Monthly Archive for September, 2007

Risky business

Published on September 30, 2007 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Personally, I think the political party system is a disaster. Everyone is in bed with somebody or should I say something; I can’t be sure, given that corporations choose to extend their rights as a person in some instances and refuse responsibility by denying their own personhood in others.

So I’m interested in watching how John Edwards does running on public campaign financing. (The financing allows for gov’t matching of up to $250 from each individual donor, with campaign spending capped at $5o million). It’s an interesting approach. Edwards is trailing Hilary and Obama, so fundraising is not going to be easy for him. (In 2004, political spending topped $1.2 billion; wouldn’t it be great to free up those funds as donations to social causes that need a financial boost instead of padding political coffers? Yes, I do dream the impossible dream. ) Are the Democratic front runners willing to take stand on exorbitant political spending, donations that lead to lots of corporate pay backs once in office?

In further Edwardsian news, John Edwards took a calculated risk in participating in an “interview” by youth in an online forum. Edwards responded to tough questions with aplomb, garnering high marks by his Gen Y audience. He took part in a medium that allows for very little spin control. It was live and online, allowing for people to take the sound bytes viral.

I’d like to know how the questions were chosen? Who made the editorial decision? Did Edwards get to see the questions in advance or was he expected to respond on the fly? I look forward to seeing how the other candidates fare and if the quality of the questions holds constant.

Do you know your American History?

Published on September 28, 2007 in Education. 0 Comments Tags: , .

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service released the new “study guide” for the 100 questions from which immigrants’ naturalization exam questions will be pulled from as of October 2008.

How would you fare? I knew the answers to most of the questions, but I think the some of the questions could use a rewrite for clarity.

Our own citizens aren’t so impressive with their knowledge of American History and Government.
A 2005 survey of college students found their knowledge of American Civics needed some serious brushing up. The University of Connecticut tested 14,000 freshman and seniors college students at 50 universities across the United States. The exam covered four areas: American History, American Political Thought, America and the World, & The Market Economy.

Among the roughly 7000 college seniors, the average score was 54.2% across all segments of the exam, with the average below 60% on all 4 sections. College students typically failed this exam.
Depressing stats from the study:

  • Only 45.9% know that Yorktown was the battle that ended the American Revolution.
  • Seniors do not know America’s founding documents. Only 45.9% know that the line “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” comes from the Declaration of Independence. (Finding 1)

You can take the same quiz and find out how you’d do. I got 42 out of 60 questions correct. I can live with 70%, but I’m not sure my high school history teacher would be very happy with me.

The slippery slope of censorship

Published on September 26, 2007 in Business. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The issue of net neutrality is Project Censored’s #1 most ignored news story of 2007.  Proponents of net neutrality want cable lines available free to ISPs, access that cable companies can’t censor based on competition or controversy.  On the other hand, cable companies feel they have the right to provide tiered access, providing faster and more comprehensive offerings to those who pay.  Cable companies want to recoup the costs of laying cable and upgrading hardware via that tiered access.

Proponents of net neutrality can now cite Verizon Wireless as an example of what can happen when carriers control the content available.  Verizon recently denied NARAL’s use of text messaging to share action-oriented messages with their supporters, deeming all talk of abortion unacceptable on its platform.

The new York Times is also quick to point the usefullness of texting in campaigning:

According to a study released this month by researchers at Princeton and the University of Michigan, young people who received text messages reminding them to vote in November 2006 were more likely to go to the polls.

(Mobile Active is a great resource on findings on texting to put activists or voters in motion.)

Imagine if corporate leadership made its business decisions based on ideology rather than good business sense.  Could a strong supporter of the Republican party deny access to Democrats reaching out to their constituents?  What of a company that chooses to deny grassroots organizations the right  to use text messaging to actuate supporters regarding the war in Iraq or addressing poverty in Africa?

Primer on buying a new car

Published on September 25, 2007 in Business, Money and Shopping. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Jay at Dumb Little Man posted a video of “Rob Gruhl’s new car buying negotiating tips” on his blog today. It was so great, I thought I’d share it.

I’m currently living on my car down payment while I job hunt, but someday I’ll be able to purchase a new car. It’s a pipe dream, yes, but it’s my pipe dream. There’s a burgundy Prius in my future.

Here’s a crash course in how to buy a new car pain free, excepting for it costing almost a year’s salary ;)

Dreams of Leaving

Published on September 25, 2007 in Health. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

American culture is obsessed with youth and youthfullness. Paris, Britney, and Lindsay consistency grace the covers of tabloids with their latest attention getting antics. People buy memberships they don’t use often enough, while others go under the knife to lift, staple, peel and enhance body parts that are showing the wear and tear of life. Advancing science keeps people alive longer with the assistance of costly medical intervention. 50 is the new 30.

Americans look at living as if it’s a linear experience moving forward in space that is infinite in its duration. Despite the struggles and obstacles we face, death is to be avoid at all costs. The “circle” of life just isn’t acceptable if modern medicine can keep you in the game a bit longer.

The terminally ill who accept death and want to go directly to exit, are diagnosed as depressed. Because anything less than a desire to live and suffer on is unacceptable and not understood.

When it comes to making decisions for incapacitated relatives, family members have difficulty deciding how long is long enough in waiting for a miraculous recovery before decided it’s time to pull the plug. Quality of life isn’t the focus of the issue, so much as life itself.

Salon columnist and neurologist Richard Burton discusses a recent study that is going to make those decisions that much more complicated. British and Belgian neuroscientists recently demonstrated that one of their patients

was consciously aware of herself and her surroundings, and was willfully following instructions given to her, despite her diagnosis of a vegetative state.

While in an MRI machine, she was asked to do some basic mental tasks, from simply relaxing to imagining herself navigating her home. The results were compared that that of a healthy person, free of brain injury. Turns out the PVS patients saw brain activity in the same areas of the brain as the healthy individual. Her brain firing in the same way in now way implies that she consciously recognized completing the tasked of her. As Burton points out, that patient is basically functioning on autopilot, much like we all do driving to and from common destinations.

I liken it to training the family dog. Think about how quickly a dog learns its name. You could be having a run of the mill conversation with someone else, but when “Lucky” hears his name, whether in or out of context, “Lucky” is at attention. In obedience classes, trainers stress the importance of short commands. Hence the common sit, stay, roll over, settle commands. While your dog may pick up on the tone of your voice, he’s basically hearing, “Lucky, blah blah blah blah sit blah blah.” He’s been trained to associate those words to self-identify and to do do a particular action, the neurons are taught to fire in a certain way when given those commands.

Could it be much the same with a PVS patient? Words triggering neurons in an automated fashion? Will these findings encourage families to keep Uncle Steve alive in a misguided belief that if the neurons are still firing, Uncle Steve is still in there struggling to get out? At what point does quality of life mean more than life itself?

Golden Rule of networking

Published on September 23, 2007 in Business. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I’ve been on a merry-go-round of networking events since spring because the cardinal rule of job hunting is: it’s who you know not what you know. Have I ever learned that connections are everything! I can respond to one job ad after another I find on the web, and my application will fall into a blackhole reserved for stray mittens and socks. On the other hand, when my resume gets passed along via a connection, I typically get a response within days. Thus the need to commit to ongoing networking every chance I get.

It’s easy enough to collect business cards. Introductions are made, small talk is had, cards are swapped. But to keep the connection going past the follow-up e-mail….there’s the challenge. Rather than look at networking as a way to help yourself, see it as an opportunity to help other people. Every person I meet, I look for a window — who do I know that would be a connection for that person or is there a need that I can help fill. The contacts that I can help out in the short term, tend to the be the people I’ll keep in touch with over the longer term. It makes sense, I most want to be affiliated with people who help other people and aren’t stuck in the Marcia, Marcia, Marcia line of thinking. The golden rule: do for others what you want others to do for you, gets you a lot further than just a “great meeting you” follow up.

PS. If you’re looking to work out the nerve to do some serious networking with or without alcohol as a social lubricant, check out these two books: How to Work a Room, Revised Edition: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing by Susan RoAne and Work the Pond! Use the Power of Positive Networking to Leap Forward in Work and Life by Darcy Rezac (enjoy the frog fables at the start of each chapter).

PPS. If your company isn’t coughing up the business cards or you’ve got a side gig, it’s time to buy your own cards. It’s unbelievable the number of people who don’t carry cards; every time you leave your house, you could cross paths with any number of people vital to your personal and professional development.

For under $25, Moo will print and ship you 100 mini-cards. Trust me (I just ordered a set), they’re conversation starters. You can opt to use their designs or can upload your own graphics. You can upload up to 100 images, 10 copies of 10 images, 20 copies of 5 images, 1 copy of 100 images on the back of each mini-card. Five rows of text on the front to make your pitch and spread the word.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your calling cards, FineStationery is a great option. Just about every person I meets comments on the cards I bought through the site. If I had a nickel for every person I sent to FineStationery….

For some serious business card inspiration, check out this flickr album of roughly 500 ingenious business cards designed to make a statement.

Confessions of a gym rat

Published on September 23, 2007 in Health and Shopping. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

It’s a rare day that I don’t get to the gym for a solid 40 minutes of cardio. And I’m trying to start lifting weights again because boredom is no excuse to not try and stave off osteoperosis. Not to mention the pilates certification I’m working on.

The harsh and frequenly odorific reality of working out so much indoors and outdoors is a laundry basket full of sweaty clothes that can sit up to a week before hitting the washing machine. Not all gym clothes are created equal. Some fabrics seem to enjoy a marriage with sweat stains that is unbecoming of stylish fitness apparel.

Thus, my joy in discovering Penguin Sport Wash. This biodegradable detergent sucks locked in sweat out of your clothes, extending the life of your gym clothes. (Though I’ve yet to have the occasion to test the claim, it’s also supposed to remove blood and grass stains from your fitness attire.) It’s always disappointing to have to throw out otherwise flawless workout wear because you just can’t wash the sweat out any longer. And you can now stave off that sad moment when a good friend relocates to the trash can.

The bully at the conference table

Published on September 21, 2007 in Business and Environment. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Am I alone in thinking it’s incredibly arrogant for the American government to hold itself to an entirely separate standard from the rest of the world? Our environment is failing in part due to the disproportionate amount of pollution the US pumps into the atmosphere, groundwater, and oceans. We should be jumping at every opportunity that keeps our planet lush and green for future generations to enjoy. Instead, per usual, we’re expecting the rest of the world to turn their backs on the American refusal to curb the use of a toxic chemical, while the rest of the developed world has managed move towards the elimination of pesticide methyl bromide. The US uses more of the ozone-depleting chemical than THE REST OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD COMBINED. Can protecting big business really be more meaningful than protecting a planet that billions of people live on?

Am I alone in my outrage?

Marriage with a 7-year shelf life

Published on September 21, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

A German politician recently suggested that marriages should have a 7-year expiration date, at which time a couple can renew their license or part ways. This suggestion has not met with much support by her party. Absurd as it sounds, I can see her point.

As a singleton I’ve often wondered how anyone, my brilliant friends included, can make the decision to spend the rest of their lives with one person. Given the divorce rate, half of them will likely realize they made the wrong decision, but a portion of them really will spend the next 50 or so years with the same man or woman. Given how much I’ve changed as a person in the past 10 years, I just don’t see how it would be possible for one person to grow in tandem with me over that time span. Drifting would be inevitable.

Seven year blocks are actually fundamental in breaking up your life cycle.

  • 7 y.o — you’re in school full time, shifting the bulk of your waking hours away from family
  • 14 y.o — you’re a teenager; angst is your friend
  • 21 — you’re an adult; you’re out of college; you’re finding yourself sucker punched by a real world that was advertised as something entirely different
  • 28 — statistics say, you’re married. Average age of marriage is now mid to late 20s for men and women.
  • 35 — you’ve started a family of your own; priorities have shifted
  • 42 — middle age; your body isn’t what it used to be
  • 49 — you’re starting to think about the empty nest, because the kids are growing up SO fast
  • 56 — your kids are likely out of college; these days they boomerang back home
  • 63 — grandpa, you’re looking at retirement; the structure of your entire day is going to change dramatically
  • 70 — you’ve picked out your retirement village
  • 77 — doing the doctor circuit keeps you busy
  • 85 — you just might be the last man standing in your social circle (hi, grandma!)

So a 7 year marriage seems reasonable. It would also transform the world of pre-nups as you’d not only have to take into account a devastating split, but one in which both parties grew apart and decided not to renew their marriage.

What do you think? Would a seven year license, with an option to renew, keep the marriage fired up and alive? Or is it a lame demonstration of our increasingly short attention spans? Do you agree with the age breaks above? Or would you make a few changes?

Passing up sex to surf the web

Published on September 20, 2007 in Entertainment. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

A recent JWT survey brings to light some of the social implications of Internet use. Key findings include:

  • 28 percent admitted spending less time socializing face-to-face with peers because of the amount of time they spend online.
  • 20 percent said they spend less time having sex because they are online.

Reading about these findings reminded me of a book I just finished reading by Michael Bugeja called Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in a Technological Age. Bugeja looks at the detrimental socialization implications of so much time being spent working with technological devices. Hint: the survey’s findings are no big surprise. He looks at the irony of using the Internet for self-help purposes; in order to improve relationships we should not be looking to the blind, unfiltered advice of strangers on the Internet but to other flesh and blood people in our real time lives.