the reasons WHY Americans need to work so hard without any holiday. How has American society developed that way while the rest of the (developed) world hasn't?bevchenhttp://confuzzledom.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post-30842815182212887492014-02-25T07:23:36.939-05:002014-02-25T07:23:36.939-05:00God that ad was irritating - and to me, he's a...God that ad was irritating - and to me, he's always going to be Dave from Desperate Housewives. Hard to focus on anything he was saying! I guess they conveniently forgot about the millions of Americans who work two to three jobs just to scrape by - and take no holidays. I'm going with smug and repulsive on this one! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272601820794462116.post-2190956223218593712014-02-24T15:25:17.384-05:002014-02-24T15:25:17.384-05:00Thanks for tuning me in to Jūlijas blog! How very ...Thanks for tuning me in to Jūlijas blog! How very cool that she had a hand in the design process - I LOVE those sleighs!Lienehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07479489443374383602noreply@blogger.com