As the value of the dollar has slowly gone down over time due to inflation there is a coin the has become almost worthless, the penny. It is only worth 1/100 of a dollar, and it can't buy anything unless you brought 99 other friends to go with your first penny (assuming that the lowest price good that is actually useful is only worth a dollar.) In fact, the only real use a penny or pennies have is to make change that doesn't end in a 5.
This is what stands in he way of getting rid of a practically useless coin, making change with physical currency. However, if people all together stopped using paper and coin currency all at once, then it would be possible to lose the penny without causing any real problems.
Maybe if there wasn't a thing such as inflation, and the value of the U.S. currency stayed around where it was during the 1930s or earlier, then the penny would be worth keeping. However that is not true, therefore we must wait until paper and coin currency becomes obsolete and electronic money in the form of debit/credit cards takes over, which is happening right now.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Social Media
Many of us who were born in the Millennial generation use social media, either a Facebook, Twitter, or whatever else there is to interact with other friends and exchange information through virtual communities on the internet. It is also how a lot of young people receive news and current events right next to watching The Daily Show on Comedy Central and reading The Onion. I don't think social media has a particularly positive impact on modern society, especially with how it changes social interaction, tends to skew facts, and turns young people into ego-maniacs constantly posting and tweeting just to get more "likes," as if they have any actual value.
Although social media allows us to communicate with friends who may be far away from our own location, and chat with a larger audience, it makes us become more isolated from others and diminishes a sense of community in our social lives. In my opinion, social media has the potential to turn us, if it already has not, turned us into a bunch of isolated weirdos who only speek over the internet.
Social media allows us to say whatever we want, and this ultimately leads to factual information becoming misinterpreted and incorrect. It's kind of like the game telephone. As the information is reposted over and over again, some of what was originally said will be changed unintentionally due to miscommunication and people putting their own opinion into the original information.
Social media can turn those who are avid users into ego-maniacs, constantly reposting and retweeting information in hopes of getting more people to "like" their status. In all reality "likes" are not worth anything and it just shows that however many people clicked a button next to something you wrote. I guess it's a way for people to try to become celebrities without having to actually work. But it's not like you actually have to work to become a celebrity.
Although social media allows us to communicate with friends who may be far away from our own location, and chat with a larger audience, it makes us become more isolated from others and diminishes a sense of community in our social lives. In my opinion, social media has the potential to turn us, if it already has not, turned us into a bunch of isolated weirdos who only speek over the internet.
Social media allows us to say whatever we want, and this ultimately leads to factual information becoming misinterpreted and incorrect. It's kind of like the game telephone. As the information is reposted over and over again, some of what was originally said will be changed unintentionally due to miscommunication and people putting their own opinion into the original information.
Social media can turn those who are avid users into ego-maniacs, constantly reposting and retweeting information in hopes of getting more people to "like" their status. In all reality "likes" are not worth anything and it just shows that however many people clicked a button next to something you wrote. I guess it's a way for people to try to become celebrities without having to actually work. But it's not like you actually have to work to become a celebrity.
Politics: Why do we Take it so Personally?
In today's world, it seems to be very easy to offend some one. It is also pretty easy to piss some one off by talking about politics, especially if their beliefs are contrary to yours. This makes it very difficult to discuss the issues our nation faces today, whether it be healthcare reform, immigration reform, partisanship, national debt, and same-sex marriage. The problem is we choose not to be open to other ideas and opinions and just dismiss them. This leads us to believe that our own opinions are right and everyone else's are flat out wrong.
Another problem that causes taking politics so personally is that we take it way to seriously. Even though a lot of the issues mentioned above are serious issues that must be dealt with, individuals, especially those who are very partisan, take these issues very seriously and can get offended very easily and quickly. This is also connected to the former reason, we lack openness to new ideas and have a very hard time altering our opinions.
If we do in the near future let go of our partisan views and strict loyalty to one ideology, we will be able to discuss these political issues and make it easier to solve them, as it will be easier to compromise some of our values in order to accomodate those who have values different to our own. Hopefully discussing politics will become something we can have friendly debates over and not heated arguments that make us mad at each other. It is up to us if we want this to happen.
Another problem that causes taking politics so personally is that we take it way to seriously. Even though a lot of the issues mentioned above are serious issues that must be dealt with, individuals, especially those who are very partisan, take these issues very seriously and can get offended very easily and quickly. This is also connected to the former reason, we lack openness to new ideas and have a very hard time altering our opinions.
If we do in the near future let go of our partisan views and strict loyalty to one ideology, we will be able to discuss these political issues and make it easier to solve them, as it will be easier to compromise some of our values in order to accomodate those who have values different to our own. Hopefully discussing politics will become something we can have friendly debates over and not heated arguments that make us mad at each other. It is up to us if we want this to happen.
Entitlement
In modern society many of us today believe we have a right to something, whether it be a tangible asset or service provided to us. But why do we have this belief? or more importantly, why do you deserve said entitlements? There are many individuals that believe just because they exist they deserve whatever entitlement it might be. This usually comes in the for of social welfare, where tax dollars from the state are given to individuals who either don't make enough to be financially stable or just don't want to work at all. It also comes in the form of health insurance, usually for the sick and elderly. To me, it seems insane and completely unjustifiable to say that just because you were born, you deserve such services. Entitlement does make more sense if you did something to deserve it like paying taxes over a long period of time. But that brings up another question, why should the state even provide entitlement services to us in the first place? One might say it is because we pay taxes, but I don't believe paying taxes is a good reason. In fact, I don't believe the state should even provide entitlement programs to us at all. The tax money we pay should be used to protect us (military defense, law & order) and help people become more productive through public education. Programs that take care of us only make us lazier and less productive in that we don't have any incentive to work hard when we can simply live off of welfare money.
But what about the elderly and those who can't take care of themselves? Well as cruel as it sounds, too bad. Taking care of retirees is a huge burden on society that cannot be sustained through government programs. It's not like they will be living on this earth for much longer.
Having a sense of entitlement is bad for the mind and only makes us weaker as a species. We simply cannot expect everything to be given to us.
But what about the elderly and those who can't take care of themselves? Well as cruel as it sounds, too bad. Taking care of retirees is a huge burden on society that cannot be sustained through government programs. It's not like they will be living on this earth for much longer.
Having a sense of entitlement is bad for the mind and only makes us weaker as a species. We simply cannot expect everything to be given to us.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Originality in Movies
There was a movie produced around 2005 and it is called Click. It is an Adam Sandler movie where his character, a middle class American working for a Real Estate firm comes across a universal remote that can pause and fast forward as well as other capabilities. This device does make his life easier, however, his excessive use of the remote ultimatly leads to his demise. This idea is unique in itself and does sound original, which is what I thought at first. However, I found out that the film actually rips off It's a Wonderful Life and Back to the Future Two. It seems that truly original ideas are hard to come by today, especially in the film industry. As decades have passed the number of original movie plots has gone down at a constant rate, which makes sence because as time passes, it becomesharder to come up with original ideas.
As a way to compensate for the lack of originality, movie producers simply remake the old version or create a sequel. Sequels are very common today, and just recently, there was a rumor that a second It's a Wonderful Life was going to be made. That was later found untrue.
With this new-found way of producing movies without having to think of new ideas, could we see in the near future remakes or remakes of remakes? And if that does happen it is likely that no one will even notice, because eventually the original will be so old that nobody will remember it. We also might see titles like Avatar 2, 3, or 4 with regards to movie sequels, like what happened to Starwars.
As a way to compensate for the lack of originality, movie producers simply remake the old version or create a sequel. Sequels are very common today, and just recently, there was a rumor that a second It's a Wonderful Life was going to be made. That was later found untrue.
With this new-found way of producing movies without having to think of new ideas, could we see in the near future remakes or remakes of remakes? And if that does happen it is likely that no one will even notice, because eventually the original will be so old that nobody will remember it. We also might see titles like Avatar 2, 3, or 4 with regards to movie sequels, like what happened to Starwars.
Globalization
If you have ever looked at the tag on the back of your shirt and it says "made in China," that is the process of globalization. In fact, it is likely that the shirt was not just produced in China, rather the cotton for the shirt was made in the U.S., the textiles came from China, the dyes for the shirts coloring came from South Africa, and then the finished product was sent back to the U.S. for you to buy.
Globalization is the process of international integration of world views, products, ideas, trchnological advancement, and world trade. Basically it is the reason why you can buy cheap crap at the store and why you have to learn spanish in high school and college. It is the reason why you can call a friend 6,000 miles away from you.
Many believe that this process is bad for us, and in some respects it is. Global outsourcung, deforestation, overconsumption of natural resources, and pollution are a result of this. However, if you live in a developed country, and are complaining about jobs being shipped overseas, you should realize that those jobs aren't the best, but if you don't mind working in a shoe factory rather than getting a career, I guess it is okay. Those jobs aren't really the best jobs. Technological change will also result in more efficient resource use.
In the end globalization will probably have a positive outcome. Its problems will eventually be solved just like the problems with industrialization were solved over 100 years ago.
Globalization is the process of international integration of world views, products, ideas, trchnological advancement, and world trade. Basically it is the reason why you can buy cheap crap at the store and why you have to learn spanish in high school and college. It is the reason why you can call a friend 6,000 miles away from you.
Many believe that this process is bad for us, and in some respects it is. Global outsourcung, deforestation, overconsumption of natural resources, and pollution are a result of this. However, if you live in a developed country, and are complaining about jobs being shipped overseas, you should realize that those jobs aren't the best, but if you don't mind working in a shoe factory rather than getting a career, I guess it is okay. Those jobs aren't really the best jobs. Technological change will also result in more efficient resource use.
In the end globalization will probably have a positive outcome. Its problems will eventually be solved just like the problems with industrialization were solved over 100 years ago.
Lying
When it comes to lying I have probably done it too many times to count. Whether it be for avoiding punishment or personal gain I have done it. I can't imagine that there is one person on this planet that has not lied at least once in their lives.
Most of us want to impress our friends or superiors, so we might "stretch the truth" in order to look better. Yes, it is probably immoral and not right to do, but would you want to tell a potential employer about past events that might not look too good on a resume. So you either just dont mention it or simply lie about it.
Many other people may lie in order to avoid punishment. I mean, if you say you did your homework when you actually didn't do it and you try to finish it right when class starts, it's not like it affects anyone, that is if you get away with it. Now getting caught lying, that'sa whole different story that I don't want to get into.
The bottom line, even though we know lying is bad, we still do it anyway. That makes so much sence now does it?
Most of us want to impress our friends or superiors, so we might "stretch the truth" in order to look better. Yes, it is probably immoral and not right to do, but would you want to tell a potential employer about past events that might not look too good on a resume. So you either just dont mention it or simply lie about it.
Many other people may lie in order to avoid punishment. I mean, if you say you did your homework when you actually didn't do it and you try to finish it right when class starts, it's not like it affects anyone, that is if you get away with it. Now getting caught lying, that'sa whole different story that I don't want to get into.
The bottom line, even though we know lying is bad, we still do it anyway. That makes so much sence now does it?
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