Expedition Into Culture

Fandom Culture: MIA

2011-05-31T15:20:00.001-07:00

A month has passed since my last post. While I always believe no excuse is a good excuse, a few things have come upon me that have forced my absence. I'll fill you in on them, plus a newfound transition I have found myself undergoing.

I turned 22 this past month. Learned that year means little, beyond my future investments in wrinkle creams being sooner than they once were.

I graduated from USC. Lucky for you I saved you a cheesy post on why my college experience was monumental, amazing, learned a lot about myself, etc. It did and was all those things, though.

And in the last four weeks, I've been working. Real-life, I-have-to-pay-for-my-groceries working. It's incredibly liberating and yet, simultaneously stressful. It helps that I'm doing exactly what I want to do.

I'm writing on college football, particularly USC, my alma mater. It seems like an easy transition, covering the team I have for years, reeking of familiarity. Throughout this student-to-professional transition, I am undoubtedly sensing another change within me. I believe it was Woody Paige, but I could be mistaken, who once said "The best writers lose their fandom. Be prepared for it."

I was talking to a friend from an athletic department yesterday about the NCAA sanctions, tOSU, and all the madness within college football that blurs the lines between corruption and competition. He asked me how I felt.

Pause.

I usually can emote or vocalize as much as Carrot Top on a Vegas stage, but this time, I was mum. There were no words.

Why? I could have said that I was miserable that USC was scorned by one player. I could have said that tOSU should be punished, should be the modern SMU. I can say all those things, but I literally can't.

Because I don't feel them.

I don't have feelings about USC or college football anymore. I obviously loved my college experience at USC, Annenberg (the journalism school) and think the football program at USC is great. I still like USC alum better than any other school. It has nothing to do with my relationship to the university, it has to do with my job. I still throw up the Fight On sign to every person donning a Cardinal and Gold shirt, or make fun of them if they wear Yellow and Blue.

I just am not a fan of the football anymore. It happened somewhere in the last four years, and solidified itself in the last month. I only tailgated one game my entire time in college. And to be truthful, I missed the press box.

So it happened. I lost my fandom. I don't know if it means I'm becoming a better writer, I think that's debatable. My transition, however, is not. Maybe when I'm an old hag covering curling or fishing, I'll cheer for USC. Hopefully I'm never an old hag covering curling or fishing, though.

Until next time.

Split-Brained Culture

2011-04-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever taken a long time to decide something unimportant? Or have you ever acted on intuition alone, without any reason?

I finished a book last week, and I can't get it out of my head. I've read books that have dealt with this concept before (Plato's The Republic, Buddha's Doctrine of the Mean) but this is more practical than philosophical, more tangible than esoteric.

I also finished my last (hopefully ever) college paper yesterday. In it, I talked about the metaphor that I read in the aforementioned book which I can't stop thinking about, Jonathan Haidt's "The Happiness Hypothesis." The metaphor, without sounding like my regurgitated-subpar paper, was based on the idea that our brains are composed of two major parts, the involuntary and the voluntary. To Haidt, the involuntary is any instinctual emotion, reaction, unconscious thought that usually causes some sort of visceral action or reaction. He calls this part of our brain the Elephant. But any well-trained Elephant (because I hang with elephants so much) needs a good Rider. And this is the rational part of our brain: The Rider. The Rider helps steer the Elephant back on course, the Rider is our self-control.

Example--> you see a cake on the table, your Elephant wants it, and your eyes linger on it. Your Rider says "no I'm on a diet."

I think we want to believe that at the end of the day we're more rational than instinctual, more planned than spontaneous because if we weren't we might be prone to foolish decisions or a lack of self-control.

So as I look back on my last four years in college, I realized I spent the first year (at UCSD) led by my Rider and the last three (at USC) being steered by my Elephant.

I knew majoring in neuroscience at UCSD was going to be dry, lonely and challenging. While it's great to be in control of your situations and surroundings, I wasn't so sure life was supposed to work like one big formula. There are too many unanswered questions and confusing people in the world for me to believe this formulaic concept of life was accurate.

So when I became a journalism major I decided to be as open as possible. When you're trying to get other people to be open with you, it's only natural for you to do the same in return. How did I become open? I kind of let life guide me and then subsequently responded.

I had been curious about so much--beyond synapses and the brain, beyond my 10 x 10 dormitory at UCSD, that any new experience filled me with awe in Los Angeles. My Elephant was on crack. I couldn't get enough life.

I still can't.

A couple (personal, beware) examples:

Covering sports got addictive. I wanted to know everything about every sport. So I watched games every night, either at Staples Center, my computer (I don't have a t.v. *gasp*) or Sonny McClean's (the Boston Bar in Santa Monica). We're talking obsessive-you-don't-have-a-social-life-because-you-watch-top-10-on-repeat levels. For example, the last two Celtics season (09-10 and 10-11, totaling 190 games in both the regular and postseason) I saw maybe 160 of them.

Two months ago, I met a guy that fit my "type" and I went googoo. It was as if my 21-year old self had become 14 overnight. My Elephant kicked my Rider overboard; there was no rationality in it, only pure attraction. But after snapping myself out of it (or rather, his one-dimensional personality snapping me out of it), I realized that being led only by your Elephant isn't safe.

Those are extreme examples, we've all "fallen in lust" before and got addicted to various things, some things worse than others. Kind of fortunate mine has been basketball. But alas I digress.

It took me three years to conceptualize this split-brained mentality instinctual in humans. Thanks to Haidt, I've realized why we should strive for moderation, for a synthesis of the Rider and Elephant is important. The best word that comes to mind is progress. To mature, to grow, to be better, we need our Riders to get closer to our Elephant. While they're never going to have the same power--the mad scientist in the lab will always be controlled by his Rider, the hopeless romantic always by his Elephant. But those are outliers. We are the norm, and when we find balance it's the most energizing feeling in the world.

To know you are stepping forward, not running, and not letting a cut block (a.k.a tripping--got to throw football in there) mess up our progressive journeys, is what life is about.

Sorry about the philosophical/psychological rant, but it's my blog :)

Hope you enjoyed the visit.

PLAYOFF CULTURE

2011-04-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

For most people, it's Christmas. Or for the, ahem, self-interested, it's their birthday. To the more eccentric, maybe it's Halloween.

Each of us love different times of the year. This time, right now, late April and early May, is my favorite. Sure it's my birthday month. But that's not the reason I love this time of the year (at least consciously).

Tuukka Rask has something to do with it. Derrick Rose does too. Kevin Garnett is probably the biggest reason. But Sidney Crosby helps.

It's the beginning of professional hockey and basketball playoffs. When there are so many games on you don't have time nor the decision-making skills to choose what to turn on. It's the time when you have legitimate upsets, incredible feats (DRose 39 and 36 points his first two games? SERIOUSLY?), and so much sports drama that doesn't typically involve soap-opera-like sex scandals or pay-for-play situations. The athletes are already paid. And right now, people care more about the W than who an athlete is sleeping with. It's all about the competition.

This time of the year is actually the reason I got into sports in the first place.

I'm always a bit happier around May, despite the annual reminder that I'm older. At first I thought it was because of Spring, or Summer rolling around-- the months are hotter, no school--something froofroo like that. Then it hit me.

Playoffs are a reminder why people love sports. Guys putting their hearts on the line-or failing too (ahem Lakers minus Kobe on Sunday) and teams rallying together to show that the regular season wasn't an indication of their ability (J.Jack and CP3 splitting the point...was it raining in Staples or what?).

The first weekend of the NBA was like a great piece of complex art: You couldn't understand what was happening, but wanted to keep watching in the hope that you would eventually figure it out. San Antonio (minus the Argentinean) lost its first game of the Spurs-Grizzlies matchup and the Lakers NOH-showed against the Hornets. Indiana and Philly competed to the end with Chicago and Miami, respectively. The Portland/Dallas game was so tight. And my favorite: the incredible matchup of Oklahoma City and Denver, a hard fought battle won by the Thunder.

On to the ice...The Chicago Blackhawks are nowhere near last year's championship team, en route to being eliminated by Vancouver (expected to be the new owners of the Cup). But the Red Wings are dominating play over the Coyotes. I guess someone has to win something in Detroit. And the rest of the matchups are fairly close, like the Bruins' grabbing one against Montreal despite a season full of struggles. The Western matchup of the Sharks and Kings, who each own a game, has been an exciting one to follow.

I didn't have to say much to illustrate the drama. So go flip on your television, or if you don't have cable (like me), go to a sports bar and watch multiple games at once. Nobody would ever know All My Children and One Life to Live were getting cancelled.

Work Hard, Play Hard Culture

2011-04-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

Cliches are a journalist's kryptonite. Good thing I don't have any lives to save, because I'm about to whip out a few.

To most Type A personalities the cliche "work hard play hard" is foreign, illogical. Play somehow always becomes work-derived. At least, that's how it is for me, my dad, and all the other Type As I know. But it's a play we enjoy, because we love to work.

Thanks to my almost-college-graduate status, my recently acquired Senioritis has caused me to reevaluate this cliche that I've heard too many times in the last four years. I've learned, through first-hand experience, that play doesn't have to be work-derived. And that "play" really is vital to a more fulfilled life. I've never been happier at any moment in my life than I am right now, and I think it's because I learned this distinction. My goal in this post is that other people, who haven't yet, learn it too.

Before I go any further, I think I need to define "play" for fear of seeing unemployment papers in the very near future...

I've had a job since I was 12. I didn't drink until I turned 21. Until now, my version of "play" had consisted of sipping on a beer at a bar while watching some game. The game part meant I was "working" (expanding my knowledge of player tendencies, refs, etc).

This "play" I'm now referring to isn't the raging, get-so-drunk you can't remember your night "play." Although that works for a lot of people. The "play" I'm talking about is much more basic.

As I write this, I'm sitting in a coffeeshop in Northern California. People are talking over sandwiches and coffee, there are a few with computers. Conversation among every table is interactive, lively. The energy is definitely palpable. But beyond the incredibly nice staff and friendly strangers here (who don't say "hella" nearly as much as people from Southern California imagine), my favorite part is that nobody is talking while texting. I actually don't see any cell phones on the tables (but mine -guilty-it's playoff season). Nobody has even looked up at the huge clock near the register.

The "play" I'm (longwindedly) talking about is the time we spend when time itself is a non-factor. The time when the hours aren't counted and the scenery isn't a momentary blip on one's daily to-do-list.

I didn't drive up the coast for work. I'm here to "play," to see my friends, to not check items off a list or make an itinerary. I actually have no idea what I'm going to do in a couple hours. And I love it.

So that's what "play" means to me. I'm apart of the generation y, the collective group of 18-30 year-olds who bear a lifestyle intensely integrated with technology/social media. We are the reason marketers love the Internet, because we check Twitter and Facebook instead of making a phone call and update our status or location more times than (arguably) necessary. Because I grew up in that generation, and because I love working, not knowing what I'd be doing on a given day seems pretty boring. But lately, I've realized there's something special in not knowing, in not planning. As our perceptions of one another multiply like the number of items on our resume, sometimes the blank spaces in between our "job skills" and "awards won" really say who we are. Sometimes the days that don't "count," count the most.

If we give ourselves the opportunity to "play" without calculating the logistics, maybe work won't seem like this polarizing idea relished only by the Type As of the world. Maybe we can actually work hard and play hard, and enjoy doing both.

In honor of those "playing" at Coachella this weekend, I put up a new song I love to dance to.

A Third Party Culture?

2011-04-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

Who needs labels!? My mom loves to tell people that her epitaph (weird, I know) will read "she will not be categorized." She clearly will never get into politics.

Barack Obama has been and will continue to be labeled as he makes history. Bush certainly was labeled. Every President has been labeled, by his party or for his contributions --or lack thereof (cough Millard FIllmore cough." Who?" Exactly... cough again).

This post isn't concerned about the latter label, the contributions. This post is about the party, man! No, not the raging kind, but rather the elephant and donkey kind, the blue state/red state kind. Political parties are a President's business card. So it seems a silly question to ask, but, if they are so important, why aren't there more of them?

All my fantastically random and loyal readers will probably attempt to open your mouths with some sort of response (but, alas, I can't hear you) so I'll try to list the most common: two-party systems can appeal to more people, can broaden the electorate, may resolve conflict more easily and they can create greater unity among masses.

So those who don't dig the label, like my mom, might have certain opinions consistent with the right yet others consistent with the left. What happens to those people? Are they hung out to dry? America's Independent party has worked about as well as Tamagotchis or Chia Pets: at first, they sound great, but once you figure out there isn't much to them, your motivation (to vote/play) decreases. Also sounds like most first dates.

The questions remain: will a third party ever become a culture in the U.S. that doesn't fade? Will we be privy to greater choice, 'not being categorized' by a slew of policy that may not fit our individual beliefs?

Some could argue the Tea Party is an example of a third party. Senator Rand Paul said in February (mind you while promoting his book "The Tea Party Goes to Washington") he doesn't think The TP will go third-party.

Maybe it won't. Maybe it will. Maybe others will emerge in time. My biggest beef is that debate is an essential part of the democratic process, and when we are limiting our policies and opinions to those engraved in the country's two parties, people are not as often pluralistic. And not as often open-minded.

Whether we attach a label or not, let us not limit our capacity for reform or discussion. No instrument is ever too old for a little silver polish.

Well, except for those made of wood.

Till another day.

South American Culture through Photos

2011-03-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

Alas, a photo blog created entirely by yours truly (no Fair Use asterisk needed). Sights of some South American culture. Enjoy! (Disfruta!)

Peruvian Culture: One of the World's Best

2011-03-21T16:50:00.001-07:00

Hola! Greetings! Bienvenido! Me llamo Whitney y este es mi blog. Okay I won't write entirely in Spanish (as if I was proficient enough to do so anyway), but communicating in the world's second-most popular language for the past week was (pun intended) foreign, while, at the same time, great.

Just got back from South America where I was lucky enough to spend time in Peru (4 days) Argentina (3 days) and Uruguay (a day).

I've mentioned previously how language makes residents of the country you are visiting more comfortable when you can talk to them in their native tongue. I'm no pro, but even my attempt seemed to be well received at the South American countries I visited. Maybe they were humoring me.

This post isn't about the language, though. Because the country of Peru opened my eyes and widened my perspective, I want to relay the Peruvian culture I witnessed. There isn't one culture that blankets the entire continent of South America. My time in each country was wholly different-- even the currencies varied (calculating those exchange rates was not fun for this writer!) But this difference in cultures is exactly why travelers must go, if given the opportunity. It is an amazing cultural destination because you truly can see it all. Now, I will narrow my focus solely to Peru, a mix (mezclado) of so many cultures in one!

In my opinion, Peru is the most underrated country in the world. I think I said that before about Estonia, but that was only because I hadn't seen Peru. For now, it's Peru. Yup, it's that incredible. Peru is the country where you see backdrop after backdrop and might channel Descartes in questioning your existence: yes you are really there, and yes the scenery is really that incredible. That may sound like a lot of fluff, but Peru has 84 of the world's 103 ecosystems and 28 of the 32 climates. Books say it's the most ecologically diverse place in the world. Although I did double-check that, you'd believe it either way if only you spent time there. It will rain on you in one place (a light, breezy, almost sexy rain if ever a rain were possible), be totally dry in another and humid in another. While putting your jacket on and off may sound tedious, there isn't much else that could bug you about this country (too cheesy? Probably, but you came here voluntarily...)

Shockingly, my favorite part wasn't the scenery. It was the people. If someone wanted to collect the nicest and most generous people in one place, I think Peru would be the starting point. Sure people in hospitality have their jobs for the sole purpose of being nice to customers. But the front desk agents and tour guides weren't the only ones. Even in the streets people were friendly: The solicitors backed off after a simple "no gracias," locals wanted to show you where things were, a smile seemed to permanently stretch across the peoples' faces and they treated you like family. I only visited four cities in the country, so from my random sample, I'm saying that's the social culture of the Peruvian people, although I could very well be wrong.

Also, I went to some impoverished parts of the cities and didn't see violence. The worst thing I witnessed was three little boys throwing a rock at toy car. Oh wait, and two boys trying to push a dog over a cliff. Seriously. It was awful but they didn't seem malicious, more like playing (naive? absolutely). Regardless, boys would probably do that in any country. I didn't go out much at night (because the city tours took up most of the day) but when I did, I felt safe.

Another incredible thing about the country is its history. I ended up reading Che Guevara's "Motorcycle Diaries" on the trip and in it, he mentions some history about the Incas. But even his detailed words didn't paint the picture of the Inca culture. Nor do pictures (although I'll put some up). Most of the Peruvians knew only Quechua (the Andean people's original language) but basic human traits-a nod, a smile, an open arm-crossed language barriers. It was a euphoric feeling witnessing first hand what men were capable of, despite the little resources at their disposal, at a time when the word 'culture' was never influenced by an iPhone or computer.

Oh duh. The Food. Can't forget that. Great flavors. One drink, the Inca Cola, I don't recommend. Kind of not fair, as I didn't try it myself, but my family said it tasted like carbonated bubble gum and that was enough for me to pass. I did have numerous chicken dishes, way too much bread for a single person's consumption and tons of fruit. Their fruit is the freshest and tastiest I've ever tried. Who knew papaya packed that kind of punch? Or what a pepino was? (It has the texture of a plum and tastes like a cross between a pear and an apple). My favorite part is how a Peruvian breakfast (el desayuno) is akin to an American's dinner. Our tour guide said you don't need a lot of carbs to sleep, but you do in order to have a fulfilling day. Great line. They have so many kinds of corn (you can see the photos) and potatoes I had no idea that many existed. Peruvian breakfasts had pancakes and bacon too (or at least our hotels did) but the best part for me was the tamales and Andean cereal. The grains tasted so pure, as opposed to the preservatives that fill our bowls in the U.S. Kind of grossed out to hear tamales were made with lard, but luckily I found out after swallowing them down.

This post wasn't an attempt to get a job at Tripadvisor. It was simply my authentic perception of Peru. I hope to be back, because I only saw a fraction of the culture. But even that fraction was enough to recommend it to anyone. Hopefully I'll know a bit more Spanish by then. And hopefully you'll have planned a trip there by then, too.

Check out the next post for pictures!

Budget Deficits: A Problematic Culture

2011-03-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

There are a billion reasons why we hate politicians. Taxes just happen to be one of them.

Most people don't ENJOY giving their earned money away (I would say hard-earned but I'm including all positions (ie drug dealers and/or people with exorbitant contracts that can hardly be justified).

But most people also see the necessity of taxes. The government provides many resources, from education to welfare, that make some sort of taxation comprehensible (somewhere anarchists are crying...)

Taxes are necessary in order to maintain existing programs and foster new ones, but at what cost (pun intended)? How much is too much?

I will spare you a political debate on tax brackets, and instead point to the dark cloud looming over almost all 50 states and many of their cities: budget deficits.

Practically every state feels some sort of pinch, and in most cases taxes are being used as the almighty mop to absorb the red ink. I will use California, which has a $25-BILLION budget deficit, as a case study to demonstrate this point.

Hear me out. I know this doesn't sound nearly as exciting as some of my previous posts, but this topic applies to all of us, whether we want it to or not. And being informed about these issues is the best way to prevent problems from worsening.

Bill Gates agrees with my last point. Recently, he went on TED to discuss state budgets, saying they have "escaped intense scrutiny." Playing games, people don't see "things that are pretty straightforward challenges," he said.

While his main position focused on education being impacted greatly by California's increasing budget deficit, he also suggested the country needs more transparent accounting, typified by his company Microsoft and other big players, in addition to a generally greater awareness of budgetary problems.

Right now Jerry Brown is trying to raise $14 billion in taxes (and cut spending by $12.5 billion). The Legislative Analyst Office showed there could be a $1 billion reserve in the state by the end of 2012 if both the cuts and hikes are implemented on the June ballot. So far he has not received any Republican support, so his proposal for a 5-year tax hike, continuing those instituted two years ago, is not likely to happen anytime soon.

Even if it were passed, how can we be sure we'd be in a better economic situation? It's been said before, yet here we are. If you look at the country's highest and lowest tax rates, you can see that the grass is not always mowed when greener. Finland is one of the few countries with high taxation that actually has a relatively strong economy (I've been to Helsinki, it's nice!) Other countries, though, like Belgium (54% taxation), Germany (45%), Italy (43%) ALL struggle financially. You have to wonder if, maybe, taxes aren't always the answer.

Back to the U.S., only four states don't run a deficit (Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota). What are they doing right? Well Alaska and Montana have no sales tax, and Alaska and Wyoming have no personal income tax. Alaska's oil reserves surely help the state. And North Dakota residents receive great benefits after retirement. There are plenty of factors, and little-to-no taxes is definitely one of them. I'm not arguing we shouldn't be taxed.

I'm positing two things.

First, that we be taxed smartly. There was a story in the LA Times today about how more than 300,000 homes in San Diego don't pay for garbage removal. The city's mayor wants to change this ordinance that has been in place since 1919 to make up for a nearly $60-million budget gap. Changing a century-old law seems like political suicide. Is this the only option the city has, because it is sure to upset many longtime residents if it gets onto the ballot.

Second, that all our money be better scrutinized. Whether it's using private accounting firms or growing the bureaucracy by adding more regulatory bodies, these state deficits need to be fixed. Raising taxes may help temporarily, but they are like getting food at the drive-thru. Sure we're hungry to reduce our debt right now, but will it be a permanent solution or just a quick satiety? We might feel a bit sick to our stomach if we rush into anything too quickly.

Whatever the answer, it never hurts to be informed.

Donde Esta La Literati: A Disappearing Culture?

2011-02-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

I'm about to graduate, as I've mentioned numerous times (excited much?). So as my time in college comes to its eventual demise, I have one final general education course to take. I chose a philosophy class, about the meaning of life. Thought it sounded interesting. I'm learning I'm one of the few. It seems like the age of exploration in thought is, like my college career, coming to its own timely death.

I Googled News'd "philosophy." A simple term, one would think. It's only relevance in the last week were sports related stories. Not that my tomboy self minds, of course. But t'was a simple experiment to see if people are still talking about the great Greeks' boundless hypotheses or creating new theories themselves.

Maybe I picked a bad Google week. To see if this was true, I decided to call a few colleges and check the trends of graduation rates within philosophy. To make my 'theory' more sound, I called universities (excluding satellite campuses or state schools) with the highest enrollment from the country's 10 largest states. My case study could have been so solid...

Unfortunately UCLA, UT, NYU, UF, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Penn St., Ohio St., Michigan St., UGA and North Carolina St. never responded to me. That worked out well. I called and e-mailed people numerous times, yet didn't hear back from a single person. Maybe they were off testing theories. Either way, it didn't help strengthen my position.

So instead of cold hard facts, I'll give you my generalizations and you can take what you will. I think modern philosophy is a dying subject because we don't hear about new theories on death, suffering, religion, society, etc anymore. In the last century, many new philosophy schools have been created, like structuralism, analytic philosophy, continental philosophy, metaphilosophy, phenomenology and others. But the beginning of those fields were the early or mid 1900s.

Some Indian thought has arisen in the past decade, such as challenging the principles of phenomenology (the study of phenomena, or the appearances of things) by delving into what is pure consciousness, as opposed to the perception of another (ie what is at the root of that thought before an exterior object came into the being's presence). I'm throwing a lot at you for this measly blog. But it's worth pondering why India is coming up with new ways to think about the world while we sit back and enjoy the labors of the Greeks or the former century of critical thinkers' work? Have we come up with all the answers? No. Not even close, we're still asking the beginning questions.

Unfortunately our overload of information plays a critical role into our consciousness so it seems any philosophical attempt in the modern age will have some attachment to data, whether inherent in its premises or supplanted in its conclusion. To put it another way, we all know computers exist now, so it's fruitless to come up with theoretical positions not taking such inventions into account. The more products evolve, the more convoluted the labyrinth of information becomes, living in a maze in which the end seems impossible, so we instead move forward. But what if we tackle on new questions of culture and society using bits from Aristotle and Plato at the same time incorporating this labyrinth of information? Is it impossible? The decade is over, but the century is not. Hopefully we can still stimulate creative thought and question our existence on account of what's in front of us. For while it has yet to be done, it seems not impossible.

Sorry to rack your brain if philosophy isn't of interest to you. But it's of interest to us all if substantial theories allow us to self-improve and become critical of our place in the world. If we can strive to become better citizens and people, then why not continue its study? That's a question for the philosophers, who have yet to return my calls.

Until next time.

Photography Culture

2011-01-21T10:27:00.000-08:00

On two different posts, about the BP Oil Spill and the volcano in Iceland, I posted photo slideshows. I got a lot (like three) comments saying it was a nice break from my long textual rants.

Fortunately for you (and fortunate for me that you even stopped by), this post will be brief (well, no promises), as I intend for this post to be the third time I post more pictures than text.

So I recently finished an unpaid internship. It was brief, where I wrote stories for a bi-annual sports magazine (which I will no doubt show off and put up here when the graphic designer does his thing).

The internship was great. I worked pretty much by myself, but I got to expand my craft and work within a reputable company.
I've had three other internships before. None of them have been paid.

But right now, I'm in school, so while it would be nice not caring about buying a 5-dollar footlong because it's two meals in one, I'm okay (and thank goodness my parents are too) with working for experience and not for a paycheck.

I can't wait to get a paycheck, but I CAN wait because I know these internships make me better. And while everyone is bad at their first real job (or not great), internships provide the opportunity to mess up before it really matters.

Alas, I'm veering from my point. The title of this post is called photography culture, and since the lede, I have yet to use the word photo. Some writer, huh?

Here's my point. I came across this:

It's from the site "Should I Work for Free," and it's a diagram about whether photojournalists should take photos for free. It's coded so the graph can be translated in nearly every language. Check out the site.

The question reminds me of unpaid internships. While photos are used everyday (in newspapers, magazines, websites), it seems that the context to which they've been used in a paid capacity has been relegated to a smaller space than in the past decade. I could be wrong, but seeing as the accessibility to which I can get most photos makes me believe otherwise (copyright is worth mentioning here, however this blog is educational not commercial). Photo blogs have become "all the rage," but who is paying for the content? There aren't "subscribe to see these photos" links in 99 percent of the sites I come across.

To the photojournalists who have full-time regular paying jobs and take incredible photos as a hobby, thank you.
To the photojournalists who have yet to make money and are working their butts off in the hopes of a job, I'm sorry.
I like to be optimistic and think photo blogs can help a photographer become stronger and use them as a portfolio to show agencies, although that might not always work.

But like unpaid internships, you learn regardless. You learn more, with each flip of the "On" switch on your camera. So, for what it's worth, I will post some of my favorite photos here in the hopes that one may come across this blog, and thus, further your exposure. (Yes I might be a little too optimistic as I think I'm the only regular reader).

These are photos from slideshows or photographer's sites that I compiled, all entirely random. I found some of them really breathtaking or different and hope you do too. Click on the photo to link to the photographer's site. I'm not sure how many of these photographers are paid (probably most if they're linked to professional organizations) but it's nice to enjoy their work for work's sake.

Without further ado...

(Matt Mallams)

(Matt Eich)

(Aaron Reed)

(Daniel Berehulak)

(John Keatley, photo of Jake Locker, Washington University quarterback)

(From TIME, taken from Reuters "Firefighters approach a pipeline blast in China")

(Josh Ritchie, from A Photo A Day, January 9)

(Benjamin Lowy, from Iraq)

(Cedric Angeles)

(Leica Rubenstein)

(Sports Illustrated Pictures of the Year)

(Matt Mallams)

(James Nachtwey)

(Yuri Kozyrev)

(Chris Mueller)

(Tim Barber)

(Luceo Images)

(Sports Illustrated Photos of the Year)

Top 10 Books of 2010 List

2011-01-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

Listicles. It just sounds wrong.

After Reading Ben Collins' Top-100 Songs of the Year (which made me stand up and run around my room laughing at the pure maniacal genius that is his blog), I found out what the term meant. A "listicle" is when an article introduces itself to a list, they get coffee, go out to dinner and eventually (if it was a really well-researched article) mate. This is sounding worse...

Oh well. I created my own listicle. My Top-10 Books of 2010! It's thrilling! It's eye-opening! It's... inaccurate.

You know when you were a kid and told your parents you never stole a thing? Even if it was a stick of gum from your sister, or that lock of hair from the cute boy next door. Wait, that never happened, and he wasn't named Ian.

Anyway, I'm channeling my seven-year old self and inherently telling you a white lie with my listicle title, which is kinda crappy in and of itself. (If I had an editor, I'm sure it would be more profound, but it's your fault for coming here).

Back to the lie. Sorry I did that. Here's the reason: I haven't really read hundreds of books this year from which I must take great pains to choose a select dix [ten in français (well educated, I know my tens in spanish too!)] With that said, I will describe the five I read this month, and then 5 others during the sum of my prior 11 months. Really setting this listicle up well (I like that word too much, huh?)

Drumroll...and the listicle is no order, because my sun's in Libra and I hear Libra's are indecisive. I don't even know what that meant. Restart the drumroll...

Game Change
Author: Reporters John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
Subject: The 2008 Presidential Election
We all lived through it (presumably, unless you're a really smart two-year old and if so, you should stop reading this and go on Oprah), and the 2008 election was FILLED with drama. I mean, drama like this country had never fathomed. Two women made huge statements, mere inches from the oval office. The nation's first black president was sworn in, and was filled with so much media attention the McCain campaign had no choice but to compare him to celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton-while an extreme, Obama was (and still is) THAT famous. The novel takes you through it all, from the primaries of both parties to the general election. I don't know how Heilemann and Halperin got the access, but the insight is truly unique. The storylines are built and woven so well, you won't be able to put it down. You'd think it was fiction. Even if politics isn't one of your interests, the main theme is the ruthlessness of a campaign. Game Change packs a huge amount of appeal because the book unravels the people that stamped our papers for so long, and uses the issues as a comfy cushion.

When the Game Was Ours
Authors: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (with Jackie MacMullan)
Subject: The rivalry between two basketball greats
If you've read one of my favorite posts in this blog, you'd know I think the Celtics-Lakers rivalry is the greatest in all of sports. This book strengthens that belief. Two Hall of Famers, playing in opposing jerseys, with different strengths and incredible talents. Larry and Magic discuss a long, mutual respect for one another's talent throughout their many meetings on the court despite the hype built on a presumed hatred. The two guys' lives from birth to today are summarized, with incredible anecdotes weaved throughout. I passed by Magic at a Lakers game the other day, and wanted to tell him how much this book touched me. He's a giant, so I didn't. So instead, I'm telling you. Read it.

The Last of the Best
Author: Jim Murray
Subject: Sportswriting
Considered by many to be the greatest sportswriter of all time, this book is a collection of Jim Murray's best writings from the years 1990-1998. His column on Magic Johnson will make you cry, his column on Pete Sampras needing to toughen up, entitled "For Pete's Sake Get In Trouble!" will make you double-over and his other columns will evoke various other emotions in you--they are too great to be missed. People mistake sportswriters for being uninteresting or too sports-centric. If you (gasp) haven't heard of Jim Murray, you will see that Murray silences all critics, no- better- critics praise him! Murray was a living legend, and since he passed, his anecdotes and personal accounts of the most (in)famous athletes are never dated. I sound like I could be his publisher, but I don't need compensation for this recommendation. The Last of the Best is for anyone, at any point of their lives.

Never Eat Alone
Author: Keith Ferrazi
Subject: Networking, Business Marketing
This book should be renamed "Get Off Your Butt," because it sure is a kick-in-the-pants. I finished the whole thing in a few hours--not because it was an easy read, but because it made so much sense. Ferrazi, a Yale undergrad and Harvard Business grad, explains how building relationships is the key to success. He scoffs at the present-day notion of "networking," as exemplified by the young-- people eager to rise the ladders of personal success. Ferrazi describes networking as a more give-and-take relationship, where quality relationships are emphasized and not the sheer number. My favorite part of the book: don't keep score. Paying it forward, by connecting others or offering advice, should not be counted in a relationship. I think that's a great idea to incorporate into our lives, whether personal or professional. If you bring your sick friend soup, they don't need to do the same when you aren't feeling well. Life, I believe, is cyclical. Returns will come back in some form, one way or another, eventually, even if you aren't conscious of such a "payback." Ferrazi also gives advice to people looking to expand their range of interests.

We Shall Not Fail
Author: Celia Sandys (and Jonathan Littman)
Subject: Winston Churchill, WWII
Written by Winston Churchill's granddaughter, this book is a motivator, a biography and a war historical all in one. Churchill is one of my personal idols, and maybe upon reading this book, you'll think the same. Famous Churchill quotes, his great decision-making scenarios and third person accounts of the man who lifted Britain from its near-collapse paint the role of a leader in Churchill's eyes. He was instrumental in the British military: suggesting improved tanks, airplanes and technology that bordered on the impossible, but if it wasn't, Sir Winston put the wheels in motion. He reached out to leaders he didn't always agree with (ie Stalin) for the sole purpose of diplomacy and bettering the greater whole. The best part: it's brevity. Just over 300 pages, Sandys and Littman do a great job of packing in Churchill's essence, a man that could easily take many volumes to describe. Preparation, personalization, innovation, relaxation and perseverance are traits seen throughout the book and while he may intimidate you, he will assuredly also inspire you.

Straight Talk, No Chaser
Author: Steve Harvey
Subject: Relationships
Steve Harvey makes you laugh on radio or on television, but he is a straightshooter in this book. A follow up from his first novel, Harvey talks to women about how to understand a man. Now I don't think any book of this sort will actually do what it supposes, for humans are too complex to be summarized within the boundaries of words. However, I think his candidness is refreshing and a nice tool for all types of women, single or otherwise. He goes through the decades of a man, and the tendencies attached to each period. His main goal is to tell women not to buy into lines, or be fooled by what a guy tells every female. The books also asks men to be the outlier, deviate from the norm and choose a life of truth because being the "player" or typical male won't get you eventual satisfaction. Harvey believes that only with a solid, mutual relationship can you become the best version of yourself. I'd rate it a 7 out of 10. And that's generous. But the topic was interesting enough.

Money Players
Author: Marc Isenberg
Subject: Sports Business
The author directs this reading to former and current professional athletes, but I think anyone can find a lot of useful information from the book. He talks contracts, investments and other aspects of sports business, yes, but he also stresses morality and honesty in people. A theme I found was that being level-headed and truthful can help you at crucial times when everything else seems to go awry. The tools you can get from this book make it a valuable read. By putting context around the sports-media world via economic situations, we can use similar ideas about money and apply them to a variety of industries.

The Lost Symbol
Author: Dan Brown
Subject: Science Fiction, Religious Thriller
Brown has become the male J.K. Rowling, as apparent in his success of "The Da Vinci Code." It's a lightning-fast read, despite the over 600 pages of text. I didn't want to put it down. While the truth in the account has been questioned, Brown states that it IS fiction. Still, the idea of such a masterful story played out in some of the most historical and mysterious establishments is mind-boggling. Religious and artistic facts envelope another thrilling story involving the famous iconologist Robert Langdon.

Outliers
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Subject: Social Psychology
Why do some rise to the top while others crumble or fail to reach their pinnacle? Gladwell uses facts, true anecdotes, computed data and sociological research to make generalizations about why some seem destined for success. He references opportunity and luck a lot, describing how people's futures are almost predetermined from their foundations. So while Bill Gates dropped out of college, his family was upper class (dad was a lawyer) which inherently put him at a certain level of success. He uses many cases throughout the book, just like he's done in his greats "The Tipping Point" and "Blink" to prove his overarching point. It will make you think, guaranteed.

The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Subject: Spiritual Discovery
I read it every year. You should too. It's the story of an independent boy who departs on a journey toward finding himself. While it may sound like the typical coming of age novel, The Alchemist combines the spiritual and metaphorical with reasoning. Coelho enlivens your spirit, he makes you think and he questions your ideals and the substance of your person. It's truly a miraculous text that while it takes place in a distant country and is about this unknown small child, the text resonates among all human beings. More times than not I believe we learn most from experience--this text you will learn enough for five experiences. There are copies everywhere. I'm sure libraries have plenty in store, so you can't say it's too expensive. Amazon has used copies starting at three dollars. Oh, and there are a ton of quoteables. My favorite: “The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.”

Current Reads: Atlas Shrugged by the famous Ayn Rand and Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. While I'm only about 100 pages into each, I can tell they are good enough to recommend.

Hope you enjoyed the listicle. I'm now retiring it's use in this blog.

Giving is Alive

2010-12-24T14:36:00.000-08:00

Opening the car door on a date is genial.

Helping a disabled person out of the car is generous.

Praying for a sick family member is gracious.

Doing our part to impact the health and safety of strangers is, simply, doing good.

We can check off the days on our yearly calendar. 2010 is about to end, as is the subsequent decade. We haven't replaced humans with robots yet. Stem cells have only begun to make a significant impact. We still move around in a 5500 pound gas-mobile to get us to and fro. No pods yet.

We're still made up mainly of air, water and love.

Of course humans are inherently selfish. Bitchy. Pessimistic. Need I continue?

But the part of us that excites me is it doesn't take a wattle in November or a fat man with a faux beard in December to spread giving. Compassion isn't seasonal.

Sure we emphasize giving more in these months--possibly due to more leisure reading time--but the acts continue all year long, with or without media coverage.

Assisted living homes aren't turning volunteers away. But many homeless shelters, despite the growing number of families, aren't seeing decreased handouts.

So as we run off to celebrate the holidays with family, the giving culture ought to be celebrated. It is alive, although more help is forever needed.

A blind donation is great, but one that becomes personal is incomparable.

While computers and technology have created limited human interaction, we're still made up of those three main parts: air, water and love. Let's hope that last part continues throughout 2011 and the giving keeps growing.

Thanksgiving Culture: not just a day for foodies

2010-11-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

It's inherent in the name. Our unofficial national appreciation day is executed by one big giant eating contest.

Everyone talks about America's obesity problem, but today we celebrate it, albeit indirectly. Passing around the sweet potato pie, we say "hey it's okay, eat up!"

Are the plates of food our best way of giving thanks? I guess that depends on one's definition of appreciation.

I believe being thankful, in reference to Thanksgiving, means being happy our nation is a cohesive country whose internal divisions haven't (for over a century, at least) caused any catastrophic strife. I think being thankful on this day means we should surround ourselves with other Americans (relatives, friends, associates) who appreciate our democracy (although I'm sure there are those who will argue we live in some other type of government). Being thankful is knowing it's okay to relax and soak in your surroundings.

Food is just the symbol. It's the thing we know best, so it fills our plates and stomachs. But the greater meaning is hidden underneath the heaps of turkey: by sacrificing this animal, the day spent cooking and the travel costs, we are celebrating our appreciation to enjoy life.

It sounds so silly. Enjoying life. A simple concept, or so it seems. Just ask Thoreau, he didn't know how to do it. Why else would he spend days alone with a pond, trying to discover what enjoyment meant?

So, the question I ask is: are we fully aware that this holiday is meant to appreciate our place in this nation, or are we simply using food as a decoy to mask other problems?

I think the latter, unfortunately. Although there are the reflective few, I and many others don't show the kind of present awareness and fulfillment that this holiday can bring. So maybe as the leaves catch snow come this Winter, we can all resolve to understand the greater meanings of these larger events.

To all those who can't enjoy Thanksgiving: soldiers, hospital workers, etc., we appreciate all that you do, because you help make this country the place we are so grateful to live in.

I'll also add the media and athletes to that, because they add to the escapism, covering the games or festivities. It's all apart of this country's priorities, for better or for worse.

Take a look at this "Turkey cake," I saw from NPR:

It has mash potatoes on the outside, turkey filling, sweet potatoes on the top, marshmallows on top of those. Wow. I'm not so sure that's healthy.

MIA culture

2010-11-20T01:35:00.001-08:00

"I'm busy." How convenient. It's an all-too often said statement that is as pretentious as it may be honest.

Have you ever been in hibernation, away from the "world" (where missed calls dominate your phone log) and unaware of how the last few months have come and gone?

While I have done some blogging, I apologizing for being M.I.A. I'm writing this post not to tell you I've been busy, but to deduce the "busy culture." When you're in it, you'll know. No other cultures are important when you're busy.

How do you know you're in it? A couple clear indications: when your calendar becomes the most viewed item in your life, when you are questioning what foods don't perish throughout the day, and when you only communicate to friends and non co-workers via e-mail.

I love being busy because that means I'm working. But sometimes it's necessary to communicate with people face-to-face. Sometimes a meeting over coffee doesn't just serve a networking purpose; it's beneficial for your sanity.

Students' schedules are always a little messed up. As are the media's, who succumb to a 9-5, 24-hours a day. News never ends. I face both issues, but people in any field can get overcome with work and blinded beyond the stack of papers on their desk.

And in the midst of your hibernation, you may sign on Facebook or send a few tweets and think you have justified your social requisite of the day (or if you're that busy, the week).

But I have friends who are always filled with stuff to do and they don't give me a play-by-play of their schedule. Nobody wants to hear how busy you are. They only want to know you have made the time, gone the extra effort. If you are M.I.A. in the moments when you are needed you might soon be downgraded from "friend" to "acquaintance."

After you've rejected the callers on your speed dial, who will you have to turn to when you need someone? I've always had my one best friend, and never needed much more than her. But when weeks go by without talking to her, I begin to wonder if my priorities are in alignment. I slowly start to wonder if I've made my life seem more important than our friendship.

So hopefully you can come out of hibernation for the holidays, as they loom with Thanksgiving around the corner. Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Football Bowls are created for the sole purpose of downtime. So plan to see those you love--you shouldn't have to pencil it in. Also, rather than stocking up on supplies for the cold winter and leaving your phone in the cave, call those friends up and see how they've been. As the new year comes upon us, you might not want to be watching the ball drop from a television in your office.

Second, you might be so busy because of the wonderful events that are going on in your life (employment--congrats!) but unless the good times are shared with ones you don't have to report to, you might feel incomplete. And perhaps, a bit lonely.

Hopefully you can stop eating canned food and meet a friend for dinner sometime soon...turkey and Harry Potter will be calling my name in a week's time!

Food Truck Culture---a post regarding food, an incredibly deep topic

2010-10-24T12:51:00.001-07:00

Like the ice cream truck slowly rolling along on your childhood street, food trucks are adults' cravings satisfied. Instead of hearing that famous tune, adults hit the Internet to find out the location of their latest desirable eatery.

I saw a Bank of America ad that read "I can bank while I wait in line at the food truck" with a picture of a man holding his cell phone. I could take this time to digress about how cell phones are becoming our 11th major organ, but instead I will focus on this burgeoning food truck culture. (Staying on track? Yes I know...and you're welcome).

They're not quite fast food, but food trucks are nowhere near restaurant quality either. They're delicious, but it isn't often you'll find a slice of pizza or kogi barbeque as your entree somewhere. In Los Angeles and many other cities, food trucks have taken on their own identity as convenience and technology have merged into this tasty creation.

Trucks have blogs and websites dedicated solely to these roaming establishments. Well, I guess having a website isn't that impressive. After all, I do have one dedicated solely to my rants.

When people stop at the Sweet Treats truck and savor an ice cream sandwich, he or she may ask why such trucks haven't been around for long? Well, the idea isn't new. Ice cream trucks have been around since wheels first moved an object. But the mechanics weren't the reason for the truck culture's boom.

It was Twitter: the perfect tool for a business in constant movement. The truck's tweets provide information regarding a truck's location, menu items and future schedule.

I know if I really crave a grilled cheese I google the Grilled Cheese Truck to see if it's in my neighborhood. I won't drive to it, but there are those who will. There are those who stretch the fad, turning people's love for food trucks into a successful culture, as trucks are seeing large growth in cities like Boston and Chicago.

People want to think that this food isn't fast food. And while it's not McDonalds or Taco Bell, ingredients from these trucks (unless stated otherwise) are presumably not fresh. And just this month, the county of Los Angeles will be applying the same public health codes (those alphabetic window signs that mark cleanliness, sanitation and preparation) seen on restaurants now on the windows of food trucks too.

Whether it says fresh or not, most of us don't know where food truck owners get the majority of their ingredients. The thousands of customers make one want to believe the trucks are getting food from safe and law-abiding vendors. Food from trucks is presumably made in-house, but that's not to say all truck companies produce the healthiest or safest meals.

It's a tough situation. It may seem easy to own and run a food truck. You drive, park and cook food inside. But operators renting the truck have monthly fees, including insurance, repair/maintenance and labor costs. That doesn't even include the cost of the food. So while truck operators undoubtedly want the best meal (health and taste) for its costumer, costs drive up price and without some concessions, may be too difficult to provide to lovers of the truck culture.

I'm all for trying various foods, but maybe the key here is try. Sample the food trucks' creations, or continue enjoying the food if you're already a "trucker." Always good to see the whole picture, even if you're already deep into the aforementioned food truck abyss. Rose colored glasses don't look good on most people.

HALLOWEEN Culture

2010-10-10T17:20:00.001-07:00

When I see orange in October, I immediately think of vampires, pumpkins and candy corn. When most retailers and stockbrokers see orange in October, they're actually seeing green.

Because Halloween is expensive.

When you get a knock on your door, you can't turn the kiddies away. And you can't keep dressing as yourself every year. A great part of the holiday, events surrounding Halloween bring people together, which usually results in spending more money for various things (pumpkin ale anyone?)

The average person spends around $66 on Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation. That's as much as I spend on food in a week. I may be cheap, but that sounds like a lot of money for one night.

And there's a reason spooky movies do so well when promoted close to October 31st.

There's is money in this holiday. The Haunted House Association said more than 2,000 scary places charge admission fees each year.

While you might get sick of being booed, the abundance of ghosts, goblins and Tiger Woods' costumes create thousands of jobs annually around the country. Reminder: unemployment is still 9.2 percent around the country. Even a few months with a small income can feed many families.

My favorite part, and perhaps the most important part of the culture, is the pure joy many people get when donning or planning a costume for Halloween. The idea that it is acceptable to take on a different persona, be someone else for at least a few hours, is, well, refreshing. It excites a lot of people who may feel stagnant in their daily lives.

By now you know I'm a big fan of holidays for the simple fact they make people happy and stimulate the economy. But Halloween is different than all other holidays for one major reason: people are rarely lonely. The night (or some make it a week) brings people together. During this economical tension many have been working intently to fend for themselves they don't spend a lot of time thinking about their friends or socializing.

It's not like Christmas where you have to shop for other people, which causes stress.

It's not like Valentine's Day where you have to check your phone book for a potential date.

It's not like Thanksgiving where you have to see distant family and have short, awkward conversations.

It's not like Hanukkah where you have to say a blessing before you eat the matzah. You only need three words before you can dig right into your pillow case and grab a Reese's ("trick or treat").

It's not like New Years where you have to start planning a whole set of goals and resolutions and reevaluate your position in life.

It's not like any other holiday. Maybe it's most similar to your birthday, if you dress up without a care in the world on that day too. But on Halloween, you're not the only one looking crazy (I can hear individualists protesting).

So if you can celebrate this night (it's on a Sunday, ouch) or at least a few days before Halloween, have fun and be safe. If you're in California, I don't recommend going to Santa Barbara or walking along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. You might not enjoy the holiday as much when suffering through lines, expensive parking and police-controlled streets.

Click here for a list of events around California.

(Photos taken with permission from the OC Register)

ATHLETE scandal culture

2010-10-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

I hope I have a kid some day, a little Whitney running around somewhere. And because I have an undying love for sports, I hope he or she wants to be an athlete.

But do I want him or her to respect athletes like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant or Brett Favre?

If my hypothetical son or daughter were to have even a sliver of those guys' careers, I'd be proud. A small margin of their entitlement? I'd rather he be a ballerina and she be a firefighter.

Entitlement. That's got to be the main reason athletes make a mockery of their careers by having affairs, speaking out of line and causing controversy off the field, court or green.

It must be the reason Favre assumes reporters like Jenn Sterger will flock to him after he leaves desperate voice mails. The reason Tiger had an exorbitant amount of mistresses despite having one of the most attractive and seemingly loving families in America. Or the reason Ben Roethlisberger felt a woman was more into him than in doing her job.

Fans and the media roll their eyes or shake their heads, defending athletes' lewd actions on their positions. Growing up with the discipline to hit a ball 400 yards into a four-inch hole should equate to being disciplined in all other realms of their life. People often argue that men or women trained in academies since their peewee years don't have the same social upbringing and thus are more prone to making mistakes. Whether such an idea is valid (I'd have to talk to a few psychologists) does not make these news stories acceptable in the slightest. Multi-million dollar salaries place a higher amount of responsibility on these figures; the saying "it comes with the territory" applies well here.

But alas, my pipe dreams are just that: dreams not grounded in reality. As a journalist, I'm excited to report these stories. As a sports fan, I'm disappointed. And as a female, I'm cautious.

This post will not make athletes' entitlement go away. But the greater the recognition, the more parents may remind their sons and daughters what is presumably unacceptable: it is wrong to embarrass others like LeBron did Cleveland or exploit animals by dogfighting like Michael Vick did in Virginia.

Scandals are not new (ask MJ about his past)--media's expansive coverage of them is. Technology helps (or hurts if you're the athlete) situations come to light.

Athletes are in roles of leadership. The more we recognize they are only athletes, and not prophets, and can reiterate that to the youth, the better off the current culture of budding athletes will be.

Women In Sports Culture: Scandals Make Us Known

2010-09-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

I recently tweeted about the Ines Sainz situation and realized that a 140-character sentence did not accurately explain my opinion on the matter. Not that my opinion on this matter actually MATTERS, but because I am a women indeed trying to get into sports media, maybe somebody would like to hear another opinion. I've read a bunch of views--and here is mine: respect yourself, and you will garner respect in turn.

(Nike photo)

If you haven't heard of Ines Sainz yet--which would be surprising because every outlet from CNN to E! took this story and ran with it---a female reporter was allegedly harassed by some players on the New York Jets team. Now, various sources and people are trying to tack on the whether the 14th amendment is valid here.

Organizations like the Association for Women in Sports Media are spot-on when responding to issues that contain any legality regarding women and sports. If something was to happen that I found inappropriate, you can bet I'd be calling them.

However, for females in the cutthroat industry of sports, we know we're treading thin water 100 percent of the time. There are constant questions as to what is socially accepted and what do reporters feel comfortable doing: Can we do a one-on-one interview with a player without be attracted to them but excited about the recent developments in their career? Absolutely. But is there a POSSIBILITY that the woman is attracted to the guy and vice-versa. Maybe. Doubtful, but historically it HAS happened. However it is astonishingly rare.

There are a huge number of female print journalists that are often excluded from this conversation because their faces aren't plastered on the television. Ines Sainz is a TV reporter; we see what clothes she puts on, how much makeup she wears and how perfect her hair looks because she will be broadcasting for her market and wants to look presentable. But is her presentation for viewers or the athletes? I'm not Sainz and so I don't know that answer. The ambiguity in all these questions illustrates the idea of women earning respect in a male-driven world is very difficult, and might simply come down to individual opinion.

There are a slew of even trickier questions that arise from situations like this. Can women date players? Some might label this reporter a "cleat-chaser" simply trying to get famous. But what if she marries him? Certain exceptions are always made. What about a woman's dress? I'd argue business casual is standard, but what if it's a pressingly hot day and a woman is wearing a tanktop? Is she slammed because she is well-endowed or works out? I'd argue THAT is sexism. But if she is a C cup and wearing a push-up bra with a low cut shirt--THAT is flirtation. There are unwritten rules to these things, it seems almost silly that people in the industry don't get them yet.

Here's the foretelling question: are these woman like Sainz or others in sports that walk this fine professional line preventing the gender from moving forward in this industry? Whether or not the act was self-inflicted--most circumstances (in my opinion) aren't--but they still might be causing our gender a step back with each incident.

It is widely understood that there are more opportunities for women in sports now than ever before. But what is defined by opportunities? Sidelines jobs are increasing-- analyst jobs are still a rarity. Some may feel dejected by the Sainz incident. Or some simply deal with their surroundings, and cover up when possible. But I doubt a male will ever feel truly comfortable with a woman in their locker room; it's essentially their bedroom. So women should take caution in knowing it is a unique situation to be in and proceed with the utmost dignity and professionalism. However, it being a dicey place does not preclude a woman from getting the same opportunity as a man.

There are ways to impress someone. Almost all of those ways begin or end with knowledge.

9/11: We Shall Never Forget

2010-09-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

I don't want to blog about terrorism or politics or the government and its information-disclosure inefficiencies for a while. So yesterday, on the ninth anniversary of 9/11, I thought about a relevant topic, albeit with a slight deviation: the people affected on this traumatic day.

As journalists, we should always think about the people first. But in our quest to be the best, or get the first source, we often lose sight of the reason we're given the position we're in---to report back to the people. When 9/11 came upon us, I was practically a baby (heck, I still am). Yet it's the one event that rings vividly in our minds: people jumping out of buildings, the devastation, the pitch black skyline, the white dust-a combination of human and infrastructure remains- the tears...

It's the one event that brought us together as a people. I remember hugging my wood-shop teacher, an automatic response and conscious expression of empathy. Isn't it strange how you can feel so close to a situation or event even if you're a third party? Isn't it strange how, despite being a nine-year old event, the memories are loud and crisp-the faces and images perhaps blurred, but the pain still crystal clear.

So on this day, I want to focus on these people. Celebrate the nearly 3,000 lives lost. Be reminded of their patriotism and their courage, and grieve over their unfortunate timing.

It is important to remember how this event made us a vulnerable superpower, one perhaps more united, but fragile all the while.

To those who passed away, we won't forget your sacrifice. Because of you, we have tightened our security, sharpened our international awareness and realized our global position (for better or worse).

Much work remains to be seen and done, but it was this day, this event, this travesty that stripped away much of our societal ignorance and communal selfishness.

We shall never forget.

(all photos taken from Google)

Honoring All Our Troops Culture...

2010-09-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Army Specialist A.J. Castro died in a land mine explosion in Afghanistan. He was 20.

A.J. and I were in the same graduating class at Westlake High School. Besides a mere smile in the hallway, or occasional small talk when fidgeting with our adjacent lockers, I didn't know him well. But the news of his death ripped through our hometown of Westlake Village like a tidal wave.

Just three days later, President Obama announced his pledge to remove the remainder of troops left in Iraq. Yet we still are left with a nearly 10-year conflict in Afghanistan--a conflict without any definitive future.

In the media, we often hear of the latest casualty or newest jaw-dropping statistic relating to war. But how many everyday citizens have a true grasp of the international conflicts occurring?

I'm not arguing Americans are ignorant by choice but due to media's inability to convey what is appropriate to the masses. A.J.'s friends might have been able to follow his last month of life if there were a better process.

Aside from a relative knowledge of our presence abroad or having a loved one in the army, few (usually expert reporters on the grounds) can explain what thousands of people from our country are doing overseas. [And I'm not looking for an abstract explanation (thanks to Hilary Clinton, I don't want to make those claims) but a hard, concrete job-by-job explanation]. As I touched on in a previous post about national security, certain information is privatized because of safety concerns, but general information often remains undisclosed or ambiguous for no exceptional reason.

Papers like the USA Today often make current conflict more digestible in their use of time lines and diagrams. But war isn't a widely discussed topic because the information is decentralized and bureaucratic. The White House or some government agency (USAID, the U.S. Department of State, etc) ought to be 'clear and concise 'in talking about Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other future missions. Not just diagrams and time lines but a "one-stop shop" is needed so people, like A.J.'s distant relatives or friends, could keep up with the soldiers in real time rather than just hear about his last year in combat at his funeral.

This figurative site doesn't need to list the specific location of where the latest troops are but rather explain what developments have occurred this week, perhaps with soldiers posting videos shot by army officials (instead of the dated reporter system called pooling, where groups of journalists attend press briefings). My solution isn't precise; I'm sure there are flaws and some marketing experts have probably already asked 'how can we get people to feel closer to our military and, thus, less segregated from society at large' (typing that overly-optimistic sentence aloud...maybe they haven't).

Regardless of who thinks of a solution, the end means is the same: a solution. Let's bridge the gap between the murky life of a soldier and the rest of the country. It's complex to do but it isn't impossible, especially with our advancements in technology.

I didn't realize how little I knew about our involvement abroad until after my classmate A.J. died. Then I looked up news on Afghanistan. But I had to research many, many websites, not limited to news and government sites...It shouldn't be that hard to find out the extent of our involvement abroad. Misinformation or heavy disclosure might lead some to oppose the war altogether, simply because they don't know the facts (this may only be accurate in some cases).

Arguably anyone who truly cares can find information they want to know. However, I am suggesting a site that ENCOURAGES people to care. Like, say, a unique twitter user embedded in each unit (just like a marshal on every plane), letting us know what's going on--- notes that may not be long enough for a full article, but still contain important information.

There are a plethora of sites, don't get me wrong. I could probably list 50. Also, these issues are heavy, complex and involve numerous people. Yet that is the purpose for having one centralized "go-to" war site. Perhaps an online war newspaper would be a better option---an interactive site that puts various twitter units on one page, reporters' articles, latest casualties (after the families have been informed), recent developments, important quotes by generals/government officials and a place for everyday citizens to send messages to soldiers (either general or specific, while using some sort of filter to censor inappropriate language).

It makes sense for wartime to be secretive (see Espionage Act, 1917) or for officials to be upset when classified (but as we know from the Pentagon Papers, "classification" is a dubious term itself) information is made public (the case of United States v. Rosen is a great example). Nor do we want to take soldiers' focus away.

Regardless of any change instilled, we're never going to know the valuable information. That's obvious, and widely accepted--they aren't called "secret missions" to sound cool. Despite that, we ought to know enough to personalize a face to this war. We see the faces of A.J. and so many others who pass away fighting for our country yet what is reported barely scratches the surface of closure.

R.I.P. A.J. Castro and the thousands of others who have died on the battlefields fighting to keep our country safe. Maybe in the future our reports can better portray your bravery.

(Photo taken from http://tented.blogspot.com/)

Note: my experience in war/war reporting is minimal at best and these are only suggestions for a more open communication. Any action starts with a thought--simply wondering creates incredible possibility.

Below are a list of 10 sites I find really valuable:
1. http://www.usf-iraq.com/
2. http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/
3. http://www.us-iran-relations.com/
4. http://www.state.gov/
5. http://icasualties.org
6. http://twitter.com/USF_IRAQ
7. http://tented.blogspot.com/
8. http://www.army.mil/news/
9. http://www.military.com/news/stories/army-news.html
10. http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/

Football: A Microcosm of Life

2010-08-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

Do the strongest survive? Or the fastest? Do you have to be a protector to blend with the pack or fight off defenders to get noticed? Sounds like I’m Charles Darwin psychoanalyzing mankind right? Guess again. I’m referencing football, America’s most popular game.

And in light of football season kicking off, I felt it was poignant to get beyond the surface and let those non-football fans in on the secret.

So here it is. Football isn’t America’s favorite game purely because of the entertainment and athleticism. Whether guys or girls admit to liking football for this reason, football is our most raw selves, exposed.

I don’t mean you or I, individually. But us-- as a unified whole. Who would have thought you could make an existential argument about football? Well I’m about to.

If it wasn’t clear in the last year and a half of my posts, I am a student at USC and thus, a fan of USC Trojan athletics. This year is a little painstaking for us, as the school can’t even have a postseason discussion (if you’ve lived under a rock, the NCAA banned USC from playing in a bowl game because of violations made by previous student athletes).

Anyway, veering back to the vague and confusing. I bring up USC because it’s a great case study. Trojans will cling to their season tickets in the hope of going undefeated (13-0) because of this ban. Thus, pride is on the line—no matter the enemy, err, opponent. Think about the mental clutch of entering a game every Saturday with a national target on one’s back and a fear of losing in one’s heart.

Let’s remove the references: pretend there is no USC, NCAA, organized football or universities. When you take these plus the cheerleaders, gear and beer away, you have a field of men, fighting for pride. It’s like the Aztecs and the Spanish conquistadores or Brad Pitt in “Troy” fighting that ugly monster. Except instead of bloodshed, emotions are the all that remain on the field.

Quarterbacks are the leaders, similar to a tribe’s chief. They dictate the play, and thus the weight of an entire team rests on this man’s shoulder. And so we hold them to the highest praise or rip him to shreds, as we have done in military history with leaders like Napoleon, Winston Churchill or Ulysses S. Grant. Our obsessions with Brett Favre, Dan Marino or John Elway support this idea; as does our bashing of guys like Jay Cutler or Trent Dilfer.

Offensive tackles are similar to security guards, or like lions protecting their female’s womb. Whomever has the power--in this case the football is the power source-- OT’s are attached to his side, selfishly putting their body at risk for the greater good. Like a vice president, this guy often lives in the leader’s shadow, rarely receiving credit (unless they’re in the first round of the NFL draft, in which case they are usually the highest paid position).

Defensively, we look at the position of safety and I see an antiquated tribe utilizing this “last ditch effort” to help their side. Safeties have to be strong, quick footed and relentless in their pursuit of the ball. I compare them to those that might receive a medal of honor in war; they are essential for an operation to succeed.

I’m not going to list every position to add credence to my theory but if I did, it would only strengthen the idea that every individual plays some major role and without one, all would crumble. And in war, one side needs every ounce of manpower they can get to outlast their opponent.

Like I (am trying to do), Michael Gannon also uses American football as a metaphor, but to understanding the complexity of business (his book is called “Understanding Global Cultures”). He explains how the complex rules of the game are similar to those we face in finance or accounting. He sites a writer named Camille Paglia who encourages women to “study football rather than attend feminist meetings.”

And so it’s actually quite simple. We watch football to study how warriors prevail.
The idea isn’t revolutionary either. In 1993 Alistair Cooke described in his “Punctured Football” how the sport is a cross between “medieval warfare and chess.”

The objective of both chess and football is to wear down and destroy the enemy. So football has mental tenacity embedded within a team environment. The winner is almost always unpredictable as talents at such a high level are (roughly) comparable. It’s a team’s strategic maneuvers that separate winners from losers. Vietcong anyone?

In sum, one could argue that any sport acts as modern warfare (minus the blood). I don’t believe this to be accurate. Sure team sports are organized competition, but take basketball: individuals dominate, teams can win or lose purely from one person’s skill or lack thereof (see Lebron, Game 5). Moreover, soccer isn’t as contact heavy. Baseball requires strong mental tenacity, but weapons (gloves, bat, balls) are the sport’s main form of progression. Football combines both athlete and weapon. Lastly, Australians would surely cook me on the barbie if I were to say rugby wasn’t a team sport with heavy contact. It is, no doubt. But it’s not America’s favorite sport. And therefore isn’t relevant to this post.

So next time you turn down a football game, maybe this post will make you think it’s more than just tight pants and beer-- although those do add to the experience. I'd argue it's a microcosm of mankind.

Till next time.

(Photos taken from Google).

Text and Drive Culture

2010-08-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

The power of pictures has never been clearer to me. I saw a link to a don't text and drive commercial on Facebook. I embedded the link but am also posting it below.

I'm not going to tell you why we shouldn't text while driving; the video does that for me.

Kagan---Women Executives Culture

2010-08-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Oh hey there Elena Kagan. Welcome to the Supreme Court.

Why am I blogging about politics two posts in a row you may be asking? Well, I'm using Kagan as an analogy--so hang tight. And this isn't a feminist rant, either. Like a beautiful song, you need to hear the whole thing from beginning to end.

Why is this a big deal...we have Sotomayor and Ginsberg. Kagan isn't the first woman on the High (sometimes referred to as Holy) Court. But now one-third of the bench is female, making five of the nine belonging to some minority. So the Court's majority is now comprised of minorities. That's a big deal, and a burgeoning trend socio-demographically.

Getting back to the focal point: Women. Women as bosses. 15 Fortune 500 companies have women at the top (the highest is a No. 27 company). When will it be normal for 100 of the 500 companies to be run by women? In 2008, the ration of women to men's year-round income was 77.1, but that figure packs a variety of industries into account (not only the extremely wealthy).

One could argue that the Boys' Club still exists. Or, more men could just be better qualified for the particular position. Or--some women may presume they won't get the job, therefore refrain from applying. I don't think the last one is as true as in years prior, but it's a theory.

So Kagan joins two others, we have a female Clinton in one of the biggest seats in the White House and some of the most powerful doctors/lawyers/businesspeople are women. This is all well and good, until you ask the biggest question of them all: If, and when, will there be a female president?

That's such an ambiguous question. So much rides on the future of the country, and who will emerge as leaders in decades to come. Palin is believed to be running in 2012, and Clinton probably will run at one point. But if only 15 of the 500 largest companies' heads are female, and women make up just 17 percent of Congress, how believable is it that head of the nation's largest company will wear lipstick and don high heels?

Alas, the spin cycle is complete. We have arrived at the question, and it just so happens that a large group of people are, right now, positing why women's roles aren't greater (or why their influence isn't greater). Project 2012 hopes to clear a path for the female generation in politics, recruiting them to political offices. This group of "activists and academics" is telling women to upgrade their cake-cutting knife for one that cuts up congressional districts.

Is Kagan's new appointment just one of many women about to be in incredibly high positions, or is her spot as good as it gets? Is the High Court the end of the hiring totempole? Many would argue that's a pretty incredible place regardless, but can this nation ever comprehend a woman delegating from the Oval Office? (And I don't mean from underneath the desk, Bill).

Only time will tell.

(Photos taken from Google).

From Watergate to Wikileaks

2010-07-26T08:27:00.001-07:00

For some reason my post wasn't going through--had to contact Blogger for technical difficulties.

Anyway, sorry it's been two weeks. Hopefully this post will make up for it!

July 24 was the anniversary of Watergate. And just a day later, files of the Afghan war were released on Wikileaks. There is a 26-year gap between the two events, yet government secrecy appears not nearly as sound as once believed.

The two events are two fruits on the same tree, albeit different branches. Regardless, the comparison generates a larger question: in nearly three decades we as a nation still have reason to believe governmental security can be breached by an insider.

Consider the global ramifications if any information got into the wrong hands that dealt with counterterrorism. Perhaps I'm watching too many "24" reruns, or, just maybe, I'm asking a legitimate question. With the hackers, and recent interior spies, we ought to wonder how much information is classified and how much is easily accessible?

A higher level of domestic transparency could be a great thing. But when it involves other countries--I'd argue we'd be treading thin ice by allowing greater international disclosure. If we have a secret mission in the Middle East (whether you agree with the decision or not, let's hypothesize and say the decision is made/the troops are deployed), any disclosure will result in that "secret" mission just being a stupid one.

While it may be necessary for the public to witness/read documents like the Pentagon Papers, today's reliance on fast, breaking news may heed more global ramifications than ever before. Journalistic freedoms shouldn't supercede safety.

LENGUA CULTURA

2010-07-12T00:42:00.000-07:00

Apologies for not writing as often.

A little over a week ago I got back from Europe and in the midst of an amazing opportunity where I saw wonderful countries like Estonia and parts of Scandinavia, a new blog post came to my mind.

I find it amazing that, despite most Americans' notion of the USA as being a "diverse" body, a shocking number of citizens only know one language.

That is NOT the case in Europe. Switzerland alone has, count 'em, FOUR official languages: German, French, Italian and Romanish. In contrast, approximately 90 percent of our country speaks only English.

Granted languages are suggested in American classes--some universities even have a language course requirement-- but our efforts seem rather meek compared to other superpowers.

While I agree it is important to have a unifying language that ties the world together, it is also important to make a conscious effort to understand those around us and simply, to expand an individual's capabilities.

But its more than just being able to speak to people of different backgrounds and ethnicities. It's about intelligence.

Language is widely used as a marker of intelligence, for it requires reading, writing, practicing one's speech and putting comprehensive sentences together. Any linguist would agree: learning a new language is no easy task. There are small idiosyncrasies lost in language translation; instantly a stronger relationship among speakers who know the same language are enabled to have a more free-flowing conversation. But when one knows a few words of a language, he or she may feel uncomfortable in exchanging dialogue.

America's literacy rate is high (approx. 99 percent), but that doesn't mean 99 percent of people are challenging their high functioning skills.

However, the USA isn't adjacent to a plethora of other countries (beside South America and Canada), whereas regions in Europe are very easily accessible. Thus, knowing another language is more useful and practical in Europe or Asia. Still, there are many French and Spanish speakers in this country. And even abroad, we could make a larger effort adjusting to a country we are in and may earn more respect in the process.

In sum, we, as individuals, ought to to have a more multi-cultural approach to society, making a better attempt to know another language, despite how common English is across the world. It will be beneficial for future generations, expand our relationship with diverse peoples and fuel our brains with a higher level of knowledge than simply what is comfortable.

(Photo taken from Google).

Why the Business Section of a Paper is Often Skipped

2010-06-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

Many people (if there are that many) may simply read my post's title and skip over it. Why? Because "business" is often considered "boring." That is at least, to the people who aren't in any business or financial investments (i.e. the under-30 crowd, or artistic types).

The Wall Street Journal does fairly well, considering. It circulates 2 million papers a day (doesn't necessarily mean 2 million people read it). That's a lot. It surprisingly does better than the Gray Lady, which many assume to be the #1 paper in the country. It's not. The WSJ is.

So although the dying newspaper may not be the best indication of what is considered popular or trendy, it is a reasonable determiner of such. To beat a point to death, TMZ has approximately 100 million page views a month, averaging about 20 million viewers (acc. to Quantcast). Is this where the 16-24 age group is going instead of glancing at the Money section? YES. It's not a claim I'm making, it's an assertion.

Now let's figure out why. This may seem obvious: because young people care about celebrities more than business ventures. While well and good, why don't the Wall Street Journal or money section of the USA Today become more reader-friendly to the masses? I'd argue because of elitism. If more people were interested in money and business, it would be less sophisticated, more menial. I'm not saying teenagers should begin this revolutionary breakthrough and forgo their People to turn to the Financial Times. I'm not saying this because it would never happen.

However, what COULD happen is reaching for a more balanced readership. Like the equity gap, the interest in business v celebrities is totally skewed. While the numbers fluctuate (like in a World Cup year), sports and news coverage have consistent readership from a wide-ranging demographic. But those who read business are not likely to read lifestyle as well. Or vice versa.

Why can't we broaden people's interest? I'm never going to argue that people need to know what jail Lindsay Lohan is getting out of, because it's not relevant to greater society as a whole. But to close this equity gap, it might help to start teaching the youth about the S & P or how to read a stock ticker.

The future is Gen Y, and it is full of many uninterested in finance. And while business schools still attract many people, the world of investments should not be closed off, which leads to misunderstanding by the general public. After all, if we're fighting the Asian Tigers (plus China) for current and future economic control, the majority of our country should be well-informed. If this knowledge is more permeable among classes, more citizens might dip into foreign stocks, more would be confident and capable of investing in burgeoning companies and then more could have an active role in society (and not be confused where their money is going).

So Wall Street Journal, get on it. It may resurrect your paper, or even help the future of our economy.

Maybe Warren Buffet ought to teach tutorials. Food for thought.

WORLD CUP--a global culture

2010-06-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

Okay this post is going international! I'm in Europe as I blog about the amazing once-every-four-years treat: the World Cup. Non-sports fans or semi-sports fans may have heard of it, but have yet to see the true significance of such an event.

It's not just a month long soccer event.

What it is:
A chance for countries to participate in organized activity, PEACEFULLY. That's right, 32 countries will duel each other for the chance at the famed trophy and to bring glory to their nation, but this event has much political meaning as well. Obama is said to be making an appearance, and other countries' rulers plan to watch some of the matches in South Africa too. What a great time for some peace treaties. Didier Drogba united the Ivory Coast with his remarkable soccer feats. South Africa looked to soccer to heal their wounds during and after apartheid.

So no, soccer is not just another name for football. It is not just the most popular sport. The World Cup is a union of cultures, countries, classes and people for one month. It is pluralism exemplified.

And ok, yes, it is also an event to see some of the most attractive male athletes in the world. What a shame. (check out Slovenia if you want a lot of examples).

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the entire world, I talked about the US's biggest sporting event (the Super Bowl)--but this is MUCH bigger (hence the capitals).

NOW FOR YOUR "HOW TO GUIDE ON WATCHING THE WORLD CUP."

32 countries; there are 8 groups of 4 countries randomly drawn (in December) and grouped together. Each group plays every team in that group the first week or so until 2 countries emerge with the greatest records. The top 2 in every 8 then move into the start of knockout rounds, meaning once a team loses--they're out. So the No. 1 seed is placed with a No. 2 seed of a different group, and vice versa. Teams want the best record in their first group. Although for viewers, if a good team (Brazil, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Italy) get a second seed and play another good team, it is great TV.

Who to look out for: Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Italy ('06 winner).

Dark Horses: England (this country's expectations are way too big, but the team has some pretty good talent) and the US (great striker in Altidore, one of best keepers in Howard, etc.)

Sorry to cut this post short, but I have to explore the culture of Tallin, Estonia right now. I will post on European culture when I return! Go watch the Cup!

RIVALRY Culture

2010-05-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

I promise I will blog less about sports in the future (well no I won't promise, but I'll try). This June, a sporting event presents itself of such magnitude, permeating our papers and consuming our discussions. This event, as I outline below, proves to be of great cultural significance (and thus, worth writing about).

At first I thought this post was selfish, because I am a fan of the game.

Then I thought about even the non-sports fan, one who does not care about the teams and competition, but may read about this event on news wires or facebook updates, or hear "Who do you have winning?" while standing in line at your local Starbucks.

So this post is, incredibly enough, NOT for the die-hard.
It's actually for those un-interested. The people that find such trivial occurrences like a basketball game to only be a deterrence to real, "hard," news (see last week's post on the Oil spill). Although what is newsworthy to one doesn't blanket all societies...but alas, I digress.

My hope is that, by the end of this post, I can convince those "un" or "semi" interested to catch at least one game (or a quarter of a game) in the upcoming NBA Finals. Not because the next two weeks are as important as nuclear arms or world peace, but because in the midst of the peaks and valleys that is our life, something like the intensity of this year's match up can make ordinary days seem extraordinary.

And here's why:

You remember how the USSR and US were foes for a long time, and you never thought they'd be allies? That the tension was too intense, the emotions too strong, the competition too great?

Well, fortunately for us, the two countries (after the Soviets figured their ish out and became Russia) are civil, perhaps (give or take the administration at the time) even friends (if countries had those kinds of relationships).

But there are two enemies who's hatred is permanent. Fifty years and counting the competition has been fierce, the tension mounting.

The Boston Celtics will never be friends with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The rivalry is too deep, the memories replayed too many times. And the latest wound, when the Lakers lost to the Celtics in the Finals (ending Boston's 22-year title drought), is still fresh, still exposed.

It's bigger than basketball.
It's not just a contest between two cities.
It's the East versus the West; our modern-day civil war, but this time, the battlefield is a hard court.

The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a culture of its own because America has become privy to witness the deep story lines and epic battles over the years.

Bill Russell vs. Jerry West in the early 60s, Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain in the late 60s (claimed to be one of the best individual rivalries ever).
Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson in the 80s
Kobe Bryant vs. The Big-3 (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett) now.

Quick notes about some of the athletes in the rivalry:

-Russell was the first official black head coach in NBA history in 1966, WHILE he was a player. And he went on to win the most championships EVER, with 11 (and an Olympic gold medal). I had the privilege to meet him at my old workplace last year, and he is as humble a man could be.
-Bird got more flack for being a talented white athlete that often times his achievements (like being the only person to be named MVP and NBA Coach of the Year) were overlooked.
-Earvin "Magic" Johnson is one of the most famous athletes in the world. "Showtime" displayed incredible basketball feats while playing for the Lakers. People credit Magic and Bird's rivalry as the NBA's then-savior.
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Although he didn't have a marquee match up like Bird/Johnson or Russell/Chamberlain, he was a HUGE (literally at 7'2) reason the Lakers beat the Celtics in 1985 and 1987.
-Kobe Bryant is in a class all his own in current times (save the Lebron debate). Either hated or loved, nobody will diminish his amazing basketball skills. And despite having four championships already, he has never beaten the Lakers. And he's hungry to take his 5th (one less than Michael Jordan).
-Big Three: three players on the Boston Celtics rejuvenated a franchise that hadn't won an NBA title in 22 years. And this year critics across the country discredited them, saying Garnett, 34, Allen, 34, and Pierce, 32, had no chance of a good season because they were "too old" or "washed up." Yet despite the critics, they are competing for their second championship (with an emerging pointguard name Rajon Rondo), after ousting star athletes Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Dwight Howard on the road to this year's final.

As it is today, the Celtics have 17 NBA championships; the Lakers 15. The two teams' combined championship count is more than half of all NBA championships in history. Against each other, Boston has won nine times; the Lakers twice.

Although the numbers may favor the East, many of the series have been extremely close. Of their 11 meetings, only one team has been swept in a series (1959 Minneapolis Lakers), while the two teams have gone a full seven games on four different occasions.

Beginning June 3rd, the Celtics and Lakers, the world's past two champions, again face off, continuing one of the biggest rivalries ever witnessed. Even more so than in 2008, it's about a team versus one great athlete.
It's the Kobe Show (the team's lifeline, with an average of 27 points a game in the post-season) with a big supporting cast versus the Celtics who corral around a team mentality (there hasn't been a consecutive high-scorer in the past 17 playoff games).

I hope you choose to catch a glimpse of the greatness.

Oil Culture: It's impact created a disaster culture

2010-05-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

Oil.

It's sticky, dark brown, and insoluble in water. Doesn't sound like something you'd want to swim in...

Trouble is, it's used for producing energy all across the globe. It's a resource in high demand; it is the main economic source for countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia. It has also been the catalyst to many international conflicts; some believe the battle for oil has initiated wars.

As America continues to "burn through" oil in large quantities, the nation has been drilling domestically, to wean from foreign dependence of the resource. But, as the newspapers and television screens have shown, internal drilling can come at a high price.

We all know what happened a month ago when an oil rig operated by BP, a Britain-based energy company (the fourth largest company in the world), blew out. Not only did 11 people die who worked on the rig, but the blowout created what is now known to be the largest oil spill ever recorded.

What's worse, the "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill" (the disaster's official name, because the rig was named Deepwater Horizon), is now being claimed as the worst man-made disaster in United States History.

According to TransOcean, the actual owner of the former rig (it was on lease to BP), the rig had drilled in Qatar for more than a month in 2003 without problems.

Although the time to blame has passed, many reports have alleged that BP did not take accurate safety measures when drilling the world's deepest oil well.

The focus now is finding a solution to the massive oil that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. As each day passes, thousands of barrels from the spill threaten the safety of residents and lives of animals residing in states like Lousiana and Florida.

As demand increases for oil, the U.S. drills internally in an attempt to avoid a potential conflict with another country (and thus save citizen's lives). So we drilled. And continue to drill elsewhere. But aren't we in a place similar to one we tried to avoid? People and animals have died, and a large body of water is essentially rendered useless, yet we're still dependent on foreign oil as much as before, if not more so (as BP's stock is sure to crash, and Obama may discontinue drilling in other wells across the country).

This link is the infamous live feed of the oil spill, if you have yet to see it.

Below are some pictures I posted from an article in Boston.com, but there are many more on the site.

Alcohol Culture...Yes I'm really blogging about this

2010-05-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

So it was my 21st birthday a few days ago, and no I did not make the trip to Vegas. Instead, I drank a glass of wine with my parents and made a disgusted face at my first ever sip of wine. Yes, my first ever. I waited until I was 21 to drink. No I'm not Mormon. No I'm not religious. Just wanted to see how long I could wait. And I waited until it was "legal" (although people will argue that's a superfluous US-imposed rule). Regardless, the reactions I have received over the years to this bit of personal information are quite interesting, and felt I must share.

Some typical responses:
"Are you straight edge?"

"So how do you have fun?"

"Are you bored a lot?"

"Wow. That's hmmm. Wow."

"If you don't drink, then who do you hang out with?"

And my all-time favorite:
"That sucks."

Although we are all entitled to our own opinions and sometimes have involuntary reactions to new found information, the breaking news that this is when I meet people in a social setting evoked me to blog: Why is Alcohol such a large component of our lives?

I'm all for having a beer during the game, or a glass of wine at dinner, but people (human beings at every socioeconomic strata and of every background, no group is excluded) associate alcohol as their source of fun or entertainment. No doubt it may be an addendum (as Dionysus himself knows the joy of a drunken stupor) but is it human beings' subdued or subconscious insecurities that see alcohol as a means to become their truest self?

Too philosophical? Sorry. Too general? No. I am not applying this to every person--many don't drink. But this post isn't about them. I'm talking about the 16-year old that drinks to get drunk every night of summer, or the 40-year old cougar who is upset about her husband's long hours.

I'm referring to those that drink as a form of self-medicating, or as a confidence-booster. Maybe it's just me and the other non-or infrequent drinkers that like remembering their nights, and days.

I think it's a culture, better- a phenomenon-worldwide. And I think we can trace it back to human beings not feeling as good about their current condition or situation that they want to get drunk to feel something different, to have a different kind of day.

And in no way am I saying that non-drinkers are more confident than those who drink a lot--I'm merely pointing out that isn't one or two glasses or a couple mixed drinks enough?

Perhaps I'm biased because I've worked at one-too-many sports bars. But I've seen the same thing in places like Miami, Wisconsin, London, or Canada. It's human nature to splurge, or over-indulge. And again, I'm being general in the sense that a few times a year is one thing--but many people make getting drunk a regular activity, and that is a culture I simply don't understand.

I hear many people say I want to experience everything. Well and fine, but do you have to experience everything every other night? No. That is not life, that is compensating for something else.

In sum--the point of my post--can be described by the following quotes:

"Wine hath drowned more men than the sea."--Thomas Fuller

"An aching head and trembling limbs, which are the inevitable effects of drinking, disincline the hands from work."--George Washington

"Alcohol is necessary for a man so that he can have a good opinion of himself, undisturbed be the facts."--Finley Peter Dunne

Drinking isn't a prerequisite to having a good time.

Eyjafjallajökull Culture?

2010-05-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

No this post's title is not just a bunch of words. Eyjafjallajökull is the name of the Icelandic Volcano that has consumed the news, our mouths and, most importantly, the air, for much of the last two weeks. But I found an incredible site that showcased the pictures and I wanted to share it with you. No lengthy rant, or philosophical discussion. Just one of my rare photos-only posts. All these photos are taken by Jonathan Harris, and can also be seen at the site: http://number27.org/today.php?d=20100501

BEST THURSDAY OF THE YEAR (aside from Turkey Day of course)

2010-04-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

Earth Day and Draft Day. What could be better? I can't think of much, aside from that lovely day where food is endless and I don't feel bad about eating an entire pumpkin pie.

To those of you not fans of football, the draft may be unimportant to you or worthless. But when you're talking about guys in their early 20s getting tens of millions of dollars, it might peak your interest. The picks are college football players from all across the nation. And the trick is: we never really know who a team is going to get (sometimes its a give away, like the top 3 spots, but after that it's kind of a gamble). Anyway, a lot of these picks are founded in my own knowledge combined with some experts. More the experts than me. But I studied! Here's my first ever mock draft:

Mock Expected:
1. Sam Bradford-because he's awesome... best QB in the draft. NFL talent, composed, Rams are desperate for a QB (before and after Bulger left). He will play right away, and has ability to do well.
2. Gerald McCoy-Heard his combine/recent results put him ahead of Suh.
3. Ndamukong Suh-This guy is unreal. Heisman candidate. Highlights.
4. Russell Okung-300 pounder, moves like he's a lot lighter. Need someone solid to protect McNabb cuz a sac might crack a hip in that vet's body.
5. Possible trade. If not, Trent Williams. KC needs a lot of things, so I'm not sure about this spot.
6. Jimmy Clausen-yup. I think Carroll is gonna choose the QB from ND. He knows his playing style well, think Carroll likes a challenge. I'm going out on a limb, but sources tell me this might happen.
7. Eric Berry-many think Clausen here, but the Browns can get a lot from this pick. Naysayers think a safety won't go in top 5, I'm going to be controversial and say they're wrong. Although, I probably am (this is my first mock draft after all).
8. Bruce Campbell-Raiders need him. Huge and fast: he ran a 40 in 4.85 at Combine. WOW. His scouting report says it all.
9. Dan Williams-they need a NT. If they're running a 3-4 this year, the NT is the main guy. Sure the Bills need a QB, but they allowed an avg 156.3 rushing yards a game. Get them a NT stat.
10. Derrick Morgan-because Kampman is old. And because I tend to believe in most things Mel Kiper says about football.
11. Rolando McClain-This pick is tricky. He will probably go to NYG at 15. But given Alabama's year, and how McClain took out guys like Tebow, it could happen.
12. Jason Pierre-Paul-so fast. a 4.6 40. 6'6, 260.
13. Joe Haden-fast, from Florida. 49ers have little depth at the CB position.
14. C.J. Spiller-Carroll has hinted, people have him going @ 6. Could be, but I have a weird hunch about Clausen.
15. Sean Weatherspoon-everyone and their mother has McClain, I mean the Giants need a LB, maybe not this one. But I think McClain is going higher than 15.
16. Everson Griffen-I'm USC-biased, but I've met the guy, he deserves the spot. I think he's the best DE aside from Morgan. Does that mean he'll get up this high-no, but I can have faith.
17. Anthony Davis-Heading out as a junior; and read a lot of people saying there are concerns w/his character. But 49ers need offensive help, badly.
18. Maurkice Pouncey-without Roethlisberger they need help in the O-line. He could play right away.
19. Brandon Graham-went to experts on this one. Wolverines had a terrible season, but he managed to be the shining light from their sub-par season.
20. Kyle Wilson-I went to the experts on this one. Seems to be a unanimous bet.
21. Taylor Mays-Who 'Dem gonna get? They can get a WR in later rounds, or through a trade to match up with 85. They are pretty much stacked (bias-intended). I think (and hope) Mays.
22. Dez Bryant-filling in for (recovering) Wes Welker and Randy Moss (fading) at the WR position. It seems logical that he can come in whenever needed.
23. Charles Brown-no USC bias needed here. Rodgers needs someone to cover him, Brown is one of the best available at this position.
24. Sergio Kindle-he can play DE and OLB. Um Saints will love him. He'll help out Smith and make opponent QB's freaked.
25. Devin McCourty-Kareem Jackson could go here,
26. Jermaine Gresham-many have Kindle, but I think he'll go a bit higher.
27. Mike Iupati-guy is huge, excels at run blocking. Dallas needs someone for Romo, we all know he gets sacked wayy too easily.
28. Ryan Matthews-No idea. I haven't watched any of Fresno State's games, and I couldn't tell you why. But I had a blank spot. And so I looked at about 10 other mock drafts, so that's why I have him here.
29. Jared Odrick-I've read some reports that Terrence Cody or Devin McCourty might come here, but my bud is a huge Jets fan and I kind of trust his opinion. Jets' d is stacked, so whoever their pick-they're a team to fear.
30. Tebow-Vikings want a QB that will bring them the glitz and suave like Favre has. And if Favre is there another year, Tebow can learn from the best. Heard he threw for Vikings (among other teams) this past week.
31. Rodger Saffold-Colts have a history of drafting offensive guys first. No reason they can't get better than they already are.
32. Brian Price-this is a total gamble. Pac-10 defensive player of the year. Ok, so it's the Pac-10. And he's from UCLA, but his indiv. stats are solid.

I'd like to see Tebow up higher, Clausen down lower, and Mays with the Bengals. I probably got over half of these wrong, but at least I did one! I feel accomplished.

Note: I edited this post 4/23/10 to explain what the mock draft is in clearer terms.

Generation Y Culture

2010-04-18T18:08:00.001-07:00

You may read this title and be confused if you've never heard of the term. "Generation Y" succeeds "Generation X," or the generation after the baby boomers. Birth rates from the mid 1970s to 2000s are said to be in Gen Y. So what exactly does that mean and how does it affect you, even if you're not in Gen Y?

I'll give you a great example. On April 14th, the University of Southern California (USC) held an all-day conference called TEDxUSC. TED (technology, entertainment, design), a non-profit that shares innovative ideas by posting videos from speakers around the world, brought thinkers to the university for its second annual conference. About 1200 people, mainly students, came to the event and listened to speakers like Paul Frommer, a NASA astronaut, among others, who had stories to tell or thoughts to share.

Again, you may ask, why is this significant? Well, because it's only the 2nd year-and 500 more people came this year than the first TEDxUSC a year ago. In fact, the tickets were sold out. Still, assuming you didn't go to the conference and don't want to be bitter about how seemingly great it was, this is relevant and important because more young people now than ever before are exploring what was previously unchartered territory for those under 30.

Maybe college students are more curious than others because they're right-smack-in-the-face-learning (whether they admit to it or not).
OR maybe Gen Y is more instinctively curious and/or philosophical than previous generations? I realize that's a huge generalization-but it's not far-fetched. But I give you the hard concrete "told you so" example: the Internet.

It boomed during Gen Y; previous generations' hands were still dirty with newspaper print while young kids were learning how to cut and edit videos to post on youtube.

Rarely do people watch television for long periods of time (hello TIVO--an hour show has been condensed to 43 minutes give or take a few), rarely are people not attached to some technological device (unless you're 80 or live in a box).

The post is to posit that perhaps Gen Y isn't smarter, or more capable--but perhaps they are more curious. Or maybe, its boredom masked as curiosity. Either way, the information age is getting more informed and future generations are taking note. Soon societies will probably operate solely on smart phones and solar panels.

Before Gen Y, "Keeping up with the Jones" was paired with the material: cars, houses, money. Now, I'd argue it's an information competition. The more degrees you have, the more well-informed people feel they need to be about the news/world around us.

Not everybody fits into these molds. But, like my other posts, this is the popular trend of late: Gen Y and its ongoing competition for knowledge. It's not necessarily damaging or beneficial. But let's take a look at both sides for a brief moment:

Good: more educated, more engaged in society; synapses in the brain fire at rapid rates, and the ADD culture we're seeing can lead us to adapt a higher brain capacity. HUGE LEAP, but one of faith (bias of being in Gen Y).

Bad: less introspective, less internal/more superficial, an insincere interest in the philosophical-- and even the possibility of NOT learning as much. Like the cliche "ignorance is bliss" says, knowing too much may be counterproductive. Reading a book a week is one thing (a lofty goal), reading newspapers/books/internet articles/blackberry news updates/twitter feeds/facebook alerts/linked in messages may cloud our learning ability if our brain cannot decipher which information is more vital, and thus, worth retaining.

It's all up in the air until a new generation comes in/gets named. For now, we can continue pondering ...

Easter/Passover Theory Continued from Previous Week...

2010-04-08T13:01:00.001-07:00

After the holiday weekend is over, I wanted to test a theory:

I know my dork-alarm is about to go off, but I checked the stocks for two companies, Cadbury (the famous creme-egg company) and Manischewitz (the most popular brand for Matzah--Jew's "bread" on Passover).

Stocks can fluctuate for a number of reasons, especially with large announcements (i.e. Kraft's ensuing takeover of Cadbury) but I simply wanted to see what the numbers were in compared to their individual share prices from the week before Easter/Passover to after. Unfortunately Manischewitz is owned by RAB Holdings LLC, part of the RAB Food Group-in simpler terms, it's private so we can't access their share prices.

But the picture below shows Cadbury's stock increase from 3/26/10-4/5/10--do you see the spike or are my eyes going crazy? Nope, it's definitely there. Easter is a great money maker for the company. I guess that comes as no surprise, but what's really surprising is that many Jews tell me they also buy eggs/Cadbury bunnies during Easter-for the taste, likely not because of the religious reasons. The numbers shot up right before the holiday, and remain high just a few days after (those chocolate bunnies must have gone on sale!).

Just another example of how culture plays a huge role in people's buying behavior.

It's EAAAAASTER (and Passover, too).

2010-03-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Google).

I feel that my blog post's title adequately sums up the way most feel about the two early-April holidays. Although Easter is associated with very religious symbols/ideas like Jesus, going to church, Christianity, etc., Passover seems to be largely bypassed. Pesach, the name most practicing Jews call Passover, is often considered to be Jews' version of Easter although the former lasts for much longer (eight days versus one).

Yet according to the Barma Group, a California-based religious research firm, only 42 percent cited the "resurrection of Christ" as a reason for celebrating the holiday.

Is this huge discrepancy because people don't know about Passover (Pesach), or because it is considered exclusive to Jews? Or perhaps, both (they don't know the holiday and also think it's only for those who practice Judaism)?

Well I am here to break the confusion barrier. Or at the very least, try. Holidays are cultural days-they don't need to be steeped in religiosity. We can eat a Cadbury creme egg with our Matzah. Why not celebrate both for the pure recognition that these two holidays can coexist, and many countries might not tolerate such a concept.

This brings us to a larger, theological question. Do more people see Christianity as mainstream, and Jews on the fringe? This time last year CNN published research from a survey that said 75 percent of Americans consider themselves Christian. Religion Today also said Christianity has about 2 billion followers worldwide.

Hundreds of different denominations are presumably included in this 75 percent (and some of those denominations don't even celebrate Easter), but Christianity overall casts a Goliath-like shadow on other religions. I guess the Easter interest isn't as surprising when we look at the figures.

But let's weigh the Passover v. Easter debate (if there wasn't one before, there is now) anyway.

-Length-Passover: 7 or 8 days, Easter: 1 day
-Meaning-Passover: Jews freed from slavery, Easter: Jesus resurrected after being crucified.
-Food-Passover: Hard Boiled Eggs/Matzah/no bread, Easter: everything under the sun, especially chocolate eggs
-How to Celebrate-Passover: Hide the Matzah (put Matzah in a sheath of some sort, kids go around looking for it), Easter: Egg Hunt (collect the most eggs in your basket to get a prize, and going to Church.

Maybe there is better marketing in Easter products: the bright-colored foils, hopping bunnies (who doesn't love a white chocolate bunny?) and consequential activities that seem appealing to the masses.

(Passover plate at Sedar dinner, photo from online source).

Most Americans care about the basics. "What is this holiday, Why am I celebrating it, How do I celebrate it?" I answered that, at a very basic level. But there is no rule that you can't have your eggs and eat them too (too cliche? Perhaps).

Here's an idea: take your hard-boiled egg off your Passover Sedar plate (confused? that's for another, longer discussion) and before you eat it, color it w/egg dye and hide it for ten minutes. Then either you or your friend can search for it, finally eating it after it has been found. Look you just "celebrated" both Passover and Easter! Well not exactly--

Listen, I'm not trying to make a mockery of very two important, religious days. I am, however, trying to point out that in this crazy world we live in where everyone has an opinion and everyone is right in their own way, we ought to embrace the differences and celebrate them. The differences. Not who's religion is better, or easier, or more well-liked. Heck, Kwanza would feel pretty crappy if we were to have this debate in December, but this country very much acknowledges the holiday and kids in grade school are often instructed to learn about it.

I have simplified some very complex things, so please do not be offended. But this would be a much longer post if I were to even attempt explaining the heavy stuff.

Cultural goal a.k.a. the light at the end of the tunnel. We should practice acceptance and open-mindedness. I feel they are the keys to unlocking the most rigid of doors (spiritual, political, etc.)

Till next time!

Prescription Drug Culture

2010-03-19T12:16:00.001-07:00

(Photo taken from Google)

After a long talk with a man who happened to be a counselor for a drug rehab facility, I learned some eye-opening things. First, drug rings can involve the elderly. YES you read that correctly: older people, often cash poor but reaping medical benefits from Medicare, have been known to sell extra pain medication to young men and women in exchange for cash. I don't know if I am alone in finding this revolting yet incredible, that in a weird unknowing and unintentional way the government may be contributing to the black market we are trying to stop.

In light of the Corey Haim/Brittany Murphy/celebrity drug overdose that I covered further in June, I wanted to find out why so many were turning to prescription drugs rather than the typical acid/cocaine usage we have so long heard about. In the past what was thought of as a speedball (cocaine and heroine mixed) has become an adderall/xanax mix in the last decade. What is the fascination with prescription drugs? Are they less harmful than black market drugs? Well if doctors prescribed moderate amounts to patients that genuinely need the drug, then obviously that answer is yes. However, when put into wrong hands (those incorrectly prescribed or those not prescribed) the outcome can be lethal.

And recently I have heard about the influence of such prescription drugs in sports. Although sometimes the prescription is necessary, citing players or people with ADD or often used to diagnose narcolepsy.

But we all knew college students have been privy to such abuses, the amount of prescriptions must be tracked better and have greater linkage.

Since February the F.D.A. has mandated the tracking of prescriptions among pharmacies, but will that end the drug crusade? No, but stronger voices and the increasing amount of deaths has sure made one think twice. Those who have undergone drug abuse ought to be more public and let people know just how dangerous a few pills may be. People think that because a drug comes from a doctor that a substance cannot harm you like a snort of cocaine can. Whatever the medication may be, read the side effects, know what you're putting into your body.

I know I'm preaching, but watching these celebrities drop like flies is only a reflection of the larger society in which we resort to outside influences so we can cope better. It's something that must not be ignored.

Spring Break Culture

2010-03-07T18:39:00.001-08:00

I realize I'm catering to a specific audience in this post, but it may resonate with those not in school nor within the educational system. Many people vacation in March: some time has passed since the holidays, but summer is still too far away. People take road trips, visit longtime friends, or simply "veg" out for a certain amount of time. Some may not be afforded the luxury of breaks, as expenses are still tight. But if those around you are headed to Acapulco or Cabo, you can still find the fun in a Spring Break while working for that paycheck. Some options: take a hike, grab lunch with a friend-go to a restaurant nicer than you typically would, after all it's not like you're paying for an expensive plane flight. Also, check out a movie or better yet, go to a drive-in movie. Spend some time reading, layout side with a pool chair or if you're on the East, by a fireplace. And lastly, cook or bake something. You will feel fulfilled and accomplished at what you have created. And if you are going away, be careful with the pictures you take-social sites galore may hurt your reputation later.

I posted a link to a site called the "coolest spring break" page.
It is quite a sight. If this is typical of your spring break, I wish you a safe and happy journey with lots of sunscreen.

Culture of the Little Golden Statues

2010-03-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

Two days until the Oscars, and the buzz is swarming.

As uninteresting as I find entertainment half the time-considering it usually results in tabloid fodder, the Academy Awards is certainly worth discussing. Not only is it the Superbowl of the the entertainment industry, but the Oscars have incredible story lines. Let's just touch upon the one everyone cares about: Best Picture. Having seen the 2 frontrunners, the big blockbuster "Avatar" and the almost-documentary like "The Hurt Locker," I find the differentials noteworthy. You're pinning former husband and wife against one another, an outrageous budget versus a small, a technological masterpiece opposite a vivid, realistic portrayal of war. The matchup is worth watching itself even if I don't catch the whole show (hope they cut to a shot of the ex-spouse upon announcement).

Why is the Oscars so coveted? The 82nd award show is a snippet of the country's fascination with celebrities, and exposing their greatest moments via talented (arguable) performances and designer gowns/suits makes one want to tune in. Is it newsworthy? Well when a movie rethinks the way film is done, such as Avatar, maybe. Or whether a typical scenario is adapted into an incredibly satirical piece of work that makes the Holocaust digestible, like in "Inglorious Bastards," it's probable. Even further, when a movie shapes the way you think about your image in the midst of society, as Precious does, it's likely people will watch.

And then there are those who choose to tune in to see if an actress wore Chanel or Dior. But that's for some other blog, and some other website.

Personally, the award show is long and full of monotonous lulls which make me want to see a highlight reel rather than the full four hour (or more) show. As much as I adore great performances, I'd rather spend that time watching their movie.

Kids at Home-an unwanted culture (on both ends)

2010-02-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

When I told my friend that new home sales hit a record low yesterday (previously-occupied home sales also fell) and her response was "yeah because everyone is living with their parents," I felt that a burgeoning trend was upon us.

Rental prices are not going down, and the value of homes is only decreasing as the number of foreclosures increase. Thus, I wonder if the number of people living with their parents has also increased. My sister lives at my parents' home, albeit "temporarily," and I also lived at home for a semester during college. I have had friends come back home after they lived on their own and were tired of emptying their pockets to landlords over the years. So is this trend something we see weaning or gaining in the future?

Kids over 20 and under 30 get such a bad "rep" for living at home. However, in this economy, it is becoming more understandable, and almost more popular. But what are the repercussions of living at home with the parental units? The obvious benefit is the good home cooking, the obvious downfall: a vanishing social life.

I wonder if laziness or a destructiveness emerges among people living at home with their parents, or a budding frustration among the parents who now have less personal space. Even further, perhaps there is a closeness among kin that ensues by living at home at a latter age paralleling indigenous nations' bond with their families (ignore the incest/negative aspects of such bonds for purpose of extending my point) and other familial communities across the globe (India anyone?).

Whichever it is for you, or your friends/acquaintances living at home, look for the positives. Get closer to your parents, or establish bonds with peers who share a similar experience. It is not the worst thing to happen to someone. At least you have a home. Those in Haiti or the nearly 4 million Americans who have been homeless at one time would opt to live in a warm home surrounded by relatives.

At the end of every tunnel, there is always a light. Find it. And come back next week :)

P.S. I doubt your parents live in any of these homes, but I ran a search on the "world's coolest houses" and thought I would share.

Ed: The new link on previously-occupied home sales was included after this post was complete.

The Holiday of Love

2010-02-14T15:49:00.001-08:00

First of all, it's the one-year anniversary of this blog! That's commitment. For me at least.

Speaking of commitment, this leads me directly into the topic for today's post: Valentine's Day. I don't think there is a day out there more culturally/economically/psychologically manipulated and contrived as this day. But yet, I still find it wonderful. I guess thanks to Sees Candies and the millions of other marketing execs out there that are doing their jobs. Well, in the hopes I can extract fruitful reflection out of this day, I will put aside my skepticism-wait is that even possible?- no it's not, and that is why this blog exists.

In a flurry of my life the past few days, I have seen everything from teddy bear stands to OchoCinco's twitter feed about being single to NPR's storytelling about tragic loves. I wonder what has made people decide February 14th is the one day to celebrate the human being's strongest emotion via an array of chocolates, flowers and gifts. I won't pretend I know the answer, but I can mull it over and perhaps you will message me with your thoughts.

Loneliness: People have an innate sense of abandonment, and it is often fulfilled (at least on the most base, superficial level) when another person claims them as their "valentine." Whether or not that entails dating, this claiming is a link of sorts to this day where everyone wants to feel some sort of connectivity to another. And that brings us to our basic needs as humans-socialization. Without getting too Freudian, the basic function of Valentine's Day is to spend time with other people. And I believe that's a truly great thing.

Insecurities: However, people can often lead themselves down the wrong path if they get involved with another to diminish their insecurities rather than because of true romantic feelings. Valentine's Day is kind of like the bandaid on our heart's wounds-it briefly covers up the mark, but that scar is still there until we let time or something stronger (something more genuine) really take hold. Being a woman, I've seen enough friends (and probably, subconsciously, myself) sabotage themselves by not waiting for a guy they truly like and, instead, jump into a "thing" with the sub-par Joe who's around them daily. Thus, we succumb to a routine that isn't helping us be our best-selves. Men do it too, they are just often terrible at admittance and/or communication.

Pressure: If you're in a relationship, then the stakes are high. Trying to be creative every single year is a difficult task, especially if money is tight and circumstances make it difficult to be with your special someone today. A man happily married for over thirty years told me "it gets harder to constantly outdo yourself, and it's more about that sometimes than making your wife happy." A little after the new year begins we already hear promotions for V-Day. Why? Sales of course. It's all about the benjamins-but that puts those in a relationship under huge strain if a once thoughtful box of chocolates now seems traditional and outdated. My girlfriends often tell me they just enjoy a dinner, whether homemade or out somewhere, with their man. So quit feeling pressure, we don't expect that much! And guys-no guy I've ever dated has cared what I've gotten him for Valentine's Day. It's how you show you care.

Validation: People want to know their "other half" loves them, and what better way than a mass-produced Teddy Bear (equipped with internally harmful metals, ensuring your lover's safety!) that says "I Wuv you!" in the most annoying voice possible, prompting its eventual demise after repeatedly waking you up with that voice at all hours of the night. Validation never comes in the manufactured form, ladies and gentleman! And if you're seeking it, therein lies the problem.

A ton of other emotions and reasons exist for the success of Valentine's Day, and I only touched on a few. But I think it serves a few good purposes despite a lot of unnecessary stress as well. People come together, people seem happier, and people spend money (which goes back into the economy, you know how I feel about spending by now...). So enjoy your Valentine's Day, whether you are in love or not. Maybe it will give you cause to be more aware of your relationships, which is never a bad thing!

Till next time...

Layoff Culture

2010-02-09T18:49:00.001-08:00

Dartmouth announced layoffs. The United States Postal Service announced layoffs. And so did one of the biggest cities around the world: Los Angeles.

I know I've already discussed unemployment, but layoffs are different. Layoffs are arguably worse, because you WERE employed, and now you are joining the millions of unemployed people out there because you didn't make the cut. It's like being on a track team and being a few seconds to slow to go to meet, or being a wrestler and eating that hotdog when you shouldn't have because you didn't make weight. Alright maybe these analogies aren't that applicable, but there's a sense of "Why me, and not him?" in the air when layoffs happen to a school, company or city.

Watching Mayor Villaraigosa talk about layoffs last week, it appeared to me that despite our nation's unemployment rate decreasing, our economy is still in an incredibly fragile state. So one option, Villaraigosa mentions, is to privatize: zoos, parking garages, presumably anything currently public the city will consider putting into the hands of a few if the money is right. That's sure an option. Is it a beneficial one? We don't know, but what we do know is that jobs are being cut, and there aren't other options being mentioned.

Does the city of LA need to give a bigger voice to the commonfolk ala townhall meetings like Obama has done? Or do we just need better people at the helm? Or maybe there's a 4th option. Or a 5th, or 6th. Whatever the answer, something needs to start happening. Because talk only goes so far, and hearing about the constant layoffs without hearing what alternatives may be or where the money "saved" is going, in addition to deficit trimming methods beyond job cuts, is in my favor.

In my time at school, I have met great politicians or city workers: lobbyists, councilpeople, lawyers, attorneys, all sorts of people who really want to impact the city in a beneficial way. But, like UPS or Dartmouth, who is to say that cutting productivity or halting imagination and human creativity is the best way to impact an entity such as Los Angeles. Don't we need to have a large rallying effort right now rather than a sendoff? What about incentives and goals before a layoff is made, to put deadlines on people and expand an operation rather than a simple weeding out process like layoffs do.

Sigh, unfortunately some people's decision-making is too impulsive and too mercenary.

Superbowl Culture-----bring it on 1 & 2!

2010-01-27T16:14:00.001-08:00

Where will you be February 7th? I would argue nine out of 10 of you (if there are even that many people reading this) will find yourselves at some place that includes a big-screen television. Why you may ask? Because it is Super Bowl XLIV (stands for 44; it's alright I'm not good at roman numerals either).

The No. 1 and 2 seeds are playing in the biggest game in American sports for the first time since 1993 when the Cowboys beat Buffalo.

Doesn't sound like a big deal to you? Well the chances are that come February 7 you will either be cheering for Peyton's Colts or Brees' Saints, even if you didn't know who the heck they were in September.

I heard Obama answer the politically correct "this win would be a great win for the city of New Orleans" and while that is true, the city itself has enjoyed 13 wins this season (15 if you include postseason), so I think win or lose the city is pretty darn happy about even getting in this deep, the first time in franchise history. That sounds like a big deal.

Another big deal: Peyton Manning. The multiple MVP quarterback, who slightly looks like Homer Simpson but is as humble as Mother Teresa, is playing for another title.

By week five of this season everyone's favorites were New Orleans and Indianapolis. But by week 10, people thought the Chargers might take it all. Too bad Rex Ryan's defense changed all that.

So now we have the top 2 in action a week after the ProBowl (NFL's media attempt to a. build buzz for the Big bowl, b. make more money, c. prolong the season). Both the ProBowl and Superbowl are in Miami. Tickets to South Beach might be mighty expensive right now. At a time when aviation is down, that's a great spike for tourism.

What's my overarching point? The Superbowl will be on everyone's minds, mouths, and sites. So it will be a culture in a single day, if it isn't already (no polls were taken in the making of this post). So head over to Big Wangs (if you live in the LA area) they just opened a new location downtown (PR much?) or if you're outside the city of Angels, go to your local bar; every place is sure to be packed. To all you girls who aren't sports fans, this game is sure to be a great one, but if you go to a bar and order a martini, the jersey-wearing guys you are with might give you a funny look.

But let individualism remain if you don't care for football. It only happens once a year, it's only the biggest watched event EVER. Only about 100 million people watch it.

Even if you don't care for football, even if you don't care for wings or beer, even if you don't like sports very much, the Superbowl is an event. You don't have to know who Marques Colston or Pierre Garçon is. Just soak up the day where almost everyone is happy, energetic, and (hopefully) not complaining about work or the many problems in our daily lives.

Cheers to one great game!

(this photo doesn't have too much relevance, i just think Ocho's awesome and wanted to include him).

The becoming Phone Culture.

2010-01-22T16:25:00.002-08:00

What can't I get on my phone? Newspaper? Check. Game scores? Check. Social networking sites? (If I still used them, I would check that too). Menus, music, highlights, email...check, check, check. The list goes on and on.

So what can't our phones provide I wonder? And then it hit me: our phones don't actually do that much.

They can't sing to us like our favorite band can live. They can't help us ace our tests even if we have dictionary.com as an application or google to look things up.

Most of all, they can't provide companionship. I think too often people assume that having an Iphone or Blackberry and either logging into Twitter or going on BBM means you've had your social connectivity of the day. But what happened to a good ol' cup of coffee among two friends? Where has the old fashioned phone conversation gone when you wanted to hear someone's voice? Well why do that when you can just text or bbm them.

Nothing makes up for real, human interaction. I don't care how technologically-inclined your gadget may be. I was beginning to think that my Blackberry (and many probably still do yet haven't come to the realization or rather, you simply embrace it) was my life, my existence, and that through it was my image. No such thing is true. Through our cell phones (which is a link to the greater world) is only one perception, one dimension of "who we are."

I don't mean to get all existential on you, but I believe this inaccurate portrayal of ourselves is a problem that needs to be addressed. At a time when a simple phone call to say I miss you or "do you want to grab a cup of coffee next wk?" results in a simple text "ttyl" (talk to you later), how intimate and close can we get to our significant others or friends if our relationships are abbreviated?

There's a time and place for everything; use your best judgment. I love my cell phone, and I use it constantly. But in no way do I think it fills a void better than a solid conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Sometimes it is best for convenience (rarely do we mail letters), timeliness (it takes a few seconds to send a message), and economic (phone call a few thousand miles away is not cheap) sake. Despite how great our cell phones are, let's try not to humanize them.

Although I'm sure they will begin talking and knowing our names in a few years; however it is doubtful they will ever be able to cuddle with us.

Resolution Culture!

2010-01-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2010! I know I took a little hiatus from writing, but I assure you 2010 will not go without my share of posts. You probably could have guessed what my blog was about this week considering it's the new year, and I try to summarize/theorize/expand/mock the most topical events of our culture.

Which brings us to resolution culture. I'm not even going to embed the millions of links to articles written within the past two weeks on how to "shed your holiday pounds" or to "get in shape for 2010." We all know what to do, it's 2010, there really are no secrets anymore. Yet the stories on our bodies hit the front pages of the most read newspapers and magazines; guess we Americans constantly strive for change. Or improvement. I'm privy to this, in a variety of ways, but I think there is more here than meets the eye (or scale)...

Why as human beings do we look to refreshen the old, or change what's comfortable as soon as the bell drops and a new year rolls around? Maybe it's because I just finished the Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (in which the antagonist attempts apotheosis, or to become God/divine) that I relate our conception of having perfect bodies, careers, and lives as some sort of vehicle to immortality. Perhaps that's a stretch. So then what's the answer?

Maybe we're just privy to insecurities. This could be logical, as seen in twitter's gain in popularity, which I'd argue is a subconscious reason for people feeling "less than" while seeing only the glamorized part of a person (more often an "official celebrity's twitter")'s life. I promise I won't create an expedition-into-bitterness blog.

OR we're just super bored, and newspapers/magazines think we're obsessed with our body-image so they like to assume stories which are not accurate reads of the public at large. Well whatever makes them money. Too sarcastic? My apologies.

So how do we turn resolutions into the least superficial and most meaningful experiences/revelations before the new year really kicks into high gear? A good option could be furthering your education (cheesy I know). Read more, libraries are free guys-yes even in 2010. Stop reading my blog and go there if you don't believe me. Even if you're out of college, this still applies to you.

Secondly, we can plan to lessen the stress in our lives. If there are people that seem like a burden going into the New Year or you don't have much fun with, let them know (as politely as possible) or surround yourself with people that make you feel carefree and happy.

Another resolution could be to make more "me-time." This sounds quite girly, and naturally I'm a girl so I say it. But it applies to men as well: if your girlfriends are nags tell them to ease up (Valentine's Day is coming up soon, they don't want to be single) and get to work on something you've been wanting to do for a while. For me, I've been writing a book and I put it off like going to the dentist (actually, my dentist is pretty funny, but you get the idea). 2010, no longer will it be just a thought on my mind.

A few more resolutions that I won't elaborate too much on, as I've rambled more than usual in my posts (maybe it's because I missed the blog and I'm making up for lost time). Get more sleep, eat healthier while still enjoying foods you like, and take part in an activity or event you've never done before.

Wishing you a great start to a new year! Till next time...

HOLIDAY CULTURE

2009-11-28T12:43:00.001-08:00

It's time to whip out the mistletoe!

So although Southern California doesn't see too much snow, the holiday buzz is seen everywhere, no matter where you live (or how much you have in your pocket). The feeling resonates as soon as December hits. Buildings have their lights up, stores have their deals in place, and everyone is still left in a food-coma after Thanksgiving. Holidays are great for many things but also bring many to face a stark reality check.

Families come together amidst the expensive plane flights and difficulty traveling, but Christmas and Hannukah can bring people into a sadness, for those whose families are separated or divorced, and also for those who know they simply cannot afford putting a big Christmas Dinner on the table or purchasing 8 gifts per individual as the the Jewish Holiday typically does.

But many can still celebrate in frugal and friendly ways. Big potlucks where heaps of people come together should be more of a regular occurrence come this Holiday Season. Find a reasonable location, like a park, or someone's house and they don't buy anything but everyone invited brings a different item and all dig in. This kind of dinner is very cost-effective, and big groups of people may allow some to feel less alone if their families are in turmoil.

The cold in some places is enough to depress someone. Whether you're in Providence, Rhode Island or Eagle River, Wisconsin it gets cold. Whip out those parkas, scarves, and comfy socks-you are going to need them to keep your spirits up! And with all that gear on, you don't have to stay inside. Go skiing if a place is nearby, or simply make snow angels and take pictures of them with your friends. Or have a snowball fight-the trick is to hide it in your parka, then ask a simple question to the person you are trying to peg the ball with, then BAM. It works every time.

Also, you can plan fun events this Christmas which don't require expensive tickets or hefty plans. The movie "It's a Wonderful Life" can be found on cable stations Christmas Day or near then, and the New Years parade as well as the Rose Bowl are televised January 1st (can't promise that the teams playing will deliver what USC could have, but that's for another post).

To those who have to work New Years or during the holidays, many would love to be in your position, so having that mindset may help you from complaining a little less. Even still, celebrate in your own ways-put on some Holiday tunes, text your friends with a Happy New Years or buy a cheap bottle of bubbly and celebrate on January 2nd!

Holidays are a time for cheers, and laughter. But many in this fiscally tight year don't seem to be smiling too much. There are always ways to pick yourself out of any situation, go sit on Santa's lap for $10- seeing a jolly fat man might just do the trick (but bring your hand-sanitizer).

Enjoy your holiday season, and I will try to post one more time before we get to 2010. To those who have been reading (I hope some of you are out there): happy holidays! be safe!

Homelessness in America

2009-11-17T23:21:00.000-08:00

(Taken from my camera phone)

As hundreds of homeless walked down the same green checkered path I was on at the Midnight Mission in downtown LA, I couldn't help but wonder how far I or others in seemingly fortunate situations are from being a resident here.

I watched a worker hand free diapers to two moms pushing their kids in strollers, followed by long “thank-yous” showing their deep gratitude that this kind of place exists.

“We have all kinds of people-families, women, men..” another worker at the front said. “The rules in place help all of them.”

The rules weren’t posted, but those who were familiar with the mission, knew what they were. The place was run professionally, with workers wearing two job hats as enforcers and counselors. The space was clean. Fresh beds were readily available. Hot food was cooking on the stove. Putting environment aside, I looked at the people. At their faces. The men, women and children didn't seem unhappy, but they also didn’t smile. One could say they were in transit, looking to improve their current status.

The majority of residents who stay here are dealing with some sort of substance abuse problem, the reason for my visit. I went to explore the depths of alcoholism and its connection with teens, but spending some time here took my thoughts elsewhere.

I was surprised when director of Public Services Orlando Ward told me he expects the country's number of homeless to double by mid-2010, after research compiled by several missions. He told me about the usual time it takes for someone to burn through their support services, such as family, friends or church, before they get to the mission.

"About 18 months," Ward said. "We haven't even hit 'dire' yet."

Despite the DOW reaching yearly-highs and businesses (like GM, Apple, Target, and Ford) earning huge quarterly profits, unemployment is still high and doesn't seem to be on a downward trend. Renting, too, is still high, although housing prices are decreasing. Yet those in tight financial positions are not able to own a home, and instead rent on a month to month basis.

So it's no wonder why Anheuser-Busch and Brown-Forman reap billion-dollar net incomes while the rest of the economy struggles. We seek to escape as the 'going gets tough.'

But what can be done for these people and what are the necessary steps for the future? The answers are floating around somewhere. One thing certain is that homelessness or those on the verge of it are often in desperate situations, and thus we often hear about people killing their family members, or robbing places, or selling drugs to get by. Or they get addictions, to substances he or she feels dependent on because a bottle feels reassuring when their lives aren't.

Other times the homeless are at these missions or living on the streets because of tragic circumstances in their childhood, like rape or gang violence. But this does not mean we give up on them. They might lack education, but they don't necessarily lack integrity, a trait often absent in even the most educated of people. And these missions attempt to rehabilitate and foster a new lifestyle for those in the program because they see hope.

"It gave me a new life," said a 6-month resident of the homeless shelter. "I couldn't have made it without them."

Those at the mission I visited receive treatment from anywhere between six months to two years, based on a 12-step program tackling substance abuse. This mission (and nearly 30 others around the Skid Row area in LA) work to infuse optimism in people's lives that seem miserable and stagnant. The education and mentors these missions provide, in combination with medical treatment, help. And they also provide an outlet. Some missions even have job-opportunity programs in which good behavior can eventually lead to a paid position at the same mission or one nearby.

But more job-growth and cheaper housing is needed to reduce the number of homeless, keeping people safer and off the streets. And I think personal confidence should be emphasized more, in the media and elsewhere. Because when you feel you have the ability to accomplish something, you usually do.

Shootings, Murder: is it becoming a culture?

2009-11-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

Just a couple hours ago the Washington D.C. sniper was executed, for the 2002 killing of 10 people in a three-week shooting spree in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. This event makes one wonder what the consequences of the killers in last week's Fort Hood massacre and Orlando mass shooting will be. Mass shootings captivate our country-because of the horror, shock, and unfathomable act a human being can be capable of.

What makes these people commit these heinous acts? Each circumstance is unique and the killers are usually different, but their reaction on society is the same. What can be done to prevent these mass murders from becoming a culture of their own, so they are not popular that they stop shocking people or the media stops giving around-the-clock coverage? Tighter security, for one. The Orlando office building was easy for the killer who was laid-off a couple years prior to get into and seek his revenge. But what about Fort Hood? The security probably doesn't get much tighter than that. Better employee screening? Psychological analysis of employees on a monthly basis? But what happens when the psychiatrist commits the crime?

Like being in Pakistan during a car bombing, or witnessing a suicide attack in a nearby region, these domestic murders add fright to citizens when we are already preoccupied with the international community and weapons of mass destruction. Can guns now be considered weapons of mass destruction? Maybe the issue begins there. Issuing weapons' licenses to people with long histories of mental stability, provided with good reason for ownership may be the next step this country ought to take in preventing another mass murder from occurring.

I will try to make my next post a little more friendly...until then, be safe!

NFL-the fantasy culture

2009-11-04T20:39:00.001-08:00

It's been eight weeks of the NFL Regular Season. I don't know about you, but I'm sad we are already halfway through. Fantasy Football players probably agree with that sentiment. So why is the game that combines real stats from professional football players into imaginary teams such a popular hit? Apparently close to 30 million people play Fantasy Football, which probably means 30 million sign up, and about 10-15 million follow their league weekly (I'm one of the remaining 15 that gave up by week 4). Not only is it time-consuming, but playing the game is difficult because of how much information one has to know: first, there are so many players in the NFL it becomes hard to keep them straight and second, the actual scoring/trading gets pretty confusing (don't expect me to explain it!).

If it's your first year, expect to do poorly. Tip for next year: be at your league's draft EARLY. Then you can either pick star-individuals or go with a QB to WR combo (like my favorite Carson Palmer to OchoCinco). And a FF player has to read constantly, checking for player injuries or any new developments in a team that may affect a player later on (i.e. Larry Johnson's twitter posts).

Photo from Google

I don't know how people bet on FF for money, because it's such a gamble! For example, I got Chad Pennington in my 2nd round draft pick not thinking about his previous shoulder surgeries. When he got injured within the first three weeks of season I had thus given up a good round for a player now on the Injured Reserve. That's one example, and other FFballers will surely tell you others.

So although there are drawbacks to Fantasy Football like it being labor-intensive and complex, it brings people together who enjoy watching football (and may be thousands of miles away because it is played via a computer). It also creates a greater interest in the sport when people are "required" to tune in weekly to see how their players fare, which triggers a larger viewership, leading to more expensive advertising, which will hopefully go back into the economy. And sports bars definitely look forward to Sundays and Mondays with great expectations of Fantasy Footballers coming in and inflating waiters' wallets.

Halloween Culture

2009-10-25T10:29:00.001-07:00

Taken from the Roswell Daily Record

It's late October. You know what that means! Pumpkin patches, candy, crazy costumes and makeup, leaves falling, new fall drinks created with gingerbread or pumpkin at coffeeshops. Halloween is near, and the air almost feels orange. I don't know about you, but I love it. Not only is the holiday a great economic boost travel-wise and for retail stores across the nation, but it's a holiday about unity in disguise.

As people dress up in Wonder Woman costumes or Frankenstein outfits, those who take on a different persona for the night can come together with others like them. Someone might love your costume and unexpectedly come up to you and strike a conversation. It seems that holidays naturally bring people together, but this may be one of the few that brings complete strangers together. Socialization is the key to Halloween: going door-to-door asking for candy corn allows you to meet a wide variety of people (unless you live in a pretty homogenous neighborhood) in just a few hours!

So enjoy the celebrations, dress up, and eat some candy. It's been years since I had Almond Joy and I forgot how good it was. Going to attach the new Reese's commercial because I think it's funny, wasn't hired to campaign for them (although who doesn't like peanut butter and chocolate?)

Fat Phobia: A form of Racism?

2009-10-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

I read a great article in the LATimes yesterday about society's growing "fat phobia." Is obsession with weight isolated only in metropolitan areas? Are people that may not wear a size 0 or 2 labelled "abnormal?" We often think people are self-interested and care little about others, but if that were true, maybe people would care a little less about the weight of others. Living in LA it is apparent that women (and some men, too, depending on their profession) are pressured to fit into tight jeans and and workout daily. But the article and activists like Marilyn Wann talk about their wonderful health, however not articulated via their body image. So a man or woman is so-called "fat" because they enjoy Pumpkin Pie a little too much or they have bad genes like thyroid problems.

The article highlights that many large people are in great physical shape, often working out daily. Diet is a definite part of a healthy lifestyle, but some people just aren't granted with a supermodel's body (or want to spend money like some supermodels to get that body). This "weighty" debate has existed long before my time, and it will no doubt continue long after my generation. But I bring up this article and topic to show that fatness may be the new target, as homosexuals were ten years ago, and African-Americans have been for many years before that. Although discrimination and racism still remains against many minorities, people with unique physical features, or those with disabilities, it is important to be aware of racism that is prevalent everywhere.
Awareness may make us change any existing intolerance, which can hopefully lead to acceptance of these people outside the "norm." We all have something that is outside the norm or standard, even if barely perceptible. Thus, the golden rule applies: treat others the way you wish to be treated.

Not trying to preach, but rather inform. Confidence isn't built purely on the physical.

Culture Culture...hmm?

2009-10-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Confused by my post's title? I'll clarify. Who would have known that there are a gagillion comprehensive culture websites out there that run professionally in regional or national areas? Ya me neither. Until now. I attended USC's summit on arts journalism and was amazed to find out what is out on the internet, aside from your typical information/content-based sites. I will talk about a few that the summit highlighted.

First off, here's a link to the summit: http://najp.org/summit/ if you want more information on arts journalism.

My two favorite websites covered were the Indianapolis Musuem of Art, which gets the entire community involved in the museum's art, taking feedback and incorporating it. The website even has an application called ArtBabble that links artists together, where they can create their own channels and post videos of them creating their art, or even create art online and share it with others in real-time. It's amazing where technology can take us, and Max Alexander, previous director of the Whitney Museum, has "been rethinking the relationships between museums and their audiences for many years," said the National Summit's website. I saw his presentation, and he is very passionate about the museum and its place in the community.

I also enjoyed the San Francisco Classical Voice who employs writers, provides information about upcoming shows, links to free music downloads, and is an comprehensive site for those interested in music in the Bay Area. It is supported by many local donations, and has somewhat replaced the dying newspaper covering culture and art in this region.

There are billions of websites to look at, but what's two more added to the mix. The heightened impact of everything going online fosters a new, emerging journalism and allows for a new kind of connectivity across regions and communities. Will these and other similar websites grow in prominence? And can they foster new kinds of art in the future?

Photo from Karen Carson's Channel on ArtBabble

Health: The Non-Disappearing Culture

2009-09-29T08:49:00.001-07:00

Photo From the Daily Dish

While most of my previous posts highlight different cultures that may only be relevant during a particular week, month, or even year, this week's post doesn't have a timeline. However, the issue as a talking-point is more topical now then ever. Everyone wants to be in good health, throughout their lifetime, for years and years. So the all-too popular health care debate isn't just between legislators and our government. It's an issue to be discussed among us all.

We read about the issue every day in the paper, even though 90% of the information posed as "new," is actually a repeat of the story from the previous day. But often a new character is featured (on a Friday I read about a sick young girl, the next day a mother. But meat/significance of the stories, often called the nut graph in journalism, were the same).

So let's get to the point. Why is healthcare an issue to begin with, why reform it now of all times? One huge reason is that it is a part of Obama's platform; his primary goal during his presidency is to reform the current system. If you don't know the specifics of healthcare because it seems complex and vast, you're right: it is. I will, however, attempt to sum it up in the plainest terms, or you can read an LA times article from today about it.

Basic Information: Right now healthcare is not universal in the United States, which is why our government wants the system changed, allowing individuals better access to medical care in the country. People can get insurance through their employers, but most get it through private companies. The government offers Medicare to citizens 65 and older and low-income families may sign up for the government-sponsored Medicaid. Military veterans can also be on a government-run program.

But private companies are raising costs and making it harder for people to afford their programs. Deductibles, the amount one has to pay when receiving treatment after insurance pays an initial amount, are rising too. Thus, more people are falling below the poverty line because they cannot pay for their health-costs, putting many into bankruptcy.

Many healthcare options exist, simply look at other countries around the world, but the U.S. has kept their debate to two main plans:
Single Payer: single, government-run system for all 45 million uninsured citizens; opponents argue they won't have their choice in care or doctor but proponents say it will create competitive pressure on private companies so prices will stay at lower levels.
Public Option: voluntary, similar to Medicare; opponents argue it would drive out private insurers and eventually only the government would be left running the nation's health care system.

When the issue will be solved is another question for debate, but the Obama Administration has certainly made this a culture in itself, and a hot topic for discussion. Will the overhaul lead to a reduction in doctors or medical professionals or rather will there be future protests by groups directly affected? Only time will tell...

Disaster Culture

2009-09-22T13:26:00.001-07:00

Georgia is flooding. California is burning. Disasters occupy our news, and it occupies our lands. Seasonal weather is just the way of the world, and we can read about it, or do something about it. As a journalist I read and write stories on disasters all the time, as they constantly occur, but many people think because they are out of harms way we do not need to be aware of the disasters in other places. I just wanted to include some pictures of the last couple of weeks, so we can be grateful but also sympathetic to these places. I'll save one of my rants for another day.

Floods:

Fires:

Most of the photos courtesy of the Associated Press.

Tween Culture: Replacing All Other Cultures?

2009-09-11T07:58:00.001-07:00

This topic, Tweens, (Miley, Taylor, Selena Gomez, and all the other names I don't even care to list for it may just add to their popularity) is not a post simply for the under-20 crowd. Rather I am talking to those who are able to see the silliness in attaching to these commodified teenage celebrities that oversaturate our news. Tweens, or the media/conglomerates who utilize these characters to selfishly fluff their pockets, make us question our own value. If at 16 these girls and boys are multi-millionaires, that stretches the field a little thin for the rest of us. How do we get in if we are past our "prime" (I sarcastically look at those 21 and over).

So we continue each and every day to pay into the vapidness of this culture often without being mindful of it. Do we truly benefit from starting a debate on whether Miley Cyrus should be dating an older guy or whether the Jonas Brothers will go to a strip club for one of the boy's bachelor parties? I sure as heck don't, and I don't think you do either.

Yet they are making money, and stealing paper headlines for some reason. It seems our entertainment industry is growing rapidly, but for those already in the "inner circle" (Catch 22?). Celebrity, specifically tween, attachment is a form of escapism, and the young are growing more insecure by the minute. How many of your sons or daughters (or you yourself) go onto Miley Cyrus's twitter before you hit the LATimes? It'd be nice to believe it wasn't more than a handful, but that just isn't the case. Look at the numbers and where money goes.

I suppose I just liked the traditional non-tabloid days where performers just performed and weren't food for the media unless something catastrophic occurred. Dean and Monroe had audience responses back in the day similar to the tweens now, but the difference: they weren't 16. The tween culture is becoming the entertainment culture, and I'm not so sure it's beneficial for our nation's adolescents. If you disagree I'd love to hear it.

Over-Networked Culture

2009-09-07T18:20:00.001-07:00

My family was raised on the idea that networking was, first and foremost, the best way to advance one's career. But as we become oversaturated by the various networking technology out there, just how fruitful are these sites in getting us more jobs or clientele? LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. are all social networking sites-but what happened to the traditional networking, such as calling lists or even simple coffee shop discussions that, ten years ago, people relished?

Well today more than ever time is of the essence. If someone feels you can't offer them something within ten seconds of seeing your bio or hearing it, the door is as good as open, allowing you to walk through it.

Despite how cynical the idea of networking in the new age may appear, it can prove very useful for technology-gurus who may lack the social skill-set that others possess.

Unfortunately the big cities are seemingly the worst and best places for people to "network." Just the other day I went to a fancy rooftop pool at a luxurious boutique hotel in Beverly Hills, and the media mogul who claimed to be on "vacation" didn't want to talk about work. Clearly I wasn't networking right, or the guy wasn't looking to give any help to the struggling entertainer. But rather than come from bitterness it is best to assess these situations as their own individual event (mine happened to be an interesting afternoon where I learned of a few new names in the entertainment business, but that could apply to any industry you are in). Moments such as these may seem like wastes, but often they allow us to weed out good versus bad networking in preparation for future occurrences.

If we have any qualms about a pre-arranged meeting, it is best to bring material, so the other sees your professionalism. In any business nowadays, technology can either wipe slates away clean or highlight inconsistencies in people. Be sure to do your research, but sometimes even the most respected people may be looking out for their best interests.

SCHOOL Culture

2009-08-25T15:55:00.001-07:00

As the end of August approaches, most people of or under the age of twenty-five have one thing on their mind: school. And in this economy, the question following that word is probably "How am I going to pay for it?"

Today an article came out about Wal-Mart and other companies' layaway plans, a marketing strategy that puts items on hold for customers to buy at a later time when they have the funds. Other businesses like Burlington Coat Factory and Sears have similar plans, and stores have been running out of stock on most items, albeit they are still physically in the stores.

Is our country in so disastrous a situation that paying for pencils and pens is a huge effort? Unemployment rate is at 9.7%, as of July. Ouch. But many schools nationwide have hit their enrollment capacity, or allowed more students in the past couple years, a possible outlet for people to take advantage of while the job market is so tough.

Some elementary and middle schools are closing because the profits have not outweighed the investments, a recent article shows. These schools are state-run, though, and their budgets only allot so much to education. Private schools do not suffer as greatly.

Books at universities are always costly, but many course readers in the past couple years have reduced costs slightly. Course readers are compilations of books that are produced by the university itself for a specific course.

However costs can be reduced, school will remain expensive for many. But loans and scholarships may be the best option until that 9.7 percent can become a smaller number.

Cheers to a new school year. There is no price on knowledge :)

Philosophy vs Technology-can there be a crossover?

2009-08-19T12:42:00.001-07:00

Like all Los Angelinos, I spend enough time in my car to listen to a variety of radio stations each day. This morning I had National Public Radio (NPR, station KPCC) on and the main broadcaster invited the question: is philosophy and religion exclusive of technology? Let me expand upon that a moment before we try to take on the argument...

Philosophy and Religion seem classical, founded in ideals dating back from ancient Roman and Greek scholars, or religion even earlier. But with the new inundation of technology and our hyper-connectivity as a society because of it, some may in fact use their technology to harpoon a philosophical ideal or religious belief.

So back to the question. The broadcaster on NPR had rabbi Brad Hirschfield (if the Jewish last name didn't give it away, maybe the rabbi part would) on to talk about people's use of Twitter and Facebook to reach out to like-minded individuals, exemplified by typing bible verses in your status update or adding friends that belong to the same religious affiliate as you.

The broadcaster also mentioned one pastor who encouraged his congregates to tweet comments on his sermon and he responded to them while he was talking (multitasker much?). These things seem bizarre and unusual, but technology is truly becoming a prominent part of religion and philosophical thought, as it seems the fastest way to spread ideas.

Socrates just walked on foot questioning everything, seems ineffective when today we share thoughts with the entire world in a matter of seconds.

So faith and technology most often are exclusive of one other (in the literal sense: there weren't too many computers back when Catholicism originated), but it may enhance one's purpose or passion if they use the tools together.

A little dry of a post, but not every week can be fascinating ;)

Addictions, an Unfortunate Culture

2009-08-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

How does one know when they cannot live without something? High anxiety, racing thoughts, depression, shaking, heart palpitations, severe headaches and nausea are just a few of the many physical symptoms that a person with an addiction has. But it doesn't end there. There are associated emotional and mental pains that stem from addictions as well. Read a book if you want an entire list, I'm not an addiction specialist.

But a recent article written by Rukmini Callimachi of the Associated Press discusses entire villages in Afghanistan that are addicted to Opium, so it seemed of topical relevance. I found it astonishing that huge families would sell their entire savings for a drug which causes a temporary euphoria or pain reduction. Personally, I'd go with some Tylenol but apparently a pharmacy isn't as convenient as the drug which can also be used to make Heroin and Morphine (it's like a 3-for-1!). Sarcasm aside, the problem with addiction doesn't rest solely in drugs, although that may in fact be the most directly harmful one to have.

Watch Showtime's Californication, the guy's addicted to sex. Or look at Nicotine, probably one of the few companies with increasing profits, who capitalizes on people's addiction to cigarettes. Although we all can't be scholars of Confucian and read The Doctrine of the Mean, we can take steps toward moderation if we just focus on the negatives that addiction brings.

Sure I have an addiction to frozen yogurt, but I know when it gets out of hand. I won't drive by Ventura and Woodman just to pass by Sweet Harts if I've already gone three times in three days; I'll take Moorpark or Riverside instead. People may roll their eyes at seeing a "frozen yogurt addiction," or a "peanut butter addiction" (which I just recently recovered from), but having an extreme desire or yearning for anything can be classified as an addiction.

But how do we cut these off or out of our lives? Celibacy? Diet? Rehab? Whatever your addiction or the person you know has, cold turkey might be best at first. It seems impossible, especially if you consider the effects of withdrawal. But as we gain more confidence and lose any insecurity that leads us to believe we need the thing that we're addicted to, we may in fact be able to incorporate it moderately into our days (unless it's truly harmful- I think D.A.R.E. would have Smokey the Bear knock on my door if I didn't add this).

It can be a dark place (especially if you're talking Peanut Butter frozen yogurt), but there is always a light at the end of a tunnel.

Cheers to a healthy and moderate lifestyle!

B.E.A.U.T.Y Culture

2009-08-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

So you stop everyone in their tracks. People have "eye-sex" with you all day long. You don't even need to speak to have the room's attention. But how far can beauty take someone? I ask this question in part for relationships, "do you prefer beauty or brains," but mainly for the business sector: does beauty play a part in helping you get a job?

In this challenging employment environment, anything seems to help. But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, does a boss pick someone they find attractive to look at when bored in the office, or someone they can give a stack of papers to and expect it to be complete by the end of the workday?

I suppose these rhetorical questions are more food for thought than the search to finding a tangible solution. Most would presumably prefer a balance: a good-looking person with qualifications that match those good looks.

And how do we even define beauty, as it is such a loaded term. Are only models pretty? Do men and women have to be thin as well to even be able to judge one's attractiveness?

We live in a scrutinizing society. Many people get employed just by pure luck, or referral from someone in their family. But as long as we humans do not take others' critiques too seriously, then however we advance does not need to be questioned, only embraced. Unfortunately we hold beauty to too high regard at times, which seems to convolute our intentions or successes. But taking the higher route is always the more beneficial choice in the end, even if that job picks the pretty blonde instead. Chances are, if they passed over you, the job wasn't that great anyway.

Tip of the Week: Appreciate the beauty in others, inside as well as out, without defining them by it.

Music...Food for the Soul

2009-07-26T19:22:00.001-07:00

Who can honestly say they dislike music? Sure some people might know more about the topic than you, or have more interest in general, but most of society has some attachment and fondness for music. I had yet to appreciate just how much I enjoyed music until a little while ago, but always knew I preferred it over silence. The breadth of music has a variety of different effects on people-different genres can even create different effects (or serve different purposes) for an individual. For example: I am probably telling you too much, but I enjoy classical when I want to think, for it seems to make my surroundings numb; rap or R & B when I am running or dancing; smooooooth jazz when I want to relax; and alternative/indie/folk music most other times. I'm sure you or your friends have tendencies that are similar, perhaps replacing my R & B for your heavy-metal. Regardless, it's the same idea.

Every Tuesday new music comes out, whether it's an album or an artist's single. It seems like record stores everywhere have consolidated to incorporate a wider range of electronic technology, opted to go online, or were simply bought out in the past few years. But music is a culture that has existed for ages, connecting vast amounts of people either via a celebration, conversation, or some other method. It can get expensive (iTunes and iPods continue to reap high profits), wasteful (if you lugged around a huge case of CDs all the time), or inconvenient (i.e. finding a tape converter for your iPod or a radio station that has a clear frequency.) But I, and I think millions (I'm going to go on a limb and say billions) agree that the costs are worth it due to the wonderful effects music gives us.

So step out of your typical genre, or research it a little more, because there is SO much out there, and the radio only plays a smidgen of all the music that exists, typically just what is considered "fresh." I make mixed CDs (because I only have an ipod shuffle for exercising) which are great if you like variety.

Go to Best Buy or Staples to buy some blank recordable CDs and create awesome playlists. Or if you have a blackberry or Iphone, Pandora (also accessible by web) is my favorite application-you can put any artist you like and it will match similar artists for you (a great way to learn about new music!) or Project Playlist if you use your computer a lot-just type in an artist and anything its database has will pop up and you can listen for free.

Hope you're inspired and some new music can put a kick into your week!

Summer Cultureee

2009-07-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since my last posting, but there hasn't been a mass hysteria in media to write about. Possibly a good thing, but then I realized that the lack of media's scandals might be because people are simply enjoying SUMMER too much. Then it came to me: isn't summer a culture of its own? Whether you live in a beach town or the Skiing Capital of the country, almost everyone appreciates what Summer has to bring. Temperatures are nearly always a little warmer (minus perhaps Australia-but I don't think too many Aussies are reading my blog), the movies coming out appear to be more interesting, we seem to have a more bronzed physique (unless you're cooped up in the office, try a Sunless Tanner so you don't feel like you're in Greenland).

So say hello to the Sun when it's out and enjoy what free time you have. Also, be sure to give me any ideas on a culture that has been on your mind, it may just be on mine too ;)

P.S. Congrats to US for getting into the Finals of the Gold Cup...a bid to the World Cup is around the corner!

Entertainment. A Culture for the Elite Few.

2009-07-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

Trying to make it in any industry right now is tough, if not impossible. But trying to be an actor has been tough for a hundred years. If you don't have a famous dad or haven't moved to Los Angeles or New York yet, your chances are even slimmer. But to those of you who are here, you aren't guaranteed anything. I write this blog with a sigh, coming from my acting class knowing I have a long road ahead of me, but more excited about the task than ever before (and you thought I was just a journalist all this time!). But there are no shortcuts or easy paths, despite the ones people seem to have found while you are twiddling your thumbs or clicking your heels together three times.

The entertainment industry is subjective, brutal, and relentless. If your skin in thin, stop reading this post. But I will tell you a positive note-you do not HAVE to be pretty or thin, unless you're trying to model too (even though I would argue they're counterproductive--minimal calories does not contribute much to character development, so let's hope you have a fast metabolism). It helps if you're going out for the gorgeous roles, but on the whole acting is more about what you bring to the table with your mouth then with your face. Every person may tell you something different about this industry, but I find acting the most satiating career of them all because I argue it is the best way to figure out yourself: When one takes on a variety of characters in depth, he or she begins to see (even if at a subconscious level) their own weaknesses or unique attributes they might not have otherwise known, had they not embodied a different persona.

Acting is an expansion, rejuvenation, and experiment with oneself-testing our bodily and psychological limits. And there are so many actors out there that bring joy and entertainment to people even if they aren't a household name or in the tabloids. It's called an art for a reason: we know VanGogh and Picasso, but many comparable painters have and do exist, it's a matter of opening your eyes to the overlooked.

I am not diminishing the difficulty of any other profession, simply emphasizing how important luck is in the acting industry.

Hope you are reading this conquering your career travails and happy with whatever outcome emerges. We might not make our own luck, but we sure can help its direction through hard work and optimism.

Death-The One NON-Culture

2009-07-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Since I started writing this blog, I have focused on small niches, or conglomerates with some aspect of a shared ideology. But I don't think death would classify as a culture, because there is no exception to the rule-we all share the fear or knowledge of it, and either accept or acknowledge that it will come one day for us all. However due to the recent boom in deaths that the media has highlighted, it felt a timely topic to address. So although death might not be a "culture" per-say, the interest and consumer consumption of these stories has sensationalized death in the past month.

We here that plane crashes occur in threes, but is the same true with deaths? Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, Steve McNair, Oscar-winner Karl Malden and Golden-Globe winner Harve Presnell, comedian Fred Travalena, and 50s TV actress Gale Storm all died in the last month, if you haven't heard. And an old family friend of mine died of a brain tumor this past week (she was twenty-five!). Are these deaths a coincidence or does a theory similar to planes exist? Obviously the "theory of threes" doesn't apply here, but why the surge in the number of deaths? One thing could be true-its not that the number of deaths has increased, but the notoriety attached to these people might have appeared as an increase in people dying. A car bombing in Afghanistan that may have killed the same amount of people would not garner the same attention by the media as these popularized individuals. Does that lead us to believe America holds more value in an entertainer's life then the average Joe's down the street (and a soldier is by no means average)? I'm not sure if that alludes to the depth of America's ethics or if we're simply a really bored society who finds others' lives more fascinating than our own.

Reality TV, Twitter, TMZ, all these things and others have not helped strengthen individualism or internal development. It is so terrible that all those entertainers died, but it is equally as terrible that my old family friend died-or your grandma who may have died. While we can appreciate the gifts that others have given us in the duration of their lives, we can only put value on our own. I don't believe more deaths occurred than normal in June/July, but rather our awareness to them because they were celebrities. Everything in moderation-People magazine is a good read, but it is not the Bible.

Conversation Culture

2009-06-30T23:40:00.001-07:00

How do you know how to act towards a new person if you aren't sure of the setting you're in? My concoction: a little bit common sense + A LOT of self-restraint. You may just feel out of place, or not up to getting into a lengthy conversation. Well the conversation culture is this: random strangers, of all walks of life, have quick summations of their lives to people they never end up seeing (aside from the odd once or twice occurrence). So how do you tolerate people you cannot stand (they are rare, but nonetheless exist)? Or how do you avoid talking about things which seem to complex to get into, yet the conversation is awkward or tense without an explanation. It's difficult, but I would say focus on the current. Talk about the cool apartment you're in, or the great food, things that don't matter. If they ask you about you, put it on them or on the great chocolate chip cookies. Otherwise, you may just be annoyed at the end of the hour d'oeuvres because you divulged a little too much to the random Joe you were talking to. If they are that interested, they will probably Google you later that night. Enjoy your conversation, and the random stranger who may be the only person willing to listen to you at the time, but always try to imagine the consequences of your actions. Thus, we enable ourselves to minimize regrets and maximize our happiness.

I am posting a video link to a talk Steven Pinker did on language, although not completely related to the conversation culture, some ideas expressed by Pinker can be used to enhance a conversation:

FIFA culture

2009-06-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know how it happened to me, but I got hit by the soccer bug.

FIFA is awesome, and if you've never watched soccer before, turn it on. The environment is intense; Europe is more into this sport than Americans are football (the NFL kind). The emotions are incredible, these guys are some of the fittest athletes you will ever see (90 minutes of running the pitch as fast and strategically as these sexy men can).

We all know who David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo are, but so many of these fútbol players are entertaining to watch. Concacaf, the Premiership, the MLS, and all the other regional teams are fun to follow too. There's just something about watching countries duel it out on a soccer field. US beat Spain today in the Confederations Cup (a lower version of the World Cup but still prestigious), and it was a terrific match.

It may seem complicated because of all the layers and rules if you've never played the sport, but it's relatively easy to pick up and such a fun thing to watch. Check out Galaxy play Houston this Sunday if you want to see LA play (or stare at Holden on the Dynamo, your choice). But you can watch FIFA on ESPN (Brazil and South Africa play tomorrow, winner plays US!).

Poet Culture

2009-06-22T18:58:00.001-07:00

You wouldn't think poetry is still popular today.

I'm almost finished with my own collection of poetry, and when I reread Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" and Whitman's "Leaves of Grass," I was sad at the thought that we lack the talent such classical poets produced (my work is by no means on that level). But Pulitzer Prizes are still handed out to great poets of the twenty-first century, meaning they're still around.

I am glad to see that established poetry is still alive, even though it is not what it once was, understandably. It's often stigmatized as dorky or "backwards," so don't show it to anybody if you don't want. But it's a great outlet if you like to write.

I leave you with a clip from (2008's Pulitzer Prize winner) W.S. Merwin's collection "The Shadow of Sirius."

You that sang to me once sing to me now

let me hear your long lifted note

survive with me

the star is fading

I can think further than that but I forget

do you hear me

The Cultural Composition of a Traveller...

2009-06-18T18:00:00.001-07:00

What culture does the world traveler attach to? Is it a patchwork of all places they've visited? Or is there a lack of an attaching culture completely?

So you're a jetsetter, here today gone tomorrow. What a lovely life you have-but I want to dissect this traveler's life and ask if they are truly seeing a variety of cultures, traditions, and customs or, frankly, just skipping out on one's own? I ask this in light of summer, and the dozen places my mind wishes to go but probably will only in spirit.

Is traveling escapism or exploration? True knowledge of a "thing" is never wholly possible, as such I am not completely versed even in the culture of LA. However I know it more than any other because I live here, obviously. But those on the go, visiting the tourist attractions and eating the customary foods are not well-versed in a new country or culture: only the tip of the iceberg is beginning to melt. I bring this up not to rag on traveling, which is an amazing gift if you can afford it (time and money-wise) but to encourage those of you to chip away at that iceberg and question your new surroundings. What other foods not listed in Zagat are typical of this place you're in? Wander down the uncommon path, and maybe you'll discover a lot more about a place, and yourself in turn, than you originally thought.

And because I'm for stimulating this economy as much as I am capable, I will suggest places to go...

-Domestically: Cape Cod is unreal. Atlanta is apparently very hot right now, but this city sure has it's distinct flavor! Lastly go to Maine, why? I don't really know, but nobody talks about it so I feel bad for the place.
-Internationally: Bora Bora, English country-towns like Oxford/Nottingham/Brighton are wonderful, and Seoul (although it's super humid right now).

So I may have listed some options if you feel like getting away, but the research is on your own...take the time to figure another society/culture out. Or better understand your own! :)

LAKER Nation took over my neck of the woods this past week, so not much to report around here. Wonder if Pittsburgh felt it quite like LA did?

BOOKS

2009-06-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Reading Culture? I know it may seem foreign, but book clubs and reading do still exist.

I try to read a book a week, and I think it's a realistic goal to set despite how busy you may be. Just read a chapter or two a day. It may seem harder if the book is boring, so I have three great, yet completely different, recommendations.

First for a famous nationally acclaimed best-seller: The Alchemist by Paul Coelho. If you haven't read it yet, go buy it used online. If you haven't read it in the last ten years, pick it up again. It is such an incredible read, and anyone can relate it to their life. It's also very easy to comprehend and someone can read it within a week, if not a few days. It is the story of a boy who lives his life as a shepherd, but hits many bumps along his life-path that test his courage, and give him deep insight into people and the world around him. Coelho tries to show the spiritual connection between all peoples: anyone can find something enjoyable in this book.

And for the unconventional: "Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man" by Charles Barkley. If you weren't a fan of Barkley before, (I wasn't a huge sports fan when he played for the NBA) you will be now. His book seems to just be about race, but it really is a collection of mini-biographies of influential people in the world, like Barack Obama (predicting his election 3 years before it happened) or Bill Clinton. It reminds us that racism remains a poignant memory for African Americans and we must not take today for granted because the past is still felt by many. I also liked the way he divided his book into his words and then his interviewee's. Pick it up, it was a 2005 so it will most definitely be available in paperback.

Lastly, the Power of Now and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. The two books do not need to be read in any particular order, but if you feel like a self-cleanse without the physical repercussions, these books are for you. Some of his words are so true I want to keep a mini pocket-book of his sayings around with me. If you don't feel like reading two books, I like the Power of Now best but both are great. He shows you how strong the individual is in the midst of a chaotic world.

So if you're looking for summer reads, enjoy these! They're not new, but they sure are great. Also, I am looking for a few new books to read so please recommend any.

What kind of Spaghetti Sauce makes you happy?

2009-05-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Writer of "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" (2 eye-opening books, go read them) author Malcolm Gladwell on Spaghetti Sauce, and so much more:

Now it's Twitter

2009-05-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting! I'll be better I promise.

Twitter Culture? Maybe not yet, but it's number of joiners is growing rapidly. When it comes to the internet, the innovation is limitless. What do you get when boredom and insecurity cross? Twitter. Yes I made one, to test it out, and as I update my status (and the followers are growing, ha)I ponder how stupid this website is. I read (in the San Luis Obispo Times of all places) that the website has yet to make a profit, a result of uncoordinated management or something to that effect. It didn't say it's lacking in profit, but I think the expectations were set pretty high, after a mass of celebrities got on the bandwagon. I am told some are even paid for their contributions to society by letting their fans know where they are, including pictures to support their "status." CNN, the AP, and other news websites don't want to fall behind either-they "tweet" the latest news. Tweet, reply with @names, and all this other coded language is still clouded in confusion for me but I'm sure I'll pick it up soon, as will hundreds of thousands of others. From my last blog about Facebook till now Twitter has superceded it in novelty and may even have more members in the near future.

The point of Twitter? Who knows. But it is another internet networking/connectivity/creepy way to find out what people are doing-and to inflate celebrities' statuses (no pun intended) on the international sphere. Why America has so much time on its hands so that these things are created is a wonderful question yet to be answered. 1950s house phones are looking pretty good about now.

On the oversaturation-of-connectivity note, I am OVER blackberry. BBMs are annoying, when there is an obligation to respond if a message isn't read-I have been on both sides, and there is no good outcome whether you are the recepient and ignore the message or message someone you hope to respond to. For whatever reason "texting" is an equivalent theory-but subconscious excuses can always be used if the text conversation is one-sided. Or better, texting is less invasive and does not necessarily establish a "conversation" with another-it may simply be a reminder or note, etc. Thus I end my post with an annoyance of my Blackberry, which has been malfunctioning and so I cannot read "pins" only see that they have been sent. I may trade this baby in for a normal phone, or I may not, I'm probably too dependent on it at this point. Are we all too connected to technology in modern society? It seems a Catch-22: we love it, while hating it. We want to know what's going on, while we want an exile from it all.

Enjoy your day everyone. Catch me on twitter at www.twitter.com/whitney_blaine.

News less credible?

2009-05-12T13:05:00.001-07:00

Are journalists to blame?

Yes and No.

In a recent article one journalist reports on the failure of her fellow journalist: factchecking. Like times tables to grade school children, credibility is engrained at the earliest point of a journalist's career. Why then are multiple sources going to Wikipedia for their immediate source of news, rather than the AP or traditional self-investigation. Get on the phones, go to the wires, don't rush to an easily-edited information website as the primary source for your story. I'll stop bitching to journalists as most of you probably aren't, but it brings up an idea worth considering: the news industry is hurting, so why dig ourselves a deeper whole?

As newspapers close and decide to only go online, the ones that exist should be exceptional, to keep the business alive and maintain or improve readership. It's unfortunate that breaking news is at the expense of accuracy, when even Paul Revere seemed to execute the two simultaneously and efficiently.

A friend of mine who works in the hotel business says many guests request no newspaper delivery, their reason being "they have blackberries." Oh, how times have changed. Well, we must adapt and try not to be pessimistic about the future of the news business despite how gloomy it's outlook appears.

Spring Culture

2009-05-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

Tis the season-the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining (at least in L.A.), and more seem to be smiling. Although it could be my naive optimism, but doesn't spring seem to make people happier? The weather always appears to play some role on our emotions and moods, and friends and strangers alike feel the warmth of May and June, as many are anxious for summer's arrival. Whether its taking an extra day off, going on a mini-vacation for the weekend, or simply doing more of what we love to do, there is definitely a glow to some people, and businesses are starting to show it. TV ratings are up, either as a result of the sweet Spring or because of the many season finales. I know I've watched more basketball in the past month than I did earlier in the season-but that may just be because the Celtics are in the playoffs and they're simply amazing. But on the whole, is there a happier mood in the air? What do you think?

Top 5 Things to do when the weather is great:

5. Sit outside a cafe with a friend having some lunch and iced tea or coffee, not discussing work.
4. Doing something adventurous like hiking or swimming or kayaking. Or sports like tennis and basketball are great.
3. Having a picnic or bbq at the beach, or if there isn't one close, a park.
2. Getting away from anything media related: let your blackberry off it's chain for a day, or don't log onto some gossip site.
1. go for a run. or jog, but don't plan a destination.

SHVERA Hysteria!

2009-04-24T01:29:00.000-07:00

Breaking News: Broadcasters Reporting on their Own Survival!

SHVERA, the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act, is on all TV providers' minds these days. The act is currently in the midst of reauthorization by the Senate and House, despite the outcries of many. Satellite representatives like Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen are in contest with cable spokesperson such as FOX and ABC's Affiliate Board Chairmen John Tupper and Darrell Brown, respectively. The two sides disagree on the appropriate amount of control satellite carriers should have over duplicative programming. From a broadcaster's perspective, duplicative programming would further empty the pockets of local TV stations.

The issue of split-markets is only becoming more heated, as online and new mediums push the envelope, and local television becomes passé. Broadcasters hope that if SHVERA is reauthorized it is done with a large amount of revision, rationing an appropriate amount of control over territorial divisions (i.e. Colorado viewers can receive free programming from New Mexico, due to a lack of "territorial exclusivity"). Thus, broadcasters want these satellite companies to shell out more dough for syndication rather than free-ride on the copyrighted programs that local television stations have paid for.

However, as mentioned time and again in this blog, television stations aren't the only ones suffering. Newspapers too are mourning their decreased viewers. Considering charging for internet news, a few recent articles by the New York Times' media and opinion sections suggest that Internet news providers, such as Google's newsfeed, charge a monthly access fee. Unfortunately, I believe that some websites (subsidized via advertising) will hijack news from these paid sites and we will essentially be where we are at now, receiving the majority of our news for free, with many corporations backing newspapers and news stations fronting the bill to report to a fraction of the audience they might have had five years ago.

It seems dismal, but broadcasting and reporting are not the lucrative careers they once were. So we adjust, and find suitable outlets that satiate our curiosity for what is happening in the world around us while realizing that the potential benefits from other industries are unquestionably greater.

Edible Culture: America's Fascination with Peanut Butter

2009-04-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

French Fries: thank you Paris. Pizza: graci Italy. Sushi: Japan would come back to Pearl Harbor if we try to take credit for that one.

So what item encompasses the true "flavor" of America? What food best represents our wonderfully diverse and "sweet" nation? I argue, and think many, many bakers, cooks, and foodies would agree that Peanut Butter is the winner. Some may argue turkey and gravy because it is apart of our traditional history, even devoting a holiday to eating as much of it as your stomach allows. Others may say bread is America's cultural food icon, but bread has been around since the day of Mesopotamia or Egypt, taking other forms such as Moses's Matzah or the Greek's pita.

What about Peanut Butter makes it so irresistible, and so "American?" I would argue the distinct flavor. Although it may be used by the Thai in many dishes, or in African stews, but many sources say (although it is still debated) George Washington Carver created the wonderful spread in this country. Not only can it be labeled American because of its birth location, but everyone SECOND someone buys a jar of peanut butter.

The taste is so unique, so delicious that it is distinct even if hidden in a variety of ingredients. It is obvious that America is a food-obsessed country (an entire television network is based around it). But America's staple of "pb & j" is such a nationalistic meal, it's likely to be found anywhere in America.

Food is a worldwide culture, connecting so many people. Thus, peanut butter could be said to be apart of our American culture. As vegemite is at the heart of all Aussies, peanut butter encompasses so much about America, my childhood memories all revolve around pb sandwiches on my way to school. From the processed Skippy and Jiff brands to organic Laura Scudder's or store bought peanut butter, the nut spread comes in all forms (chunky, creamy, swirled with sweets or salty ingredients), and is delicious alone or with jelly, nutella (a hazelnut chocolate found in Italy). The Peanut Butter Boy is a blog filled with so many recipes and ways to incorporate peanut butter it will blow your mind.

Sources say one person consumes nearly three pounds of peanut butter a year! There is even a national holiday to celebrate the marvelous peanut butter: January 23rd.
So if you're not in love with peanut butter yet, you soon will be! Unless you're allergic, which would be a shame.

Cheers to America and our love for Peanut Butter!

Only Two Things in Life Are Certain...

2009-04-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

It's April. And I'm sorry to bring up a sore subject when most of my blog has been uber-positive, but let's talk the T word: taxes. Taxes have become our culture for this month while everyone scrambles to pay off their bills. It's just about time where every citizen has them paid off, according to the New York Times 86% of the country has thus far. But how much does this allocation of money affect the rest of our lives?

Have you noticed more bad moods lately, or less spending within the last few weeks? Seems that the steady decline of the economy has put the entire country in an unremitting state of gloom so the last month seems only to add to our fiscal pessimism, which often affects other areas of our lives. But this same NYT article questions the avoidance of government to pay taxes, and confronts the question that many Americans are wondering: do they pay the same as us? And doubtably not everyone pays what they should, but an overwhelming 89% have stated (and again, public admittance may be fudging the numbers) that it is unacceptable to cheat on our taxes.

So whether some pay or don't, government pays as much or not, the fact is: come every April, you must pay up. Hopefully your accountants or financial gurus are doing your money well, because in this economy, every dollar counts. The fear that the government is going to support such large corporations with our tax money only adds to our skepticism. Even Obama (the apparent new Britney Spears in terms of media coverage-thanks to the Associated Press for their enlightening breakout story on what his favorite shows are) hasn't been quite clear on the future of our economy, despite his continuous report of "progress" which, hasn't materialized on taxpayers' bills.

So where is the progression exactly? Americans still have to urgently cut coupons, check statements, and look into new payment options for their large finances, while Obama says "thanks guys" in his dismissal of the media when prying for more information on this vague notion of "progress."

The dow may have had a two-month high, some banks may be repaying their owed moneys, and the Easter holiday may be increasing our spirits, the solution to the economy is yet to be answered.

So while taxes and death may be certain, Obama's "change" for the economy isn't.

Calling All Unemployed Journalists!

2009-04-03T00:37:00.001-07:00

Pop culture maintains its "pop" while those promoting it fizz out. Entertainment and news in general have yet to lose their appeal in recent years-debatably a result of subconscious escapism. This economy has not made people less interested in the world around them even if we can afford a lot less. Boredom, high unemployment, and a dissatisfaction with meager jobs and lowly pay bring celebrities into the forefront of citizen's lives, often equating stars' daily events as significant as their own.

However, those who have jobs in the media and entertainment industry are not reaping the effects of media's gains. Salaries are decreasing even though shows like American Idol and House consistently have high ratings and popularity.

Here's a spoon full of irony: just this Thursday an article in the Hollywood Reporter states that advertisements are increasing. Although the majority of revenue streaming in comes from online ads broadcast on television, the terms "increase," "money," and "advertisement" are crucial to this industry staying afloat.

But what is to be done about this paradox? TV networks, newspaper chains, and conglomerates undoubtedly see the decline of its workers, but there is not necessarily a correlation for less output of its product. Also on Thursday nbclosangeles.com announced the retirement of veteran anchor Paul Moyer from the KNBC nightly news, however not his retirement from broadcasting altogether.

Although there are many heads of companies losing their jobs and businesses going bankrupt or into consolidation with other firms, this doesn't answer the question of where the unemployed are supposed to go or what they are supposed to do. An article published this morning by the New York Times shows that the unemployment rate has hit 8.5%: every sector has projected job losses except health care, and the Obama Administration says the worst is yet to come, expecting a 8.9% rate by the end of the year. As we continue to hear the dismal future of our national and perhaps world economy, very little has been offered to immediately revise the trends of the job market even if the IMF is helping bring breath back into the stifling economy in general.

We know jobs are not in surplus. But the specific reasons for each sector's loss of jobs ostensibly varies. For journalists, the media decimates its information in many replicated forms (most often via technological routes), which increases convenience for consumers, but decreases jobs for those already waiting in this too-long line. Tradition and technology in journalism are in utter opposition and those that can’t keep up with the Jones are sadly, left behind. Thus, the traditional reporters and broadcasters that cannot learn the ways of the digital age have no use being in a multi-platform newsroom.

So what lies in store for future broadcasters or reporters? And if the unemployment sector of journalism is currently so unstable, where have all the reporters gone? The many potential hosts and television correspondents have a grim future ahead, because their medium is dying a slow and painful death to the Internet.

Jobs in any sector are a scarcity (go to my previous post on the Unemployment Olympics if you don't believe me). But some industries maintain their robustness despite a few setbacks in fiscal hardships. Lawyers, accountants, doctors, and teachers are all essential to the functioning of society. But, if these workers get all their information and news online, then on camera and/or small-newspaper journalists may have to ditch the microphone for a pair of scrubs, even if its not their ideal job.

Thus far, hosts for television and longtime writers for established and well-known papers may not be taking a second mortgage out, but they too will see a decline, perhaps over a longer period of time. Either way the expected result, broadcasting's demise, seems evident. Those unemployed will begin to see the sun set on newscasts and curtain fall on smaller papers, despite our attempts to revive journalism from its grave.

Unemployment Culture

2009-03-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

from the New York Times on Unemployment...

Video

Or check out this video on the Unemployment Olympics:

Some snapshots from the Olympics here:

Gallery of the Unemployed Olympics

How long will this last? How many sectors are affected? What do you think about the high unemployment and low job opportunity?

SPORTS mania!

2009-03-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

Time for Sports Culture...

I wish I could tell you I followed enough college basketball to be knowledgeable about more than the few teams I watch every so often (Michigan, USC, UCLA, Duke). But when March rolls around, I and the rest of the country seem to be knowledgeable enough to create their NCAA brackets, spend money betting, and root for the teams they think will win the basketball championships. It reminds me of the NBA Championships when I bet on the Celtics at the start of playoffs (but have since become my favorite team).

But I wonder what the psychology is behind sports: is it the camaraderie or the competition? Fellow blogger Schwartz recently posted a quote by Chief Justice Warren, who said the sports section in the newspaper "records people's accomplishments; the front page nothing but man's failures." People may feel this strong connection to sports because of the winner/loser mentality: if "one's team" wins, he or she may feel a sense of internal pride, almost as if they played the game themselves.

Or maybe there is just a general fascination of big sporting event such as a championship, like the Super Bowl or World Cup? Even women (who are typically-note the generalization-not the avid sports watcher) seem to attach to these events like they are regular fans? I include myself in this, although I do not keep up with all sports regularly, aside from tennis and some football. Yet I made a bracket: Duke, Purdue, USC, and North Carolina are in my final four. Whatever the reason for this participation, these large events bring together so many people-uniting them despite their backgrounds, geographic location, or ideology. And for these reasons and simply to stifle boredom, I will watch, as will millions of other Americans-some uninformed about college basketball, some avid stat collectors.

Sports has become this culture of its own because people use it as a topic for conversation, as something they personally (emotionally and fiscally) invest in. Some even harness such an intense passion in sports that seems to make light of other interests, such as news or pop culture (i.e. American Idol fans, 24 watchers, TMZ readers). One thing that is certain: the bigger sports events tend to get the most attention. Translation? Money. Advertisements are profitable even in these "times," and as a result, the media banks on the large amount of viewers, or shall we say participators (my dad screaming at the Lakers for losing like its his son messing up gives weight to this term).

So let's keep stimulating the economy, and watch ESPN!

Hope Fed pulls out the Indian Wells win, and it's good to have Garnett back.

Media's Endless Boundaries

2009-03-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

Faltering economy? The media is always ready to capitalize on calamities and disasters.

Today, the media is taking advantage of the economic turmoil to reinvent itself. Channeling the brainiacs of Google, Yahoo, and other Silicon Valley experts in creating new technologies for the masses, the media reaps the benefits of innovation.

Goodbye corporate jets, there is no longer a need to waste the gas, pilot, or time. New online applications such as Skype, Blogger, among others, allow people to communicate easier, no matter their distance. Skype's 400 million users can attest to its bankability. Moreover, these innovative ways of reinventing communication can enable the media and thus, news conglomerates, to attach audiences more strongly to the news. Turning the traditional idea of news on its head, we enter a new era of news.

How can this technological reinvention be application to the news? To start, the money for broadcasts is wearing thin, which leads us to rely on novelty to bank the media's checks. As a result, we can see broadcasts put online immediately after their initial newscast. And news sources are beginning to show debates live via the computer, with the two speakers not needing to have even met! Then, using Skype or related applications, viewers can ask questions to speakers in a timely manner, where one feels almost as if they are present-without having to leave their home. This outlet of communication is one way to increase the participation in news-which means dollar signs to those fronting these new mediums.

The mere success of online journalism is one supporting example of the technological reinvention, but obnoxious amounts of time, energy, and money are put into other outlets as well. It seems that computer scientists test technology's limits, and our media jumps on any advantage. Videos are now as small as the size of a pen, and reporters can often whip out their Flip videos to capture an event as it happens, rather than waiting for the news crew to arrive. Or cell phones have video and picture cameras which news stations use to further increase the viewers' participation in news, encouraging residents to "send in their pics!" New outlets emerge constantly, from Google's G1 phone to the next device that will arise within the week, all hoping to be bought up by a mass of consumers.

Time magazine even wrote a story on the "10 Most Endangered Newspapers in America," reconfirming the inverse broadcast-online relationship I previously discussed in my "R.I.P. Traditional Broadcasting" post. KNBC news anchor Jennifer Bjorklund remarks on the Time article and furthers my position by stating that the "changing technology is just making it so easy to keep up with the news as it's happening."

Youtube, TIVO, Hulu, and other emerging websites and technologies are paving the way for viewers to witness events that occurred in the past (although presumably recent past). Thus, the economy is not affecting the media to the same extent as other industries. People will always use entertainment as an outlet and a means of escape, as their pockets are no longer filled with cash. Presumably we will encounter many more novelty applications which will confuse yet excite many. Hopefully the technological age doesn't create a total intolerance for news: income over tradition? We'll find out.

Submersed in the technology culture, we wait to see what geniuses, and the conglomerates who pay them, come up with next.

Food Societies-Member or Outcast?

2009-03-07T23:32:00.001-08:00

Time for FOOD culture!

I travelled to the far away isle of Silverlake, a small city in Los Angeles with a unique vibe, history, and artistry. If you have no reason being there, I recommend going there solely for the purpose of seeing an interesting town that my friend, a Silverlake resident, has labeled "the city that was dropped on its head." It's as if city planners wanted a wide mix of everything, or other city ordinances randomly ended, created a periphery around the Silverlake, leaving the big plot of land in its original state.

But while driving to my friend's in Silverlake, my eyes fell upon a restaurant that was small but looked too cute-I had to stop in. Cru, a vegan restaurant that says "Organic Vegetarian Cafe" in lights on the outside. I have eaten at various vegan or vegetarian restaurants before, but Cru was a new experience for me. It was fine dining combined with raw foods and an eclectic atmosphere. My carnivore friend was even impressed with his Pumpkinseed Walnut Chorizo Wrap, and I loved my Sweet Potato curry, despite it being discernibly spicy. We also tried two soups (both fantastic) as well as a dairy free vanilla ice cream that we were told was made with cashew milk and the meat of a coconut.

As wonderful as my meal was, I felt that the people in the back were working a little too hard. It seemed that the components of my meal were strenuously combined to create this delicious dinner. Then something hit me: there are people that eat like this every night. Although assumedly vegans or people who eat raw foods don't eat out all the time, their meals must be complicated and time-consuming in order to be inventive while maintaining their necessary nutrients.

My analytic brain questioned my own questions: can food cause social warfare?

Nobody knows what diet is perfectly healthy, and if they did people would only eat those foods all the time. But I am noticing the divisions of peoples based upon their food selections. Meat-eaters, herbivores, raw foods, frutarians, pescatarians (only fish), no meat no dairy, no meat yes dairy, the categories go on and on. Do people attach to these labels, and establish lifestyles from them? It is an interesting question, and possibly one that will be answered only as we evolve as a species. But, for instance, as the veganism surges in popularity thanks to such books as "The Omnivore's Dilemma" or "Skinny Bitch," people are decidedly making changes in their diet which also contributes to other aspects of our lives: who to associate with (are they the same kind of "foodie" as you), where to hang out (i.e. a stereotypic wealthy carnivore might love his steak from Mastro's or Morton's in Beverly Hills), what events to participate in (can't take part in a wing eating contest if you don't eat meat), etc.

Depending on how strong one associates with their food society, people might self-impose restrictions on their daily activities. As a result, one may be less accepting of their society, hindering their social well-being and capacity to grow as a human being. This may sound a little extreme, but it all goes back to my emphasis on moderation (get a copy of Confucius' "Doctrine of the Mean," please). Be who you are without imposing upon another. (i.e. getting a salad at a steakhouse or veggie lasagna with soy beef at a veggie place). Maintain happiness through harmony.

The following are links to various places with unique dietary menus, or themes. If I happened to awake a sudden urge in you to go vegan, here's a notable blog with recipes.

-Vegan Glory

-Wolfgang's Steakhouse