Friday, December 22, 2006
Cancun's in my future -
I do apologize for being away from my blog for so long, as well as barely touching on all this cosmological (and cool). Between working two jobs and preparing for my wedding reception coming up, I've been truly very busy, but I've also been planning for my Honeymoon as well! Yes, I'm playing all these "grown up" games - weddings, honeymoons, wedding receptions - it all feels so surreal at times. Have I really arrived at that destination point in life where I find myself participating in those "milestone events" that I so recently attributed to simply "other people"? I guess so. However, I couldn't be happier about my union with my wife, who also doubles as my best friend (as it should be) - we have traveled the world together, and we continue to do so. So as of tomorrow, our travels will lead us to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where we'll (very luckily) be able to enjoy some relaxation, as well as take in the ancient Mayan sites of worship. So hopefully, I'll now be able to find some more time to write to the ol' blog, and keep you, intrepid reader, up to date on all things Cosmologically Cool, as well as any other thoughts of an arcane, or random nature. Stay warm, and Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 15, 2006
A new vision of wealth:
MSN Money has posted an astonishing article on a new survey of wealth for individuals in the world - it can be found here: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/StudyRevealsOverwhelmingWealthGap.aspx?GT1=8816
I find this astonishing because in the new study, which accounts for actual capital in hand (not equity or land or other various "riches", but pure, cold cash), minus expenses, shows that if you have just $2,100, congratulations - you're wealthier than HALF the people in the world. That's correct, you read that right - if you have a little over 2k in the bank, you're rich. In our world today, roughly 3 billion people live on less than $2 dollars a DAY. Here in America, countless millions spend around $4 just at Caribou Coffee or $tarbuck$ every day on their way to work. What's more, the three richest people (turns out they're men) in the world, with their wealth combined, are wealthier than the poorest 48 nations combined.
What's the point of all this? Simply to put a few things in perspective. For one, we're all now thoroughly wealthier than we think. Two, we certainly don't need as much as we think we do; true, I wouldn't have my fancy new computer to play games on (which I saved up for, by the way, and purchased w/money I had, just like in the olden days, instead of using too-easy-to-abuse credit), but hundreds and hundreds of millions live out their lives daily w/out worrying what "devil" boss of theirs wears Prada, or is sporting a new Lexus LS. Of course, many do not have the proper health care, housing, clothing, or insurance necessary for a life of relatively easy and worry-free living that we in the West enjoy so much, which leads me to: Three, perhaps we can afford to dole out a little more money to the local charity we support (or would like to support) than we think. And remember, this study doesn't take into account our cars, houses, clothing, electronics, diamond rings and earrings, and everything else we've acquired.
Yes, it certainly does matter what country one is born in. Here in America, we're guaranteed a wealthier existence simply because it's America. Even those in poverty are wealthier than many others in foreign. But perhaps now the rest of us can begin to shift some of that unevenness to our fellow humans, certainly here at home, and abroad as well, and help them out financially. Not to help gain them the next iPod, mind you, but perhaps better education, healthcare, clothing, etc., so they in turn will be more capable of taking care of themselves, live in an educated environment, and therefore be able to live sustanably by themselves. I don't necessarily believe that simply giving out piles of cash would do it, of course, but perhaps donating funds to increase public education schools and programs, supporting large revisions of industries (pollution control and renewable energy to name just two) to create jobs, and finding more interesting and constructive ways to utilize our cash flow may be a large step in the right direction.
I find this astonishing because in the new study, which accounts for actual capital in hand (not equity or land or other various "riches", but pure, cold cash), minus expenses, shows that if you have just $2,100, congratulations - you're wealthier than HALF the people in the world. That's correct, you read that right - if you have a little over 2k in the bank, you're rich. In our world today, roughly 3 billion people live on less than $2 dollars a DAY. Here in America, countless millions spend around $4 just at Caribou Coffee or $tarbuck$ every day on their way to work. What's more, the three richest people (turns out they're men) in the world, with their wealth combined, are wealthier than the poorest 48 nations combined.
What's the point of all this? Simply to put a few things in perspective. For one, we're all now thoroughly wealthier than we think. Two, we certainly don't need as much as we think we do; true, I wouldn't have my fancy new computer to play games on (which I saved up for, by the way, and purchased w/money I had, just like in the olden days, instead of using too-easy-to-abuse credit), but hundreds and hundreds of millions live out their lives daily w/out worrying what "devil" boss of theirs wears Prada, or is sporting a new Lexus LS. Of course, many do not have the proper health care, housing, clothing, or insurance necessary for a life of relatively easy and worry-free living that we in the West enjoy so much, which leads me to: Three, perhaps we can afford to dole out a little more money to the local charity we support (or would like to support) than we think. And remember, this study doesn't take into account our cars, houses, clothing, electronics, diamond rings and earrings, and everything else we've acquired.
Yes, it certainly does matter what country one is born in. Here in America, we're guaranteed a wealthier existence simply because it's America. Even those in poverty are wealthier than many others in foreign. But perhaps now the rest of us can begin to shift some of that unevenness to our fellow humans, certainly here at home, and abroad as well, and help them out financially. Not to help gain them the next iPod, mind you, but perhaps better education, healthcare, clothing, etc., so they in turn will be more capable of taking care of themselves, live in an educated environment, and therefore be able to live sustanably by themselves. I don't necessarily believe that simply giving out piles of cash would do it, of course, but perhaps donating funds to increase public education schools and programs, supporting large revisions of industries (pollution control and renewable energy to name just two) to create jobs, and finding more interesting and constructive ways to utilize our cash flow may be a large step in the right direction.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
The Importance of Meetings:
Once again, I find myself back in a world that I was none-too-eager to associate with: the realm of cubicle-land, a.k.a., a typical business office environment. True, this is only a temporary position, and within two months, I shall complete my assignment. What's more, the people I work with at this job are wonderfully laid-back, jovial, outgoing, and help support a friendly, fun-filled environment. Yet, are even these desirable attributes enough to outweight the drudgery that is associated with bleak-colored cubicle walls, ancient computers, and endlessly droning-on meetings?
"The meeting", for those who don't know, is a sight to behold: choose an office meeting room, populated with several large, brown meeting tables, semi-comfortable chairs, and stark-white walls. Add in an old TV and VCR on a stand off in a corner, a whiteboard hanging on one wall, and various unhung, uninspired framed posters leaning upon walls gathering dust, and you can imagine just about every meeting room I've ever had the mis-pleasure of being in.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday at my current position, I join other members of this business in weekly meetings. I see people getting stressed out, worried, and just plain flabbergasted, over human-created bullshit. Ultimately, I suppose one could argue that everythng we discuss, from sociology, cosmology, philosophy, etc. might be human-created "bullshit"; yet I would rather consume my time (at least my employed time) with concepts such as philanthropy, creativity, and helping others, rather than become ried in beaurocratic business BS.
Am I being too harsh on the business world? Perhaps. Do I clearly not have a full understanding of economic complexities? Most assuredly. I'm well aware that "business", at least in the sense that I define it (your typical, "Office Space" world of facsimiles, computers, cubicles, percentages, bottom-lines, continuous growth and expansion, marketing, sales, etc.) keeps most of the world's population employed, and busy. Yet ALSO from the movie "Office Space" comes this nugget of advice: "Human beings weren't meant to sit in a cubicle and stare at a computer for eight hours a day." I truly believe this, and I'll bet most others do too; yet why is it so hard to make another reality so? Why do we insist on continuing a society that is built upon shlepping off to the doldrum's of work for 40, 50, 60+ hours a week, being slaves to reports, share-holders, increasing profit, machines, and business suits, instead of concentrating as en entire society on things like solving the world food crisis, healthcare for all, better housing for all citizens, re-constructing the infrastructure of this country (roads, sewage, etc.) solving the energy crisis, reducing global warming, educating the poor, wiping out illiteracy, discovering clean, renewable energy sources, wiping out terrorist cells, exploring the limits of our solar system, and on and on? Wouldn't any and all of these concentrations provide innumerable opportunities for education and employment for the masses? I know they would.
One of the reasons we continue to remain locked in our own little lives, however, and "putting up" with crap-tacular positions, is to "make money" to cover "our necessities". Unfortunately, in much of the Western world, "necessities" go behind mere clothing, food, shelter, health, and security. "Shelter" becomes defined as several hundred-thousand dollar homes; "security" as a car per family member, and then, large, expensive (and cumbersome) SUV's; "clothing" as designer-wear, costing hundreds each; not to mention (of which I'm most certainly guilty of myself) non-necessary items such as the iPods, gizmos, and gadgets of the world. I'm not decrying that we give them up - I sure don't want to - but to just take a step back, a larger focus on them and about them ("them" being any consumer item) and realize that we don't NEED any of them, and when we do acquire them, let's appreciate them for what they are: a tool to use, to achieve certain entertainment, and that's it; not a replacement for happiness. And, do we need 10, 20, 50 "things", when 8 might be enough?
At any rate, this is what goes through my mind when I sit through meetings. What do you think about?
"The meeting", for those who don't know, is a sight to behold: choose an office meeting room, populated with several large, brown meeting tables, semi-comfortable chairs, and stark-white walls. Add in an old TV and VCR on a stand off in a corner, a whiteboard hanging on one wall, and various unhung, uninspired framed posters leaning upon walls gathering dust, and you can imagine just about every meeting room I've ever had the mis-pleasure of being in.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday at my current position, I join other members of this business in weekly meetings. I see people getting stressed out, worried, and just plain flabbergasted, over human-created bullshit. Ultimately, I suppose one could argue that everythng we discuss, from sociology, cosmology, philosophy, etc. might be human-created "bullshit"; yet I would rather consume my time (at least my employed time) with concepts such as philanthropy, creativity, and helping others, rather than become ried in beaurocratic business BS.
Am I being too harsh on the business world? Perhaps. Do I clearly not have a full understanding of economic complexities? Most assuredly. I'm well aware that "business", at least in the sense that I define it (your typical, "Office Space" world of facsimiles, computers, cubicles, percentages, bottom-lines, continuous growth and expansion, marketing, sales, etc.) keeps most of the world's population employed, and busy. Yet ALSO from the movie "Office Space" comes this nugget of advice: "Human beings weren't meant to sit in a cubicle and stare at a computer for eight hours a day." I truly believe this, and I'll bet most others do too; yet why is it so hard to make another reality so? Why do we insist on continuing a society that is built upon shlepping off to the doldrum's of work for 40, 50, 60+ hours a week, being slaves to reports, share-holders, increasing profit, machines, and business suits, instead of concentrating as en entire society on things like solving the world food crisis, healthcare for all, better housing for all citizens, re-constructing the infrastructure of this country (roads, sewage, etc.) solving the energy crisis, reducing global warming, educating the poor, wiping out illiteracy, discovering clean, renewable energy sources, wiping out terrorist cells, exploring the limits of our solar system, and on and on? Wouldn't any and all of these concentrations provide innumerable opportunities for education and employment for the masses? I know they would.
One of the reasons we continue to remain locked in our own little lives, however, and "putting up" with crap-tacular positions, is to "make money" to cover "our necessities". Unfortunately, in much of the Western world, "necessities" go behind mere clothing, food, shelter, health, and security. "Shelter" becomes defined as several hundred-thousand dollar homes; "security" as a car per family member, and then, large, expensive (and cumbersome) SUV's; "clothing" as designer-wear, costing hundreds each; not to mention (of which I'm most certainly guilty of myself) non-necessary items such as the iPods, gizmos, and gadgets of the world. I'm not decrying that we give them up - I sure don't want to - but to just take a step back, a larger focus on them and about them ("them" being any consumer item) and realize that we don't NEED any of them, and when we do acquire them, let's appreciate them for what they are: a tool to use, to achieve certain entertainment, and that's it; not a replacement for happiness. And, do we need 10, 20, 50 "things", when 8 might be enough?
At any rate, this is what goes through my mind when I sit through meetings. What do you think about?
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Workin' my butt off:
Well then -
I have been notoriously absent from my Blog site as of late, and that is due to the fact that I am now working two jobs (it does not rain, it pours), in an attempt to pay off my ever-growing credit card debt, and still make the necessary bills o' life, as it were. Therefore, I find myself completely wiped out in the evening, and so tired, that the thought of even beginning a new blog sends me sprinting away. *sigh* - even now, I grow weary of this simple-minded mush I put forth. *smile*
Well, I promise that I will work harder at finding some more free time, and utilizing it as best I can to produce some of the world's greatest, and most rich Blogging the Internet has ever seen. Impossible? Possibly. Improbable? Probably. But tempting? Indubitably!
Join me soon for more strange stories and cosmologic wonders here at Cosmological Cool.
I have been notoriously absent from my Blog site as of late, and that is due to the fact that I am now working two jobs (it does not rain, it pours), in an attempt to pay off my ever-growing credit card debt, and still make the necessary bills o' life, as it were. Therefore, I find myself completely wiped out in the evening, and so tired, that the thought of even beginning a new blog sends me sprinting away. *sigh* - even now, I grow weary of this simple-minded mush I put forth. *smile*
Well, I promise that I will work harder at finding some more free time, and utilizing it as best I can to produce some of the world's greatest, and most rich Blogging the Internet has ever seen. Impossible? Possibly. Improbable? Probably. But tempting? Indubitably!
Join me soon for more strange stories and cosmologic wonders here at Cosmological Cool.
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