02 Feb 2009
With increasing economic problems, increasing stress, and decreasing job stability I felt compelled to finally verbalize my opinion on our economy. I don’t have a deep understanding of the problem, but I do have theories based on what I do know.
Plato said…
The living being had no need of eyes when there was nothing remaining outside him to be seen; nor of ears when there was nothing to be heard; and there was no surrounding atmosphere to be breathed; nor would there have been any use of organs by the help of which he might receive his food or get rid of what he had already digested, since there was nothing which went from him or came into him: for there was nothing beside him. Of design he was created thus, his own waste providing his own food, and all that he did or suffered taking place in and by himself. For the Creator conceived that a being which was self-sufficient would be far more excellent than one which lacked anything; and, as he had no need to take anything or defend himself against any one, the Creator did not think it necessary to bestow upon him hands: nor had he any need of feet, nor of the whole apparatus of walking; but the movement suited to his spherical form was assigned to him, being of all the seven that which is most appropriate to mind and intelligence; and he was made to move in the same manner and on the same spot, within his own limits revolving in a circle. All the other six motions were taken away from him, and he was made not to partake of their deviations. And as this circular movement required no feet, the universe was created without legs and without feet.
I had a thought today, when thinking of the Ouroboros – the tail-devouring snake. The things that are so great about our economy are also the things that are killing it. An example: The cost of distribution for goods and services has gone up, especially with the fuel price fluctuations of last year. The cost of bread has gone up because the cost of shipping bread went up and the cost to import the grains and supplies needed to make the bread went up. This is necessary to maintain profits.
However, DirecTV sent me a letter in the mail saying they were raising prices due to the economy. Really? Because I don’t see what they’re doing that costs so much more. They flip a switch to turn on or off satellite. Sure, they’ve got trucks that install cable and equipment, but charging at least $50 a month for millions of customers for a bloody electrical signal should be more than enough to cover the costs for these trucks.
I was kinda ticked when I got this letter. And I thought, “They keep it up and I’ll get rid of satellite. I don’t need it anyway; it’s a luxury and all the shows that I normally watch, I could watch online.” They’d lose a customer paying $50 a month, which by itself is no big deal. But what if that happened to 15% or even 5% of their customer base? They’d lose a considerable amount of money. And for what, exactly? Greed?
It’s because of greedy companies like DirecTV that our economy keeps getting worse.
29 Jan 2009
I asked people on Twitter what I should write about since it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. And I wanted to blog about something, but I’m not in the mood to be serious. Thanks to those who helped make this post so awesome ;) Be sure and chime in next time. I write about everything you send me!
I was originally going to write a review of granola bars as a recommendation from @coderster but I never made it to the store to pick up some of the Quaker Peanut Butter ones. So, I’ll have to go with my organic ones from Cascadian Farms. They’re chocolate chip and mui yum.
The soft and chewy granola bars from Cascadian Farms are… soft and chewy! When you hold them sideways they bend but never break. They’re oily, but I can’t tell if it’s good oil or “preservative” oil, even though they are certified organic. As far as chewy granola bars go, these are by far some of my favorites. Chocolate chips abound and are real mini’s. There are whole oats and “granola” and “gooey” stuff that is usually found in granola that holds it all together. Try some today!
Shaun wanted me to write about “nuclear geopolitics in US/Iran relations” so here goes… Iran is suspected of pursuing nuclear weaponization for some time. “What particularly makes the matter of Iran’s intentions so intractable is that it is by and large deduced not from hard data or undisputed facts but from inferences, perceptions, and assumptions about the country and its leaders that often border on fiction. (http://www.logosjournal.com/node/23)”
And another friend wanted me to write about sex. Unfortunately she wasn’t specific so, yes. Sex.
20 Jan 2009
Today will go down in the history books for generations to come. The United States of America elected her 44th president and her first African American president.
All political party affiliations aside today was an incredible day and one that will hopefully bring a better sense of unity to the people, a definite cause, and a changed and brighter future.
I voted for Obama.
That being said I am not a liberal. I am not a conservative either. I don’t vote straight-ticket. I vote on the issue. This election I was torn. With both a brother and a father in Iraq, and being a military “brat” I m generally inclined to vote right since the conservatives usually favor the armed forces. But right only barely.
This year though, my vote was split. I agree with some of conservative values, such as their support for capitalism (coming from a guy who also hates capitalism) and their foreign policy (except Mr. Bush’s). I also agree with liberal values such a a bigger responsibility to take care of the people and a desire to reform health care (not by universalizing it).
But, in light of Americas cultural and racial segregation along with the view from the worlds stage, I felt Obama would be the best fit. And thankfully he appointed a good cabinet (except Clinton).
I like Obama. I’m excited he’ll be our president for the next four years. I look forward to the changes he’ll bring. However, I also liked Bush. Yes, this goes against popular opinion, and yes he screwed up. But which president hasn’t screwed up to some degree? The fact of the matter is amongst the bad he did, was also some good. Even if it was one good thing and ten bad things, there was still good, so why hate that? Security is beefed up, especially during the inauguration. And there have been several terror threats on our country but all of them were thwarted due to our increased surveillance.
We all are entitled to who we like and dislike, and we all have our reasoning. But if you’re gonna hate someone (i.e., Bush) at least have some legitimate reason as to why. And because your friends or family do, doesn’t count. It’s cool if you don’t like Bush, just have some reason why. It’s cool if you’re a Liberal or a Conservative, just understand WHY you chose that view. I’m so sick of these robotic responses.
But all in all, today I was extremely proud to be an American. I’m proud we have an African American as our 44th President and I’m proud we came together today, despite the weather, despite the workday, and despite the heightened security to unite for this occasion.
28 Dec 2008
A bit of a thought spinning from my last post about happiness…
I got to thinking about happiness and our pursuit of it (with a bit of help from the movie, I suppose) and how we are all selfish. We all desire the best. We all desire to be happy. And in the essence of survival we do what we must to achieve it.
Religious folk make mention of sacrifice, giving, and selflessness; of making others happy and putting others first. This is all an impossible ruse.
Why do we do for others? Is it because we are good people? Or is it because to do good makes us feel good? Do you ever do something good and feel like crap about it? Of course not. Therefore, even sacrifice is selfish.
16 Dec 2008
I’m not a religious person. Hell I don’t even believe in a god. I just can’t. I’m okay that you can and you should be okay that I can’t. Even if I could I wouldn’t want to. Personally, I find it weak, stupid, limiting, and a plain waste of time. It’s [Christianity] a circle of trapped logic and being that I am a logical person I find it equals failure. No, I don’t hate you because you believe. I’m happy you believe. I am happy I don’t believe.
Mistakes are part of life. In fact, if we didn’t make mistakes life would be pretty damn boring. We’d all be flat, dull, lame people with no unique or interesting qualities. We wouldn’t experience emotion because we’d never fail and if we never fail we’d never know success and if we never knew success we’d never experience the emotion that comes with it. We’d never grow and mature because we’d never make mistakes.
Religion inhibits mistakes. It keeps you in a bubble of false perfection. It keeps you blind. It keeps you caged. It keeps you ignorant. It doesn’t encourage maturity because it makes you afraid to make mistakes and mistakes are, as I’ve said, crucial to life. Sure, religious people grow and mature, but it’s the kind of growth and maturity that’s equivalent to experimental mice in a cage. No fun, if you ask me.
I am a successful individual. I am happy. I am smart, kind, and compassionate. I have a lot of good in my life. I attribute my success to my dedication. I attribute my happiness to my having learned lessons from mistakes. I attribute my intelligence, kindness, and compassion to my parents. None of my qualities come from a god. And why should I give thanks to some unseen, unheard, tasteless, scentless, and untouchable omniscient being when I am perfectly capable to life live on my own?
I understand man’s need for answers and I know we theorize things that are still unproven. God is just a theory – filler for the unknown. From spirits of rain, trees, and earth 90,000 years ago to Egyptian gods of death, life and birth to a single god, nothing has changed except the number of beings that fill these unknown holes in understanding.
Sorry, venting. I’m done now.
Believing in a god doesn’t make you a bad person and it doesn’t make you wrong. If it works for you, it works for you, just don’t expect me to follow you and certainly don’t judge me for not believing. I believe in me. You should believe in you and take props for the stuff you’ve accomplished and the goals you’ve achieved.