Reading Freakonomics

There usually a certain level of disdain that I hold for all assigned books that I read even if I like it and "Freakomonics" has definitely been a challenging book to read. Not in its content or vocabulary; but in the ideas, augments an oddball corollaries that it presents that are constantly questioning how I think about the world I live in. Typically when get a book I’m done reading within a week. I have actually had to go out of my own way to make sure I don’t read past what it required, by having a secondary book to read.  I honestly haven’t utilized any elements of active reading aside for m just making mental note if things that I thought were interesting so that I could bring them up in discussion at later time.

            As far as advice goes, unfortunately, I don’t think I in the position to give any: I always remember most of what I read, I read while listening to really loud music and I read really fast (seriously, 30 plus pages in less than an hour, it’s a problem). The only advice I could give, if any, is that for reading for retention is  like exercising a muscle, the more you do it, the betterat it you will become.

A Current Event . . .Poverty

As of February 2012 the amount of people that are living on $2 a day, has doubled since 1996. (David Walsh)

 http://wsws.org/articles/2012/feb2012/pove-f25.sthml

This article focuses on a side of poverty that is often left unaddressed, aside from the random infomercial fund raiser; it’s about the children that are affected by poverty. More important, nay more domestically the children that live in, what David Walsh describes as extreme poverty. “They adopt the World Bank’s standard for determining the poorest of the global poor; subsist on $2 a day or less.” (Walsh, 2012)

In researching this social issue, a lot has come to light.

That this “issue” it’s actually a pandemic, and the more I research the more hopeless it seems that there will be and answer. At the core what we’re talking about is deeply and permanently changing the way people think, then they relate, especially emotionally with money. Conversely it is excruciatingly difficult to build beneficial spending habits when you quite literally have no money. “This means that some 4 million people in “the richest country on earth” (according to US capitalism’s apologists) are surviving on $60 a month, i.e., essentially on no income whatsoever.” (Walsh, 2012).

This startling statistic begs the question of, for all the programs that exist, truly how affective are they?  There are literally more people living in and around poverty now than ever before, even more than during the Great Depression. I don’t have a definitive declaration as to what exactly should or could be done as of now, only empathy.

Act Your Ethnicity

                 One stigma that has personal experience with is the perception is acting white. In the African American culture, apparently it’s more than a stigma; it’s almost a social death sentence. But, what does it mean to be black, exactly? Does it mean to only wear urban attire? Does it mean to only listen to rap and hip-hop music? Does it mean to only aspire to either a rapper or a professional athlete? My intent isn’t to demonize, but rather to attempt to understand why certain activities are glorified while others are admonished, like reading for example. It is very rare sight to behold an African American individual, on a bus, while reading. Other activities that fall under the same vein including: speaking proper English, excelling academically or not being about to dance; which is an offense so "egregious" that it almost deserves its own blog post.

 What's the difference between me and you?

Although I can only speak from the African American side about experience, it seems like this theme is culturally universal. I think it all boils down to managing the expectations and when those predetermined beliefs are challenged, even for the better, that that change can cause fear. Embracing cultural practices can be a good thing. Problems arise when cultural expectations are placed on someone for an option that is out their control, like having a certain skin color; begin to infringe upon someone ability to be an individual.

I Pledge

I pledge:

            To bring my best to class everyday by…constantly reminding myself that the information and the skill that I am building that I am learning and building,  are to ensure my success in my internship and in for the rest of life.

            To encourage and support those around me …by taking notice when someone needs help and more importantly taking the action step to actually help them.

             I pledge to make this blog more viewer friendly . . . by reminding myself this blog isn't just for me, it's for everyone else to be able to be able to join in to my experiences at Year Up.

Neighborhoods: Over the ghetto, and through the hood, to Josiah’s house we go

The area that I currently reside in has a very bad reputation for being dangerous. Unfortunately, it lives up to that reputation on a fairly consistent basis. The reality is that, even though the people there may speak and dress a certain way, most of the people that live there, are just trying to get by and make a decent living or go to school. But, the sad truth is because of certain stereotypes and a small group of people that perpetuate those stereotypes: like not paying to ride the bus, and (not so random) shootings The whole area suffers, with side affects such as decreased bus service, virtually zero cab service.

I’ve grown up in many different neighborhoods but for the most part had lived a relatively sheltered life, more out of neglect than necessity. But it would be out of pure naivety for me to believe that who I have become, has not, in some part, been affected by where I now live would be pure gullibility. When I took the time to reexamine how living where has influenced how I think and act and react to life, I’ve come to a realization that it has some adverse effects on psychology. My “neighborhood” has made me more suspicious of other people, I have prepared myself to be able to engage in and ultimately safely extract myself from a physical altercation. I don't talk to anybody. I don't want to talk to anybody; and it's a shame that the prospect of getting to know a new person is becoming marginalized with the not so invalid excuse of "I don't want to get shot because i decided to get to know this person". To not arouse curiosity, I've made a point of not buying anything that people with impoverish mentalities would hope to own, and steal to do so. I've learned to VALUE, what a poor person wont. I know that no matter how expensive I will never have to worry about some one stealing my books.

About Advertising

I really don’t like when advertisements about things that I will never use, appear on my phone. Other than the occasional, useful or quirky widget, like the weather and fortune cookie; then I could honestly do away with the rest. On the other hand, the only reason I watch the super bowl IS for the commercials. The comedic timing and shock value definitely do play a big part in its appeal. The celebrity cameos used to be something I would look forward to; but I think the sharp decline in that interest is has been largely impacted by my TV going out; Which has essential cut me off from celebrity “news”, and therefore lessened my wanting to see them or overall carrying of what they are doing. Another viable factor is for my apathy as far celebrities is when I came to the realization that celebrities are just very popular people, but they are only just people.

           

            I am most receptive to advertising and marketing after I’ve somewhat mentally prepared myself for it. In a movie theaters it like here are some movies that are similar to the movie that you are about to watch if you like it you can see it when it comes out. Sometimes at the mall, it’s interesting to see what the different stores have on display, but at the same time go in with the knowledge and experience that a lot of visual information is about  to be thrown in your at brain so get ready to set your perceptual filters higher than what you usually do. After that has been achieved it’s easier to focus on what’s personally appealing; it also helps to protect you from the incessant hucksterism.

           

            That all being said I actually am interested in the art of advertisement. The way in which someone can take a thing that you’ve never seen before, a thing that you have had encroach upon your reality and in a matter of mere seconds, make it upwards to an all-encompassing desire. To me, this IS mind control, modern mind control.