Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Inventions
I wonder if when futurologists projected the invention of computers, they saw it in a dream first. In my dream last night, someone handed me a stack of polaroids that were electronic and changed photos, basically like a digital picture frame but the size of a polaroid. I thought about the reality of it, and it is definitely possible! But it would only be popular among the nostalgia generation of polaroids.
Changing Education
The way in which we are taught today is complete BULLSHIT. Please excuse my audacity, but I have been a victim of the western education system. This may seem rash, but I blame any possible psychological problems that I have solely on our educational system. Simply, it offers no inspiration or true test of character.
I have spent 6 months in classes. Classes end and I have 6 months left to take exams that are 100% of my grade and write a dissertation. 6 months to learn and 6 months to produce. Furthermore, due to the absurd rules of the educational system I am currently a part of, I cannot see my exams or recieve feedback on my dissertation, i.e. Learning from mistakes is not a concept in the UK. I pay to learn for 6 months, and then I pay to be in depression for 6 months. I want to learn! I don't care about a grade or how these specific people in the universe think I did, I want to learn new ways of thinking and challenge them, not regurgitate.
In a conversation with a fellow student, I mentioned that if I were a professor, I would give A's to the students that rebelled against the system and used humor in their answers. If anything, at least they had a personality. But even more importantly, they show free thinking. I believe that the only goal of universities should be to produce free thinkers, otherwise, what's the point of education?
Uh oh, after writing this post, I'm anxious to drop out (why do we even call it that) and just start my career. I already know that I would pass even if I took the exams tommorow, but I'm anxious to start my life.
I have spent 6 months in classes. Classes end and I have 6 months left to take exams that are 100% of my grade and write a dissertation. 6 months to learn and 6 months to produce. Furthermore, due to the absurd rules of the educational system I am currently a part of, I cannot see my exams or recieve feedback on my dissertation, i.e. Learning from mistakes is not a concept in the UK. I pay to learn for 6 months, and then I pay to be in depression for 6 months. I want to learn! I don't care about a grade or how these specific people in the universe think I did, I want to learn new ways of thinking and challenge them, not regurgitate.
In a conversation with a fellow student, I mentioned that if I were a professor, I would give A's to the students that rebelled against the system and used humor in their answers. If anything, at least they had a personality. But even more importantly, they show free thinking. I believe that the only goal of universities should be to produce free thinkers, otherwise, what's the point of education?
Uh oh, after writing this post, I'm anxious to drop out (why do we even call it that) and just start my career. I already know that I would pass even if I took the exams tommorow, but I'm anxious to start my life.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Futurology Predictions
1930-2000 Geopolitics determined by factor mobilization.
2000-3000 Other factor of prodction, labor, becomes the primary factor motivating geopolitics and empire. Numerous examples from imperial pasts shed light on the potential that labor mobilization has to determine the future. When looking for a job these days, people are advised to pick a location, move there, and then begin looking for a job around that geographic location. Now, with the crisis, we are expected to be more open-minded in regards to geographic destination, but my generation is stubborn.
Additionally, glimpses of our stubbornness will be seen constantly in the work place as we expect to see things done on our own terms. I went to a lecture by a former Yahoo! executive the other day, and I couldn't believe how far behind he was on how business is expected to be done these days by the younger generation. We need to be offered consulting jobs to large corporations because if anyone knows how to get things for free (albeit illegally) it's us! We are great cost-reduces. Example number 1: TVs are going to become irrelevant. I watch all of my TV on my computer whenever I want. I don't need to schedule my day around a show nor spend money on a large device that I need to dust each week. The same goes for a stereo.
Human capital is the largest missed opportunity within any organization. "Back in the day", people's entire lives were defined by their jobs. I hate to break the news but today, the question "What do you do" upon meeting someone for the first time has become inappropriate. We can no longer be defined solely by our occupations (unless we are entrpreneurs in which our lives are our jobs), but most do many spectacular things outside of the office. Technology has allowed us to become so much more efficient with our time. Now, the hardest job for a corporation is to figure out how to capitalize on those external skills and talents. I recommend the free market approach.
Speaking of free market within corporations, I do not like the office supply industry because I view it almost as a public good. I believe that according to the model, in a free market, each employee should be responsible for supplying their own necessary supplies for work. Thank god, we have not perfected the model because I will need a new computer with my first job!
2000-3000 Other factor of prodction, labor, becomes the primary factor motivating geopolitics and empire. Numerous examples from imperial pasts shed light on the potential that labor mobilization has to determine the future. When looking for a job these days, people are advised to pick a location, move there, and then begin looking for a job around that geographic location. Now, with the crisis, we are expected to be more open-minded in regards to geographic destination, but my generation is stubborn.
Additionally, glimpses of our stubbornness will be seen constantly in the work place as we expect to see things done on our own terms. I went to a lecture by a former Yahoo! executive the other day, and I couldn't believe how far behind he was on how business is expected to be done these days by the younger generation. We need to be offered consulting jobs to large corporations because if anyone knows how to get things for free (albeit illegally) it's us! We are great cost-reduces. Example number 1: TVs are going to become irrelevant. I watch all of my TV on my computer whenever I want. I don't need to schedule my day around a show nor spend money on a large device that I need to dust each week. The same goes for a stereo.
Human capital is the largest missed opportunity within any organization. "Back in the day", people's entire lives were defined by their jobs. I hate to break the news but today, the question "What do you do" upon meeting someone for the first time has become inappropriate. We can no longer be defined solely by our occupations (unless we are entrpreneurs in which our lives are our jobs), but most do many spectacular things outside of the office. Technology has allowed us to become so much more efficient with our time. Now, the hardest job for a corporation is to figure out how to capitalize on those external skills and talents. I recommend the free market approach.
Speaking of free market within corporations, I do not like the office supply industry because I view it almost as a public good. I believe that according to the model, in a free market, each employee should be responsible for supplying their own necessary supplies for work. Thank god, we have not perfected the model because I will need a new computer with my first job!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Check Out This Blog!
My friend has a rapidly popular blog at http://yallaimshi.wordpress.com/ . She writes about women-related happenings in the Middle East. She is incredibly compassionate and courageous, and reading her blog gives everyone warming insight into her really big heart. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Stimulus-What an Odd Word.
I don't think Adam Smith ever included the concept of a stimulus in his free market agenda. I don't think it's suppose to be part of the theory.
Obama's stimulus was just announced for $2 Trillion dollars. First, I should not refer to it as Obama's because numerous people put it together, and Obama is mostly just the face for it. Second, here in London, I do not believe they have the word trillion in their version of the English language, or have not yet been able to comprehend that amount, so it is the $2000 Billion stimulus. Third, now I understand that deadlines are imposed in order for work to get accomplished, but it seems to me that this plan has been accepted a bit prematurely. It seemed that overnight, the stimulus jumped from $0.5 Trillion (Sorry England) to $2 Trillion!!! That's a fairly large difference. Additionally, it took years of naivety to get to the current dilemma but only a few weeks to solve it. I am fairly certain that most cannot even tell you the reason behind our crisis, and a solution cannot be determind until the reason is. This is why governments continue to fall behind on markets and dare I say it, regulation (man, I hate that word).
Personally, I believe that there should have been more creativity to the stimulus plan. Resourcefulness is the underlying characteristic of the US's large immigrant population and background. If Obama would like to see an improvement in infrastructure, I believe that the government should look for ways to shift resources throughout the structure to realize a more balanced economy. Pumping massive amounts of money in will solve nothing, especially from the psychological standpoint. Basically, we look like the spoiled rich kid in college that blew through all of his money in the first week and doesn't know why, and then is able to solve the problem simply by asking for more. In my plan to redistribute resources, and this is just a minor example, I propose that the government offer Private Equity firms a very good interest rate on debt, as long as it is used to finance the purchase of infrastructural companies. The government will raise money through the debt offering and the firms will provide the government's proposed infrastructure with their excess capital.
Obama's stimulus was just announced for $2 Trillion dollars. First, I should not refer to it as Obama's because numerous people put it together, and Obama is mostly just the face for it. Second, here in London, I do not believe they have the word trillion in their version of the English language, or have not yet been able to comprehend that amount, so it is the $2000 Billion stimulus. Third, now I understand that deadlines are imposed in order for work to get accomplished, but it seems to me that this plan has been accepted a bit prematurely. It seemed that overnight, the stimulus jumped from $0.5 Trillion (Sorry England) to $2 Trillion!!! That's a fairly large difference. Additionally, it took years of naivety to get to the current dilemma but only a few weeks to solve it. I am fairly certain that most cannot even tell you the reason behind our crisis, and a solution cannot be determind until the reason is. This is why governments continue to fall behind on markets and dare I say it, regulation (man, I hate that word).
Personally, I believe that there should have been more creativity to the stimulus plan. Resourcefulness is the underlying characteristic of the US's large immigrant population and background. If Obama would like to see an improvement in infrastructure, I believe that the government should look for ways to shift resources throughout the structure to realize a more balanced economy. Pumping massive amounts of money in will solve nothing, especially from the psychological standpoint. Basically, we look like the spoiled rich kid in college that blew through all of his money in the first week and doesn't know why, and then is able to solve the problem simply by asking for more. In my plan to redistribute resources, and this is just a minor example, I propose that the government offer Private Equity firms a very good interest rate on debt, as long as it is used to finance the purchase of infrastructural companies. The government will raise money through the debt offering and the firms will provide the government's proposed infrastructure with their excess capital.
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