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Title: Being A Human Sign Is Just Another Job Robots Will Do--And For Which Immigrants Aren't Needed
Source:
http://www.vdare.com/posts/being-a-human-sign-is-just-anothe
URL Source: http://VDare
Published: Aug 5, 2013
Author: Steve Sailer
Post Date: 2013-08-05 13:56:32 by Big Meanie
Keywords: None
Views: 156
Comments: 14
Back in 2006, I pointed out that the rapid spread from Mexico to California of "human directionals," people paid to stand on street corners and jiggle giant arrows pointing to real estate open houses exemplified the 21st Century's Cheap Labor / Expensive Land economy. As I wrote in a 2008 short story "Unreal Estate" about a house-hunting trip to Antelope Valley: 2013 But, robots are now taking over the Human Sign profession. From the L.A. Times: Although male mannequins are available, "the females outsell them 99 to 1," Levy said. "We have a busty model and one with a regular figure. The regular one is more popular: I personally think the busty one is overdone." Passing motorists find the 65-pound sign wavers convincingly realistic. "I was at a convention in Las Vegas last weekend, and several guys came up and tried to talk to the sign dolls," Levy said. Bar customers, he said, sometimes pose with the mechanical female sign waver parked in front of a nearby shop. The makers of robotic mannequins tout their creations as ideal workers who are always on time, never need a lunch break and never complain about being underpaid.
Once off the highway, you see at least one person standing at every intersection twirling or jiggling a giant arrow pointing to an open house. “Human Signs,” nods Travis. “Like back in the Depression when guys would walk around wearing sandwich boards reading ‘Eat at Joe’s.’ But this is the opposite of a depression. Real estate commissions are six percent, so, on a $400k house, that’s $20k, which pays for a lot of twirling.”
Levy imports his battery-operated mannequins from China. They rent for $370 a month or can be purchased for $797. The plug-in electric models go for about $50 less. <
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#1. To: Big Meanie (#0)
I knew of an older guy who would stand on the street corner in suburban Chicago. He held a sign that said, "REPENT" and also a non-powered megaphone to tell everyone why. Don't know whatever happened to him, though. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
In the mid-eighties, when I was doing my trucking gig, I was traveling through highway construction in Chattanooga, TN, and they "employed" mannequins as flagmen in the construction areas. This was not only effective but, probably, also safer than having a human out there. This didn't last long, as some sort of union objected to it, so now they put Mexicans out there instead. Just another job an Amannequin won't do. "When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it." - Frederic Bastiat
Probably progressed upward to Skid Road Bum. "“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” ~ Gautama Siddhartha — The Buddha How about a pro-amnesty CONgresswhore? "“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” ~ Gautama Siddhartha — The Buddha Sorry, they're gonna be busy. FWIW, that's an Esso station if memory serves. Godfrey Smith: Mike, I wouldn't worry. Prosperity is just around the corner. I wear a t-shirt that says "REPENT!". That way I can save souls while carrying on my regular duties.
Not to worry - he was raptured. He's good. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
No need for a robot or human, just stick the sign on a post in the ground. Are people getting dumber everyday or what?
God is always good!
You had to ask. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Skid Row in Chicago was on Halsted St., just west of downtown. There were plenty of flop houses there, where you could get a room for the night, and pretty cheap also. There were also a lot of bums down there, and most of them were drinking cheap wine or some other cheap booze. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
I knew it was Mussolini they hung by his heels. ;)
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
They just need to beware of what might happen if they use those mannequins to model wedding dresses... IIRC, I think it was on Madison St, just west of Halsted. Yup, I spent many a night there for $1 a night in the winter of '68. I resent that. I can't stand the taste of beer or wine. I was just broke.
Don't blame you for that. When you are broke, you do what you have to do. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Being A Human Sign Is Just Another Job Robots Will Do--And For Which Immigrants Aren't Needed
#2. To: Big Meanie (#0)
But, robots are now taking over the Human Sign profession.
#3. To: BTP Holdings (#1)
I knew of an older guy who would stand on the street corner in suburban Chicago. He held a sign that said, "REPENT" and also a non-powered megaphone to tell everyone why. Don't know whatever happened to him, though. ;)
Any sufficiently advanced stupidity is indistinguishable from evil. ~ Unk (Paraphrase of Clarke's 3rd Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.")
#4. To: Southern Style (#2)
Just another job an Amannequin won't do.
Any sufficiently advanced stupidity is indistinguishable from evil. ~ Unk (Paraphrase of Clarke's 3rd Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.")
#5. To: Original_Intent (#4)
How about a pro-amnesty CONgresswhore?
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#6. To: BTP Holdings (#1)
"I knew of an older guy who would stand on the street corner in suburban Chicago. He held a sign that said, "REPENT" and also a non-powered megaphone to tell everyone why."
#7. To: BTP Holdings (#1)
#8. To: Big Meanie (#0)
(Edited)
#9. To: RickyJ (#8)
Are people getting dumber everyday or what?
#10. To: Original_Intent (#3)
Skid Road Bum.
#11. To: Esso (#5)
#12. To: Big Meanie (#0)
Although male mannequins are available, "the females outsell them 99 to 1," Levy said. "We have a busty model and one with a regular figure. The regular one is more popular: I personally think the busty one is overdone."
"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
#13. To: BTP Holdings (#10)
"Skid Row in Chicago was on Halsted St., just west of downtown."
"There were plenty of flop houses there, where you could get a room for the night, and pretty cheap also."
"There were also a lot of bums down there....."
".... and most of them were drinking cheap wine or some other cheap booze. ;)
#14. To: Big Meanie (#13)
I can't stand the taste of beer or wine. I was just broke.
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