In the NY Time podcast under Ethicist dated May 29, Randy Cohen answer reader's questions on ethical issues. The issue was about a lady who helped a low income individual prepare his tax return. Her concern what about the fact that this individual she helped, used ten percent of his tax return to donate to his church, while most of his income came from unemployment benefits. In her opinion this individual did not need the money he received since he gave it away . Randy Cohen answer was that this man should not be condemned because he use his tax return to give it away and also certainly not because half of his income came from unemployment benefit. But rather should be admire for his action. First he has the right to collect unemployment benefits and second he should not be seen as a burden to other. Just like Randy said "lack of economy is not lack of ethics". He also define unemployment people as underfed, harass, miserable, endless misery". How do we overcome unemployment? Is it by changing our habits to the point that we stop doing good deeds to some who are in need just like we are? Or is it by sharing with other and hoping that some day things will get better?
Does charity can only be made by rich people? Even poor people feel the need to help other, to know that other will smile despite this difficult economy.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Living with machines
In an article from the BBCnews.com, named "Can robots ever be like humans?", the author talks about the improvement in the making of robots more human like. Even though robots do not move or think like human does, they have been some improvements. They can now pick up objects, walk, "replicate a smooth sequence of movements".
But why do human needs more robots or even robots that act like human. They say that robots can be used "in the fields such as neuroscience". So why do they need them to be more human like?
Today's world is pushing us to think beyond the unthinkable, but sometime do we need what around us to make our lives easier to live?
A robot who can act, feel, walk like a human, what will be the use of this robot? Are we going to see in 50 years "interhumanrobot" couple with children half robot and half human?
When it comes to science, the imagination of scientists is sometime exaggerated. Scientists want to be the creator that they are not and will never be, instead of being one of the way to understand nature, human being, they want to create machines and then, understand them to better control them.
At this point humans do not need more being that they already have. What we need is to stop destroying what we have and stop inventing what we do not need.
But why do human needs more robots or even robots that act like human. They say that robots can be used "in the fields such as neuroscience". So why do they need them to be more human like?
Today's world is pushing us to think beyond the unthinkable, but sometime do we need what around us to make our lives easier to live?
A robot who can act, feel, walk like a human, what will be the use of this robot? Are we going to see in 50 years "interhumanrobot" couple with children half robot and half human?
When it comes to science, the imagination of scientists is sometime exaggerated. Scientists want to be the creator that they are not and will never be, instead of being one of the way to understand nature, human being, they want to create machines and then, understand them to better control them.
At this point humans do not need more being that they already have. What we need is to stop destroying what we have and stop inventing what we do not need.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Cost of health care
Health care is an issue that gets everybody eyes brows to raise. In an article on the Boston.com, Kay Lazar talks about health care costs in Massachusetts, which has been rising even more than inflation.
Those who are mainly touched by this situation are the low incomes families, who find issues finding physicians but also difficulties affording the cost. Even though Massachusetts has set new rules forcing residents to have health care otherwise they will face tax penalty, some people are not insured.
Massachusetts nevertheless compare to other state is in a better standing when it comes to health care. They are more people who are insured and the service offer is relatively better.
The issue now is to get the medical debt to lower.
When we all know that beside paying the rent or the mortgage, most of the income of a middle class person goes to health care. With this economy where more people are losing their jobs and at the same time their coverage, I am wondering how the state will manage not only to ensure that everyone is insured but at the same time lower the medical debts. If the intention is really to help, there is always a solution that can be found. But if it is to make benefits, some people will be left out and the effort to establish a solid health care system will not have the result expected.
Those who are mainly touched by this situation are the low incomes families, who find issues finding physicians but also difficulties affording the cost. Even though Massachusetts has set new rules forcing residents to have health care otherwise they will face tax penalty, some people are not insured.
Massachusetts nevertheless compare to other state is in a better standing when it comes to health care. They are more people who are insured and the service offer is relatively better.
The issue now is to get the medical debt to lower.
When we all know that beside paying the rent or the mortgage, most of the income of a middle class person goes to health care. With this economy where more people are losing their jobs and at the same time their coverage, I am wondering how the state will manage not only to ensure that everyone is insured but at the same time lower the medical debts. If the intention is really to help, there is always a solution that can be found. But if it is to make benefits, some people will be left out and the effort to establish a solid health care system will not have the result expected.
Luxury hit by the crisis!!!!!
We all know those luxurious brand name that makes us dream that we have to have it or we do not belong. But do we really need them to fell that we belong?
In an article in the New York times by Suzy Menkes, she talks about Christian Lacroix, famous french designer, who is filing for bankruptcy protection.
The economy is now forcing people on top of of the pyramid to think about their expenses and forgo of what they really do not need at the first place.
Those luxurious name see their revenue shrink and have to find new strategies to overcome the economy downturn.
They are all hit, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Armani, you name it.
The question that we have to ask ourselves do we really need to buy those items at the first place?
In today's world there are so many places where we can go, such as the internet, to purchase luxurious brand name at a cheaper price that we do not even need to go to the store.
The way a brand develops its reputation is through the vision they first established at the first time the brand started to existed. With all this bankruptcy filling, we finally see that they have been putting their energy and their resources at the wrong place. It may not be about "jacking up" the price, but looking for the necessity of a product. Apparently Luxury is not a necessity!!!!!
May be their vision was to make the client unique, and now being unique is not the primary concern of some people but instead survive in this crisis.
In an article in the New York times by Suzy Menkes, she talks about Christian Lacroix, famous french designer, who is filing for bankruptcy protection.
The economy is now forcing people on top of of the pyramid to think about their expenses and forgo of what they really do not need at the first place.
Those luxurious name see their revenue shrink and have to find new strategies to overcome the economy downturn.
They are all hit, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Armani, you name it.
The question that we have to ask ourselves do we really need to buy those items at the first place?
In today's world there are so many places where we can go, such as the internet, to purchase luxurious brand name at a cheaper price that we do not even need to go to the store.
The way a brand develops its reputation is through the vision they first established at the first time the brand started to existed. With all this bankruptcy filling, we finally see that they have been putting their energy and their resources at the wrong place. It may not be about "jacking up" the price, but looking for the necessity of a product. Apparently Luxury is not a necessity!!!!!
May be their vision was to make the client unique, and now being unique is not the primary concern of some people but instead survive in this crisis.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Meritocracy!?!?
In the NY Times.com Podcasts published on May 22, Walter Kirn talks about his new book "Lost in Meritocracy".
Do yo know what is Meritocracy!??!?!
Before we talk about meritocracy let's talk about what Walter Kirn says about his life, his journey to become more educated. From someone who was a student in a small public high school to a renowned ivy league university, he developed his reading habit by himself. As he said his first books were not a reference but as time went by he started to read books that made him more educated.
Walter Kirn says Meritocracy is this " Meritocracy writes on defining intelligence in a measurable way ...that can be scored". In his opinion the human mind can not be define this way (can not be measure as percentile, score...).
This podcast got my interest, because this author is talking about education, what is an education and how to get educated. Is it by going to ivy league school or is it by looking to our own passion, our own culture, intelligence, interest and dig into it to achieve the level of education that we are looking for. Like Walter Kirn says about getting an education, is to go "to the primary source upon which our culture is based".
But is is only our culture which is going to get us an education. Our culture was made of so many other culture, isn't it better to learn about everything that interest us either from our culture or not? And with this globalization, mondialization isn't it better to look even further than were we are from, which is our culture.
About meritocracy, does it measure my level of intelligence based on what "society" think is relevant or what is relevant to me? the GMAT, the SAT.....are they really relevent to test what I can and what I cannot achieve. Isn't ist about perseverence, beliefs, passion, determiniation?????
Do yo know what is Meritocracy!??!?!
Before we talk about meritocracy let's talk about what Walter Kirn says about his life, his journey to become more educated. From someone who was a student in a small public high school to a renowned ivy league university, he developed his reading habit by himself. As he said his first books were not a reference but as time went by he started to read books that made him more educated.
Walter Kirn says Meritocracy is this " Meritocracy writes on defining intelligence in a measurable way ...that can be scored". In his opinion the human mind can not be define this way (can not be measure as percentile, score...).
This podcast got my interest, because this author is talking about education, what is an education and how to get educated. Is it by going to ivy league school or is it by looking to our own passion, our own culture, intelligence, interest and dig into it to achieve the level of education that we are looking for. Like Walter Kirn says about getting an education, is to go "to the primary source upon which our culture is based".
But is is only our culture which is going to get us an education. Our culture was made of so many other culture, isn't it better to learn about everything that interest us either from our culture or not? And with this globalization, mondialization isn't it better to look even further than were we are from, which is our culture.
About meritocracy, does it measure my level of intelligence based on what "society" think is relevant or what is relevant to me? the GMAT, the SAT.....are they really relevent to test what I can and what I cannot achieve. Isn't ist about perseverence, beliefs, passion, determiniation?????
The harship of the current econonomy vs entertaining oneself
This article written by Sarah Rodman, entitled "Music lovers pack halls, drown the money blues" is about resident of Massachusetts, who despite the economical hardship find ways to entertain themselves.
People are reducing their expenses by suppressing some of their habits, but when it comes to memorable time such as going to a concert, they find ways to participate in it. Like the author of this article says "You might not remember a dinner you had two years ago at a restaurant, but you'll remember a good show 20 years from now,"and that is the greatnest of going to a concert. It is about gathering with people who share the same passion as you do, it is about enjoying your favorite singers by watching them performed, it is about an unforgettable experience.
With today's economy, we might not be able to do all the things we use to do either to entertain ourselves or just to pleased ourselves (buying thing we do not need and put it in the closet), but it is important not to give up our life. We need to live and see the glass half full. Ask ourselves what is the good side of this economy? Spending time with loves one, going to a concert at a cheaper price. And that is what some people in this article are doing. Lauren Gonzalez despite losing her job just after buying a ticket concert did not sell it.First the deal that she got, she could not have getting it any other time but also that a time she will spend with her daughter and at the same time with herself, listening the music she loves.
This economy is teaching us how to live without excess, let see the good side of it and enjoy every single day of this journey. You know why it is not about to change any time soon!!!!!!
People are reducing their expenses by suppressing some of their habits, but when it comes to memorable time such as going to a concert, they find ways to participate in it. Like the author of this article says "You might not remember a dinner you had two years ago at a restaurant, but you'll remember a good show 20 years from now,"and that is the greatnest of going to a concert. It is about gathering with people who share the same passion as you do, it is about enjoying your favorite singers by watching them performed, it is about an unforgettable experience.
With today's economy, we might not be able to do all the things we use to do either to entertain ourselves or just to pleased ourselves (buying thing we do not need and put it in the closet), but it is important not to give up our life. We need to live and see the glass half full. Ask ourselves what is the good side of this economy? Spending time with loves one, going to a concert at a cheaper price. And that is what some people in this article are doing. Lauren Gonzalez despite losing her job just after buying a ticket concert did not sell it.First the deal that she got, she could not have getting it any other time but also that a time she will spend with her daughter and at the same time with herself, listening the music she loves.
This economy is teaching us how to live without excess, let see the good side of it and enjoy every single day of this journey. You know why it is not about to change any time soon!!!!!!
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