While perusing the LA Times, I caught an article that shouldn't have, but made me laugh out loud (or LOL for all my cyber friends). This piece struck me as a little ridiculous because basically, writer Karen Kaplan is trying to make the point that white people view themselves as black in instances such as dropping below the poverty line or going to jail. A study that asked people to classify themselves within racial terms showed that they actually changed their answers based on whether they were incarcerated during that time period. The changes between classifications were also based on the way interviewers perceived subjects based on their economic status and prison record.
I'm sorry, but I'm Asian and if I go to jail- I'll still be Asian. When I get out of jail... yeah, still Asian. Losing my job or falling below poverty line (which I'm dangerously close to as is) will not change the way I view my race. People don't magically become "black."
Not only is it a dangerous conviction of society that people are likely to base their assumptions of race with aspects like poverty and jailtime, it's also confusing, scary, and sad that people view themselves in that way. Being poverty-stricken or going to jail has actually nothing to do with your genetic makeup- something that constitutes race far more than any other condition.
Do you think that people are justified in their views of others and themselves based on these expectations?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Indefinitely Inappropriate?
I thought I would make it through the semester without posting on sports, hockey specifically, but sadly, recent events make that an impossibility.
Last night, uber-pest Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars, one of the game's most prolific instigators, was suspended indefinitely for comments he made regarding his former girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert of "24" and "Girl Next Door" fame.
"I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight." -Sean Avery
The verbal jab was intended evidently for both Cuthbert as well as his prospective opponent at the time, widely feared Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
Hockey is a game that struggles to get mainstream media attention. This gave a meaningless regular season game, one of 82 for each club, an extremely interesting storyline. Sadly, the commissioner was wrong to suspend the opinionated forward, and sent reprocussions that far outweighed the offense.
Not only that, but I was looking forward to seeing the two collide last night. After the suspension was handed down, I chose not to watch. It took all the fun out of the game for me. In a world where wide receivers are shooting themselves in the leg in crowded nightclubs and covering it up, what's wrong with a little war of words and a compelling storyline? The NHL botched this one, big time.
Last night, uber-pest Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars, one of the game's most prolific instigators, was suspended indefinitely for comments he made regarding his former girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert of "24" and "Girl Next Door" fame.
"I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight." -Sean Avery
The verbal jab was intended evidently for both Cuthbert as well as his prospective opponent at the time, widely feared Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
Hockey is a game that struggles to get mainstream media attention. This gave a meaningless regular season game, one of 82 for each club, an extremely interesting storyline. Sadly, the commissioner was wrong to suspend the opinionated forward, and sent reprocussions that far outweighed the offense.
Not only that, but I was looking forward to seeing the two collide last night. After the suspension was handed down, I chose not to watch. It took all the fun out of the game for me. In a world where wide receivers are shooting themselves in the leg in crowded nightclubs and covering it up, what's wrong with a little war of words and a compelling storyline? The NHL botched this one, big time.
Monday, December 1, 2008
When the “Stars” Align
Later on tonight, a rare spectacular will be visible, because the moon, Jupiter, and Venus will line close together. Supposedly, this phenomenon will not occur again until 2052!
Now called “earthshine,” what Leonardo da Vinci once dubbed “the old moon in the young moon’s arms,” or when the full globe of the moon is visible, may also be visible in the night sky.
Furthermore, it has been concluded that Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired by this rare occurrence to write the epic, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”
This alignment may have been visible starting November 29th and ending December 1st, but due to weather conditions, it is probably best to take a good look up at the sky tonight.
If you do take two seconds to look up yonder, blog back. What did you think? Could you see the alignment? What was your reaction? Do you think this will be an artistic inspiration for you?
Now called “earthshine,” what Leonardo da Vinci once dubbed “the old moon in the young moon’s arms,” or when the full globe of the moon is visible, may also be visible in the night sky.
Furthermore, it has been concluded that Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired by this rare occurrence to write the epic, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”
This alignment may have been visible starting November 29th and ending December 1st, but due to weather conditions, it is probably best to take a good look up at the sky tonight.
If you do take two seconds to look up yonder, blog back. What did you think? Could you see the alignment? What was your reaction? Do you think this will be an artistic inspiration for you?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Uh-Oh... Caught Ya!
I was checking up on the LA Times today and found this article about how cheating and stealing has gotten progressively worse in high school students. The Josephson Institute ran a survey for 29,760 students from 100 public and private schools and found:
When I was in high school, albeit almost four years ago, stealing, cheating, using the Internet to write papers, and lying in all of its forms were everyday occurrences and done with the indifference of CEO's. I've done my fair share of all of those, and nobody has ever defended me or patted me on the back for it. Lifting a lip gloss or pack of hair elastics or soda from a pharmacy in high school was how you got that stuff. Before you were 16, not everybody was privileged enough to get an allowance- I know I wasn't. I will agree that it seems to be easier for high school kids to cheat now, everybody has a cellphone or PDA and a more evolved sense of sneakiness. The only way we could get away with cheating on a test was writing on ourselves and risking ink poisoning. Ah, the good old days... And people lie to save money? I still do that! For instance, when somebody walks up to me and asks to bum a cigarette I usually say I don't have anymore (even if I do) because they're expensive and my thought is if you're going to have a bad habit at least be able to afford it. And the Internet is still tricky business when it comes to plagiarizing, even in college. Who can't say that they've Wikipedia-ed some random fact for a class or still use their highschool login for Sparknotes once in awhile? We're old pros at that by now.
It's just confusing to me what writer David Crary is looking to do here- even though he points out that morality is going down the tubes, he ends with a quote from Michael Josephson, "What we need to learn from these survey results is that our moral infrastructure is unsound and in serious need of repair. This is not a time to lament and whine but to take thoughtful, positive actions."
Looks like they're picking out a very small part of a cheating, stealing lineage but hopefully those "thoughtful, positive actions" will work out for them. Whatever that means.
- 30% of them have stolen from a store in the past year
- 64% cheated on a test in the past year
- 36% used the Internet to plagiarize
- 42% lie to save money
When I was in high school, albeit almost four years ago, stealing, cheating, using the Internet to write papers, and lying in all of its forms were everyday occurrences and done with the indifference of CEO's. I've done my fair share of all of those, and nobody has ever defended me or patted me on the back for it. Lifting a lip gloss or pack of hair elastics or soda from a pharmacy in high school was how you got that stuff. Before you were 16, not everybody was privileged enough to get an allowance- I know I wasn't. I will agree that it seems to be easier for high school kids to cheat now, everybody has a cellphone or PDA and a more evolved sense of sneakiness. The only way we could get away with cheating on a test was writing on ourselves and risking ink poisoning. Ah, the good old days... And people lie to save money? I still do that! For instance, when somebody walks up to me and asks to bum a cigarette I usually say I don't have anymore (even if I do) because they're expensive and my thought is if you're going to have a bad habit at least be able to afford it. And the Internet is still tricky business when it comes to plagiarizing, even in college. Who can't say that they've Wikipedia-ed some random fact for a class or still use their highschool login for Sparknotes once in awhile? We're old pros at that by now.
It's just confusing to me what writer David Crary is looking to do here- even though he points out that morality is going down the tubes, he ends with a quote from Michael Josephson, "What we need to learn from these survey results is that our moral infrastructure is unsound and in serious need of repair. This is not a time to lament and whine but to take thoughtful, positive actions."
Looks like they're picking out a very small part of a cheating, stealing lineage but hopefully those "thoughtful, positive actions" will work out for them. Whatever that means.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Black FridayTragedy
For our class assignment due this week I wrote Twas the Night Before Black Friday poem joking about how crazy people get about the after turkey shopping day. I was astonished to hear about two tragedies that occurred yesterday at two popular stores: WALMART and TOYS R US. People were so eager to rush into a Walmart near the Green Acres Mall that they literally bent the frames on the doors and trampled a worker to death. The store says they had ample security on hand for the busy morning rush of consumers, but is the issue really the security available or the over eager greedy american consumers who will literally walk over a body to get to the nearest Tickle me Elmo?
That wasn't the only incident of violence yesterday, two gunmen killed eachother in the electronics department of a Toys R Us in Palm Desert California. Police and the store believe the shootings occured due to a personal dispute that had nothing to do with Black Friday. Honestly though how could you choose a toy store where children are abundant to take out a feud? Black Friday is getting too out of control. Mothers were fleeing with their infants and children were exposed to violence on a day that should have been about peace and the spirit of giving, not killing.
I don't beileve stores take into account the safety percautions that need to be put in place for a day when so many shoppers pile into stores for great deals. In our society you never know what can take place in a crowded group of people are eager for a deal. Things are not sugar and spice and everything nice like they used to be. More and more stores now open early to offer blow out sales and that means there are even more oppurtunities for people to get hurt in the process.
People should just start their shopping in August or at least avoid the big sales crowds. Shop online if you have to.
That wasn't the only incident of violence yesterday, two gunmen killed eachother in the electronics department of a Toys R Us in Palm Desert California. Police and the store believe the shootings occured due to a personal dispute that had nothing to do with Black Friday. Honestly though how could you choose a toy store where children are abundant to take out a feud? Black Friday is getting too out of control. Mothers were fleeing with their infants and children were exposed to violence on a day that should have been about peace and the spirit of giving, not killing.
I don't beileve stores take into account the safety percautions that need to be put in place for a day when so many shoppers pile into stores for great deals. In our society you never know what can take place in a crowded group of people are eager for a deal. Things are not sugar and spice and everything nice like they used to be. More and more stores now open early to offer blow out sales and that means there are even more oppurtunities for people to get hurt in the process.
People should just start their shopping in August or at least avoid the big sales crowds. Shop online if you have to.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Local Convenient Stores Sell Out of Newspapers?
Today something very ironic happened in my area and I am wondering if this happened or affected any of you? My mother called me when I was on my way to her house for our Thanksgiving “dinner,” and she asked me if I wouldn’t mind picking her up either a Hartford Courant or a New Haven Register. She and my little sister were unsuccessful in purchasing one around 11:00 a.m. after the town powder puff game. “Don’t go crazy,” she said. “If you can, you can.”
Well, much to my surprise, I too had no luck in purchasing a copy of either at the Yalesville Corner Shoppe. I was amazed to see that USA Today and the Boston Herald were the only papers left. A man and I both entered the convenient store to inquire about this, and the man at the counter said that they were all out. I was shocked! The other man was as well. I then called my mom who told me that where she went they were sold out, too.
I then drove up the street to a Citgo gas station. Under a pile of USA Todays I found the mother load. Both The Courant and The Register! About six copies each. I chose The Register, because that is “closer to home.” I went up to the cash register to pay and before the cashier rang me up, he said, “You know that is not today’s paper. It was Tuesdays.” Of course, only this would happen to me, I thought.
I could not believe it! I was shocked to learn that he had sold out of both papers as well.
The only paper that was in stock for Connecticut was The Connecticut Post. For 75 cents, I did not care that this was not the one that my mother wanted, as I figured that she was interested in the ads. So, even if she was unhappy, I found myself thinking, “Gee it costs way more than 75 cents to print this paper and put all of these fliers in it. I got a bargain.”
That’s when it dawned on me! Here we are, in an economic crisis and in a newspaper whirlpool downward. People want to read on the internet, but, yet I had the first hand experience of finding out that the newspapers were actually sold out! (This may be one of the last times that local convenient stores sell out of the papers.) I was blown away. Sold out!
Why do you think that they were sold out? Was it the ad factor? If so, is this the key to newspaper success? Was anyone else unsuccessful in locating a newspaper?
I think that this is something worth mentioning. I looked hard to find links relating to this topic, but there are none. There might be some tomorrow morning; I will check back. This Thanksgiving, I can honestly say that I am thankful for the newspapers’ survival of one more holiday.
Well, much to my surprise, I too had no luck in purchasing a copy of either at the Yalesville Corner Shoppe. I was amazed to see that USA Today and the Boston Herald were the only papers left. A man and I both entered the convenient store to inquire about this, and the man at the counter said that they were all out. I was shocked! The other man was as well. I then called my mom who told me that where she went they were sold out, too.
I then drove up the street to a Citgo gas station. Under a pile of USA Todays I found the mother load. Both The Courant and The Register! About six copies each. I chose The Register, because that is “closer to home.” I went up to the cash register to pay and before the cashier rang me up, he said, “You know that is not today’s paper. It was Tuesdays.” Of course, only this would happen to me, I thought.
I could not believe it! I was shocked to learn that he had sold out of both papers as well.
The only paper that was in stock for Connecticut was The Connecticut Post. For 75 cents, I did not care that this was not the one that my mother wanted, as I figured that she was interested in the ads. So, even if she was unhappy, I found myself thinking, “Gee it costs way more than 75 cents to print this paper and put all of these fliers in it. I got a bargain.”
That’s when it dawned on me! Here we are, in an economic crisis and in a newspaper whirlpool downward. People want to read on the internet, but, yet I had the first hand experience of finding out that the newspapers were actually sold out! (This may be one of the last times that local convenient stores sell out of the papers.) I was blown away. Sold out!
Why do you think that they were sold out? Was it the ad factor? If so, is this the key to newspaper success? Was anyone else unsuccessful in locating a newspaper?
I think that this is something worth mentioning. I looked hard to find links relating to this topic, but there are none. There might be some tomorrow morning; I will check back. This Thanksgiving, I can honestly say that I am thankful for the newspapers’ survival of one more holiday.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Gift Cards = Lump of Coal?—What do you think?
Yesterday, I received a startling e-mail from a dear friend mentioning that Clark Howard, a consumer reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, very much opposed purchasing gift cards this holiday season. He said that “more and more retailers and restaurants are going to face extinction in a tight economy.”
After reading the e-mail, of course I immediately forwarded it to every family member on my contact list. It’s not that I wouldn’t mind getting a gift card for Christmas, it’s that I want others to be aware of these reports.
In fact, a woman who I work with that I also sent the e-mail to, informed me that last night she heard a similar report on the WFSB news.
This morning, I checked my e-mail and found an article from USA Today in my inbox, from my uncle, who had received my message. This immediately prompted me to further investigate.
Many news providers, such as Business Week are mocking the worth of gift cards. Once considered an ideal stocking stuffer, consumers are warned to be ware this Christmas season when choosing where to purchase one.
Is this going to make you think twice about purchasing gift cards for the holiday season?
Personally, for me, my mother and I went out to Chili’s last night for dinner and as she was asking me what I wanted for Christmas, I immediately replied that I wanted a Chili’s gift card, especially because for every $25 gift card you buy, you get a $5 one. (It’s like I will be getting $30, because she will give the bonus one to me.) Do you think that small incentives such as this will prompt consumers to buy gift cards?
I believe that gift cards to large chains are pretty safe, even if they are closing some of the chains. I think that national chains should be just fine. Even if they do go out of business, chances are it won’t be three days after Christmas. I say that it depends on where you are purchasing the gift card. What do you think?
Yesterday, I received a startling e-mail from a dear friend mentioning that Clark Howard, a consumer reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, very much opposed purchasing gift cards this holiday season. He said that “more and more retailers and restaurants are going to face extinction in a tight economy.”
After reading the e-mail, of course I immediately forwarded it to every family member on my contact list. It’s not that I wouldn’t mind getting a gift card for Christmas, it’s that I want others to be aware of these reports.
In fact, a woman who I work with that I also sent the e-mail to, informed me that last night she heard a similar report on the WFSB news.
This morning, I checked my e-mail and found an article from USA Today in my inbox, from my uncle, who had received my message. This immediately prompted me to further investigate.
Many news providers, such as Business Week are mocking the worth of gift cards. Once considered an ideal stocking stuffer, consumers are warned to be ware this Christmas season when choosing where to purchase one.
Is this going to make you think twice about purchasing gift cards for the holiday season?
Personally, for me, my mother and I went out to Chili’s last night for dinner and as she was asking me what I wanted for Christmas, I immediately replied that I wanted a Chili’s gift card, especially because for every $25 gift card you buy, you get a $5 one. (It’s like I will be getting $30, because she will give the bonus one to me.) Do you think that small incentives such as this will prompt consumers to buy gift cards?
I believe that gift cards to large chains are pretty safe, even if they are closing some of the chains. I think that national chains should be just fine. Even if they do go out of business, chances are it won’t be three days after Christmas. I say that it depends on where you are purchasing the gift card. What do you think?
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