I wanted to overload my summer that is already pretty busy,
I enjoy the challenge....I am taking advantage of the oppor-
tunity to get ahead since I am only able to take 1-2 classes
a semester. A friend was very challenged by CT class yet
managed to have much good things to say about it. I did
not expect the Pop Culture end of this class, am really
enjoying that. I signed on for the credit requirement, did not
drop class because I am enjoying it.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Patriotic Spending June 28 assignment...
First Blog Assignment for June 28,2010
‘Given that the U.S. economy is based on consumer spending, is it patriotic to shop?’
Consumer spending is 80% of the economy therefore, spending money on things we need as well as things we don’t need to beat the recession needs to be taken to a much broader perspective. Since budgets are tight, many Americans living paycheck to paycheck fear spending beyond necessity. Consumers are paying down debt, cutting out impulsive credit card use, and taking greater responsibility for maintaining never-mind finding ‘extra’ money. Not knowing first-hand what it’s like to be a member of the private sector today, the suggestion from people holding relatively secure government jobs is practically insulting.
Conscientious spending can be learned, budgeting by looking for sales, coupons, avoiding impulse buys and for some, avoiding the ‘big box’ stores that promote buying more than we intended on top of having to pay to shop there! Even those Americans who have not lost their jobs altogether, whether their income has been completely untouched or they have had days/hours cut live in fear of losing said job since no great strides have been made in the economy.
The ‘government for the people’ has not been able to restore their status if you will people do not trust the government today. Most Americans today are in constant fear of unemployment, homelessness, hunger… some have been led to very extreme measures from deep feelings of hopelessness.
Like it or not, Pop culture contributes to the US economy today, especially via the internet with the various types of opportunities to express oneself, to earn an education, to shop, work, communicate… The ‘Be American, Buy American campaign could become the newest Pop Culture craze. With this thinking being encouraged over the internet even other countries will shop American. We need to choose to shop ‘Made in the USA’ to do our part in keeping American money in America and in relieving the fear and mistrust that has built up around us.
Newt Gingrich proposes changes that benefit the American job market, i.e. reducing payroll tax 15% and eliminating estate tax and capital gains tax. Other voices http://www.city-data.com/forum/shopping-consumer-products/235453-should-we-shop-patriotic-save-americas.html
express such ideas as looking for American made products at all stores especially big box stores, letting business’ know when a purchase was not made because it was unavailable with an American label. People need to be re-educated about how our daily live can be an investment in America. Also, not only do we need to continue to educate future generations we need to allow ourselves to be educated by the newer culture that is so rapidly growing around us. Knowledge, all knowledge, equals power equals pride in our country, pride in spending habits, pride in doing one’s part.
Here the Pop Culture aspect can play a significant role. A role in which we need the governments support not necessarily direction. We spend American, the need for jobs increases- a powerful equation.
This leads to the idea being generated by www.MadeInTheUSA.com - an American based organization consisting of a small group of manufactures who believe ‘circle economics’ to be the key to rebuilding the US economy. “Be American, Buy American”
(Fox News video @ https://www.madeinusa.com/?action=showd&page=newspr) . Made in USA was launched on July 4th, 2009 and as of October 2009 has 300,000 business signed on to their site, with a goal of reaching 1,000,000,000 these businesses are already making it easier for consumers to buy American and be connected to US manufacturers. This opportunity is free to all US businesses. Made in the USA believes in two powerful educational methods to bring consumers together to learn and practice Patriotic Spending:
1) The practice of circle economics which will reduce the unemployment rate and increase economical strength. This creates the image of a ball rolling downhill which starts slow, picks up speed and eventually becomes an unstoppable force creating new jobs and restoring the US economy. Each circle creating more power than the previous circle.
2) Recycling Dollars It is much like the current focus on protecting our natural resources by recycling materials wherever possible. The combined buying power of American consumers is used to purchase products made in the USA- those dollars stay in our system. We spend American, the need for jobs increases- this is the power of Patriotic Spending.
“Americans have a greater impact on the health of the US economy than any stimulus package. Patriotic spending recycles American money and keeps the economy strong.”
‘Given that the U.S. economy is based on consumer spending, is it patriotic to shop?’
Consumer spending is 80% of the economy therefore, spending money on things we need as well as things we don’t need to beat the recession needs to be taken to a much broader perspective. Since budgets are tight, many Americans living paycheck to paycheck fear spending beyond necessity. Consumers are paying down debt, cutting out impulsive credit card use, and taking greater responsibility for maintaining never-mind finding ‘extra’ money. Not knowing first-hand what it’s like to be a member of the private sector today, the suggestion from people holding relatively secure government jobs is practically insulting.
Conscientious spending can be learned, budgeting by looking for sales, coupons, avoiding impulse buys and for some, avoiding the ‘big box’ stores that promote buying more than we intended on top of having to pay to shop there! Even those Americans who have not lost their jobs altogether, whether their income has been completely untouched or they have had days/hours cut live in fear of losing said job since no great strides have been made in the economy.
The ‘government for the people’ has not been able to restore their status if you will people do not trust the government today. Most Americans today are in constant fear of unemployment, homelessness, hunger… some have been led to very extreme measures from deep feelings of hopelessness.
Like it or not, Pop culture contributes to the US economy today, especially via the internet with the various types of opportunities to express oneself, to earn an education, to shop, work, communicate… The ‘Be American, Buy American campaign could become the newest Pop Culture craze. With this thinking being encouraged over the internet even other countries will shop American. We need to choose to shop ‘Made in the USA’ to do our part in keeping American money in America and in relieving the fear and mistrust that has built up around us.
Newt Gingrich proposes changes that benefit the American job market, i.e. reducing payroll tax 15% and eliminating estate tax and capital gains tax. Other voices http://www.city-data.com/forum/shopping-consumer-products/235453-should-we-shop-patriotic-save-americas.html
express such ideas as looking for American made products at all stores especially big box stores, letting business’ know when a purchase was not made because it was unavailable with an American label. People need to be re-educated about how our daily live can be an investment in America. Also, not only do we need to continue to educate future generations we need to allow ourselves to be educated by the newer culture that is so rapidly growing around us. Knowledge, all knowledge, equals power equals pride in our country, pride in spending habits, pride in doing one’s part.
Here the Pop Culture aspect can play a significant role. A role in which we need the governments support not necessarily direction. We spend American, the need for jobs increases- a powerful equation.
This leads to the idea being generated by www.MadeInTheUSA.com - an American based organization consisting of a small group of manufactures who believe ‘circle economics’ to be the key to rebuilding the US economy. “Be American, Buy American”
(Fox News video @ https://www.madeinusa.com/?action=showd&page=newspr) . Made in USA was launched on July 4th, 2009 and as of October 2009 has 300,000 business signed on to their site, with a goal of reaching 1,000,000,000 these businesses are already making it easier for consumers to buy American and be connected to US manufacturers. This opportunity is free to all US businesses. Made in the USA believes in two powerful educational methods to bring consumers together to learn and practice Patriotic Spending:
1) The practice of circle economics which will reduce the unemployment rate and increase economical strength. This creates the image of a ball rolling downhill which starts slow, picks up speed and eventually becomes an unstoppable force creating new jobs and restoring the US economy. Each circle creating more power than the previous circle.
2) Recycling Dollars It is much like the current focus on protecting our natural resources by recycling materials wherever possible. The combined buying power of American consumers is used to purchase products made in the USA- those dollars stay in our system. We spend American, the need for jobs increases- this is the power of Patriotic Spending.
“Americans have a greater impact on the health of the US economy than any stimulus package. Patriotic spending recycles American money and keeps the economy strong.”
Monday, June 21, 2010
Pop culture and Marshall McLuhan articles...
Go figure I am learning alot about Pop Culture! Never realized there was so much I would not have defined as pop culture. I leaned more toward 'mass culture' as pop culture, didn't think of 'common or folk culture' as pop. I also put much in the catagory of marketing and fads than pop culture. In the eighties I worked as a personal shopper in the very busy, popular denim/jeans business, for some customers to spend $1000 dollars or so fairly regularly was not unusual. I knew some clients bodies better than my own! I bring this up because the Pop Culture article mentions Levi's. Some people literally tried anything to fit into Levi's and not all bodies were made for the style they had then (not nearly as varied as Levi's styles today). We kept pliers on hand for (mostly) women who needed/wanted such help to pull up the zippers. Another Levi experience was with foriegners who'd come in with brand new, empty suitcases and want them filled with Levi's of various sizes. Unbelievable. I really enjoyed this article.
"McLuhanism" never know where our passions can lead us. I can see how one can become entrenched with how strong an influence electronic media is in our social, cultural and political lifes. Even with the 'rear view mirror" understanding we are unconsciously drawn to different beliefs and theories via todays media, not even recognizing the shift as it is happening. Tribal culture/society; Western Man; Gutenberg Man; Mechanical Culture- great view on evolution of our culture.
Love the "media is the message" label, it is and so many don't even know that's where not only their messages come from but also their thoughts and ideas especially if you spend an exhorbiant amount of time in front of the television as so many do. Kids and adults alike-so suceptible to subliminal messages. Great article.
"McLuhanism" never know where our passions can lead us. I can see how one can become entrenched with how strong an influence electronic media is in our social, cultural and political lifes. Even with the 'rear view mirror" understanding we are unconsciously drawn to different beliefs and theories via todays media, not even recognizing the shift as it is happening. Tribal culture/society; Western Man; Gutenberg Man; Mechanical Culture- great view on evolution of our culture.
Love the "media is the message" label, it is and so many don't even know that's where not only their messages come from but also their thoughts and ideas especially if you spend an exhorbiant amount of time in front of the television as so many do. Kids and adults alike-so suceptible to subliminal messages. Great article.
Monday, June 14, 2010
RE: Identifying the Argument
What is Larry Lessig’s conclusion?
That we not look to government, courts or legislation alone for answers, due to passivity, economic influence and corruption. He believes in a private solution- that we ‘legalize’ what it is to be young today and to realize the economic potential that exists. He is also reminding us of how similar situations in the past have been corrected and how we might use those as a guiding factor, i.e. comparing the case of BMI and ASCAP in late 30’s early 40’s. I feel Larry is suggesting adults become more familiar with kids and how
What reasons does he give for his conclusions?
His reasoning seems to be asking us to compare ourselves (same age groups) and the changes we experienced as kids, the arguments there in, like TV, computers, music… To take notice of those evolutionary times and how they benefit us today and that economically we did not falter. That taking down anything with copyright extremism or any form of copyright abolitionism is not common sense.
That democracy demands more from us and we cannot kill the instinct technology creates
What assumptions is he making in his argument?
He is assuming a lot about the artists/musicians whose work is being used for free, that the artists should make their work available freely therefore giving up their profit. Perhaps we need to hear a panel of artists and their opinions as they no doubt want to keep following their passions to create as well, and to learn to allow others the joy of that work. That BMI, having given artists the choice to be open gave technology an opportunity is an agreeable stance for business’ to take today.
Do you find Lessig’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
I find in convincing on paper and in words but cannot quite make the connection to any comfortable end.
I like the comparisons he makes to Suza and his fears, the trespass law and the broadcast industry however, this information does not supply anything concrete at all. I feel strongly that the artists and young people themselves must be involved and perhaps like all the IQ’s that came out of the woodwork and helped bring computers to where they are today, we will find answers with a broader perspective than what Lessig presented here.
That we not look to government, courts or legislation alone for answers, due to passivity, economic influence and corruption. He believes in a private solution- that we ‘legalize’ what it is to be young today and to realize the economic potential that exists. He is also reminding us of how similar situations in the past have been corrected and how we might use those as a guiding factor, i.e. comparing the case of BMI and ASCAP in late 30’s early 40’s. I feel Larry is suggesting adults become more familiar with kids and how
What reasons does he give for his conclusions?
His reasoning seems to be asking us to compare ourselves (same age groups) and the changes we experienced as kids, the arguments there in, like TV, computers, music… To take notice of those evolutionary times and how they benefit us today and that economically we did not falter. That taking down anything with copyright extremism or any form of copyright abolitionism is not common sense.
That democracy demands more from us and we cannot kill the instinct technology creates
What assumptions is he making in his argument?
He is assuming a lot about the artists/musicians whose work is being used for free, that the artists should make their work available freely therefore giving up their profit. Perhaps we need to hear a panel of artists and their opinions as they no doubt want to keep following their passions to create as well, and to learn to allow others the joy of that work. That BMI, having given artists the choice to be open gave technology an opportunity is an agreeable stance for business’ to take today.
Do you find Lessig’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
I find in convincing on paper and in words but cannot quite make the connection to any comfortable end.
I like the comparisons he makes to Suza and his fears, the trespass law and the broadcast industry however, this information does not supply anything concrete at all. I feel strongly that the artists and young people themselves must be involved and perhaps like all the IQ’s that came out of the woodwork and helped bring computers to where they are today, we will find answers with a broader perspective than what Lessig presented here.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Initial question for HUM 101 class...
I signed up to fulfill one of the requirements but chose HUM over others to learn critical thinking. I feel I am a critical thinker, probably not so much as this class defines it though. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and therefore my life and the people and things in my life already as well as what/who is come. It's an added gift to study Pop Culture, I am looking forward to that as well as learning blogging and videos and all else.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Learning how to blog
I chose 'treasurerascal' because those are the names of my cats, no pictures yet.
I need to get more familiar with the process of blogging.
I need to get more familiar with the process of blogging.
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