Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Go Lockout!!
I have to selfishly admit that I hope a few more weeks of games are canceled before the NBA season starts. Being a die hard fan of the very aged Celtics team, a shorter season wouldn't hurt. With four of our five starters over 30 and considered "over the hump", not having a 82 game season would definitely help our chances. Also being an advid fan of not watching Lebron James and the Miami Heat play, it helps me sleep at night to know that LBJ lost 20 games of his career he will never get back. Other teams that could benefit from this scenario are the very old San Antonio Spurs and the reigning champs Dallas Mavericks.
More games cancelled
Last week the NBA Commissioner David Stern cancelled two more weeks of NBA games. With no end to the negotiations in sight the commissioner had no choice but to cancel the games. In my opinion I think that there will be a decision met very soon. The players originally plan was to negotiate no lower than a 52% - 48% split in revenue, but the owners want a even 50/50 split. With today being the 125th day of the lockout the players are not getting paid it is going to become difficult for the players not to crack. While the top tier players making max contracts may be able to wait out the lockout, the smaller contract players need to get paid. I foresee the NBA season starting pretty soon.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Truthiness
True Enough
As I continued reading Farhad Manjoo’s True Enough I could not help but think that it was proof that our society was inching closer and closer to a world in which fact does not matter. While their is still a vast gap between the world we live in and a world where truth is no longer real, there are some passages in True Enough that point to some alarming ideas. One passage in particular that stuck out to me was the one about “thruthiness”. Manjoo describes how in our society something that feels true becomes true, even if it lacks in facts. Through the passages about “Truthiness”, Farhad Manjoo’s book on a post-fact society point to a society growing more and more oblivious to truth.
“Truthiness” as defined by the creator of the word, Stephen Colbert, is “the quality of a thing feeling true without any evidence suggesting it actually was” (189). Colbert goes on to discuss “truthiness” in relation to the war in Iraq. He says, “If you think about it, maybe there are a few missing pieces to the rational for war, but doesn’t taking Saddam out feel like the right thing, right here in the gut” (189). And for most Americans at the time it did feel like the right thing to do. The government told us they were going into Iraq to stop terrorism, find Osama, and rid Saddam of weapons of mass destruction. Now, years later, with all the facts in order, it is clear that our intentions in Iraq did not include any of those three motives. We never found Saddam having any ties to Al-Qaeda, Osama was not in Iraq, and we never found evidence of nuclear weapons. So at the time invading Iraq may have felt right, but now that we think about it in retrospect, it clearly was not the truth, but we believed it anyway.
Another passage that discusses “truthiness” is the one describing Robin Raskin. Robin Raskin was a journalist who would go on the news and warn of the dangers of certain products, while simultaneously marketing other notable products that supposedly worked better. Raskin was being paid by the companies of the products that she was marketing. This is a very successful form of marketing because people do not realize she is being paid as a spokes person. Because she was a so called “journalist” people assume she knows what she is talking about and take what she says as fact. This is “truthiness” because it feels like she is telling the truth about this product, but when we think about the facts, the product she was advertising was probably no better than the one she was bashing. Our culture is starting to believe things solely because someone with authority is telling them, instead of because it is true.
Unfortunately, True Enough is a scary wake up call. We truly are living in a post fact society. “Truthiness” has taken over our perception of reality and we no longer believe things based on facts or reason. We believe things because it feels right, or because we trust the person telling us. During the bush administration it was even considered a bad thing to be part of the “reality based community” (192). One of Bush’s Officials was even quoted saying “ [The United States is] an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality...and while your studying that reality--judiciously as you will--we’ll act again, creating other new realities” (192). This statement is startlingly close to the concepts in George Orwell’s 1984. If we are not careful, our post-fact reality may be headed down a similar road as the world in 1984.
As I continued reading Farhad Manjoo’s True Enough I could not help but think that it was proof that our society was inching closer and closer to a world in which fact does not matter. While their is still a vast gap between the world we live in and a world where truth is no longer real, there are some passages in True Enough that point to some alarming ideas. One passage in particular that stuck out to me was the one about “thruthiness”. Manjoo describes how in our society something that feels true becomes true, even if it lacks in facts. Through the passages about “Truthiness”, Farhad Manjoo’s book on a post-fact society point to a society growing more and more oblivious to truth.
“Truthiness” as defined by the creator of the word, Stephen Colbert, is “the quality of a thing feeling true without any evidence suggesting it actually was” (189). Colbert goes on to discuss “truthiness” in relation to the war in Iraq. He says, “If you think about it, maybe there are a few missing pieces to the rational for war, but doesn’t taking Saddam out feel like the right thing, right here in the gut” (189). And for most Americans at the time it did feel like the right thing to do. The government told us they were going into Iraq to stop terrorism, find Osama, and rid Saddam of weapons of mass destruction. Now, years later, with all the facts in order, it is clear that our intentions in Iraq did not include any of those three motives. We never found Saddam having any ties to Al-Qaeda, Osama was not in Iraq, and we never found evidence of nuclear weapons. So at the time invading Iraq may have felt right, but now that we think about it in retrospect, it clearly was not the truth, but we believed it anyway.
Another passage that discusses “truthiness” is the one describing Robin Raskin. Robin Raskin was a journalist who would go on the news and warn of the dangers of certain products, while simultaneously marketing other notable products that supposedly worked better. Raskin was being paid by the companies of the products that she was marketing. This is a very successful form of marketing because people do not realize she is being paid as a spokes person. Because she was a so called “journalist” people assume she knows what she is talking about and take what she says as fact. This is “truthiness” because it feels like she is telling the truth about this product, but when we think about the facts, the product she was advertising was probably no better than the one she was bashing. Our culture is starting to believe things solely because someone with authority is telling them, instead of because it is true.
Unfortunately, True Enough is a scary wake up call. We truly are living in a post fact society. “Truthiness” has taken over our perception of reality and we no longer believe things based on facts or reason. We believe things because it feels right, or because we trust the person telling us. During the bush administration it was even considered a bad thing to be part of the “reality based community” (192). One of Bush’s Officials was even quoted saying “ [The United States is] an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality...and while your studying that reality--judiciously as you will--we’ll act again, creating other new realities” (192). This statement is startlingly close to the concepts in George Orwell’s 1984. If we are not careful, our post-fact reality may be headed down a similar road as the world in 1984.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Maybe a little Biased?
First of all, I consider myself pretty liberal. Both my parents are democrats, iv been raised in a liberal house, and i plan on voting for Obama in the next election. However, in the first 40 pages of our reading in particular, I have found True Enough to be somewhat biased. I think it is clear that Farhad Manjoo is a democrat, and I feel as if her political views shape some of her theories. While I am not doubting the lack of evidence the Swift Boat Veterans had, I think she exaggerated a little bit. I find it hard to believe these guys pulled all this out of their a**. They must of had some sort of real evidence against John Kerry. My Dad used to be good friends with John Kerry. "Used to" being the key word. After hearing what happened from my Dad, I have heard a first hand account of how Kerry may not be the most honest guy. I don't mean to be bashing Kerry but all I am saying is that the Swift Boat Veterans may have had more behind their story than Majoo was willing to admit. I think that Majoo's political views make her automatically dismiss the Veterans views and automatically believe Kerry. I realize I have no real evidence to back my opinion, this is just sort of the vibe i m getting so far.
P.S. My Dad voted for Kerry in '04
P.S. My Dad voted for Kerry in '04
true enouph: 9/11 conspiracy
One of the passages in the reading that stood out to me the most was that of the 9/11 conspiracy. Phillip Jayhan believes that the attacks on September eleventh were without a doubt orchestrated by the American Government. He claims that there is proof that shows that Flight 175 had a missile attached to the bottom of it. When I first started reading this I found myself getting angry. How could someone honestly dispute what happened that day. But as I kept reading i let my curiosity take me to YouTube, and i watched a few videos explaining some theories. I have to admit that after watching a few videos, there is some footage of the crashes that seems a little bit shady. While there is some evidence that may point to a conspiracy, I am certain there was not one. Some theories also say that there was no planes at all, instead the towers were shot down by cruise missiles that resemble planes. These theories angered me the most. My neighbors fiance was on one of those planes. If there were no planes than what happened to the hundreds of passengers. This whole thing left me very frustrated and this is a classic example of people using "selective perception" in order to believe what they want to believe.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
True Enouph
I thought the first twenty five pages of True Enough was very interesting. In particular, i really liked the section on the John Kerry election. I vaguely remember that election but I do recall some controversy regarding John Kerry's Purple Heart. I had no idea that it had become such a controversial topic in that election and it is amazing that those veterans were able to convince people he was a fraud with little to no evidence. I also found the first twenty five pages interesting because of how the media portrays the truth. The media can literally convince people what ever they want, and depending on what news channel you follow you will believe different truths. It is amazing how easily we forget how much the truth can be twisted. Sounds a little like 1984?
Derick Rose considering playing in Europe
Yet another high profile NBA player is considering heading over seas if the current lockout continues. Derick Rose announced yesterday that he will strongly take into consideration playing in Europe this year if the NBA season does not happen. "If it does (cancel the season), yes, I am taking into consideration that I might be going overseas but I don't know where," (http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/7028494/chicago-bulls-derrick-rose-lockout-unnecessary-go-overseas) According to ESPN.com Rose has had at least one contract offer from a team overseas. Rose was also quoted "There's no reason why billionaires and millionaires should be arguing about money. There's other things in this world that we should be arguing about, but money shouldn't be the problem." Derick Rose is one of the most respected players in the NBA and as last seasons MVP, the NBA could not afford to lose him overseas.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
NBA season in serious jeopardy
This Wednesdays meeting between the players union and the owners was not promising for the NBA season. There was no progress in the meeting and another meeting is scheduled for this Friday. High profile players such as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant are expected to show up on friday in hopes of influencing the committee. "NBA commissioner David Stern is planning to threaten players with the cancellation of the entire 2011-12 season if the sides haven't made major progress toward a deal by the end of the weekend" http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7031637/nba-lockout-owners-players-meet-friday-possibly-weekend
With the regular season almost a month away the NBA is in some serious trouble.
With the regular season almost a month away the NBA is in some serious trouble.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
1984
1984 is a story about a world that has completely abandoned human nature. For me 1984 was an odd story that really made me think. In many ways the world that Winston lived in was terrifying. A world in which the government had complete control over human emotions, truth and could even alter the way people thought. I think that George Orwell wrote this book as a warning against communism and the dangers of dictatorship and tyranny. To me this novel was about what can happen when a government takes too much control, not just in one country, but across the world. In the world of 1984, there are three governments that are constantly fighting an endless war with each other. They fight this war simply to use up produced materials and have an excuse to keep the poor hungry. The Party uses this tactic to keep the lower class completely dependent on the goverment, in order to keep them loyal to their country. This directly reflects what was beginning to happen in communist Russia when Orwell was writing this book. The Government also creates and portrays a common enemy to the public. This enemy is Goldstein and the Brotherhood. I found this part of the story very interesting. In a lot of ways I found this idea almost genius. Throughout history people have rallied together to fight a common enemy, so in Oceania, the government created this fake common enemy to unite the country. My overall attitude of the novel was that it was more about the psychology of people than anything else. The novel made me think about things I have never really considered before, in particular the concept of truth. One of the biggest ideas 1984 deals with is that of truth and history. “who controls the past, ran the party slogan, controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past ... what ever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory. Reality Control.” (pp. 35-36) I found myself struggling with this concept for most of the book. The idea that if you know something to be true, but no one else thinks it to be true, and no evidence makes it true, than is it true at all? Winston also struggles with this concept. It isn't until the end of the book that Winston gives in to the party and no longer believes what he knows to be true. The party makes him completely abandon everything he knows to be true, and forces him to abandon the one thing he loves most, Julia. After this moment he is no longer human. He is no longer capable of human emotions and has completely conformed to the Party, believing their lies and following Big Brother. I did not like the ending of this novel because Winston essentially died. I was rooting for him to escape the lies and corruption of the party but in the end, he became just another one of their brainwashed slaves.
1984 is a story about a world that has completely abandoned human nature. For me 1984 was an odd story that really made me think. In many ways the world that Winston lived in was terrifying. A world in which the government had complete control over human emotions, truth and could even alter the way people thought. I think that George Orwell wrote this book as a warning against communism and the dangers of dictatorship and tyranny. To me this novel was about what can happen when a government takes too much control, not just in one country, but across the world. In the world of 1984, there are three governments that are constantly fighting an endless war with each other. They fight this war simply to use up produced materials and have an excuse to keep the poor hungry. The Party uses this tactic to keep the lower class completely dependent on the goverment, in order to keep them loyal to their country. This directly reflects what was beginning to happen in communist Russia when Orwell was writing this book. The Government also creates and portrays a common enemy to the public. This enemy is Goldstein and the Brotherhood. I found this part of the story very interesting. In a lot of ways I found this idea almost genius. Throughout history people have rallied together to fight a common enemy, so in Oceania, the government created this fake common enemy to unite the country. My overall attitude of the novel was that it was more about the psychology of people than anything else. The novel made me think about things I have never really considered before, in particular the concept of truth. One of the biggest ideas 1984 deals with is that of truth and history. “who controls the past, ran the party slogan, controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past ... what ever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory. Reality Control.” (pp. 35-36) I found myself struggling with this concept for most of the book. The idea that if you know something to be true, but no one else thinks it to be true, and no evidence makes it true, than is it true at all? Winston also struggles with this concept. It isn't until the end of the book that Winston gives in to the party and no longer believes what he knows to be true. The party makes him completely abandon everything he knows to be true, and forces him to abandon the one thing he loves most, Julia. After this moment he is no longer human. He is no longer capable of human emotions and has completely conformed to the Party, believing their lies and following Big Brother. I did not like the ending of this novel because Winston essentially died. I was rooting for him to escape the lies and corruption of the party but in the end, he became just another one of their brainwashed slaves.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
NBA Labor Dispute
I have been following the NBA labor dispute. On June 30th 2011 the NBA locked out its players. This lockout, different from the recent NFL lockout, will be much more difficult to resolve. The key points that are up for debate are team salary caps, team spending and player max-salaries. Unlike the NFL dispute, the NBA owners have much more leverage than the players. According to Forbes Magazine, more than half of the NBA teams lost money last year. This means that most of the NBA teams are in no hurry to start this years season and end the lockout.
“The owners insist that the economic model is broken and players will need to give back hundreds of millions in salary to keep the league afloat (and avoid a lockout). And since no one is getting to look at the books, these estimated valuations are all that anyone has to go on.”
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/forbes-17-of-30-nba-teams-lost-money-last-year-2011-1#ixzz1Xy57P8Ca
Yesterday, tuesday, September 13, there was a scheduled meeting between the owners and the players union. According to many players and owners there was no progress made in the meeting.
"Well, we did not have a great day, I think it's fair to say that," Commissioner David Stern said. "On the other hand, we did say that it is our collective task to decide what we want on the one hand on each side, and two, what each side needs if we choose to work ourselves in such a way as to have the season start on time. That's still our goal." http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6965103/nba-players-union-impasse-time-start-season-now-doubt
While commissioner Stern remains optimistic about opening the season on time, the future does not look promising. The first scheduled NBA events are right around the corner. Training camp is scheduled to open October 3rd and the season opener is scheduled for November 1st.
Considering the recent lack of progress many NBA players are deciding to temporarily play professionally in Europe. Over fifty NBA players have already signed contracts over seas and many more are considering following if the lockout continues. The most notable of the group is New Jersey Nets All Star point guard Deron Williams, who signed with the Turkish Besiktas early this summer for 5 million dollars. With Williams departure, it is fairly certain that many high profile players will follow. As of today, the 2011-12 NBA season in serious jeopardy, and the negotiations are not looking promising.
I have been following the NBA labor dispute. On June 30th 2011 the NBA locked out its players. This lockout, different from the recent NFL lockout, will be much more difficult to resolve. The key points that are up for debate are team salary caps, team spending and player max-salaries. Unlike the NFL dispute, the NBA owners have much more leverage than the players. According to Forbes Magazine, more than half of the NBA teams lost money last year. This means that most of the NBA teams are in no hurry to start this years season and end the lockout.
“The owners insist that the economic model is broken and players will need to give back hundreds of millions in salary to keep the league afloat (and avoid a lockout). And since no one is getting to look at the books, these estimated valuations are all that anyone has to go on.”
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/forbes-17-of-30-nba-teams-lost-money-last-year-2011-1#ixzz1Xy57P8Ca
Yesterday, tuesday, September 13, there was a scheduled meeting between the owners and the players union. According to many players and owners there was no progress made in the meeting.
"Well, we did not have a great day, I think it's fair to say that," Commissioner David Stern said. "On the other hand, we did say that it is our collective task to decide what we want on the one hand on each side, and two, what each side needs if we choose to work ourselves in such a way as to have the season start on time. That's still our goal." http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6965103/nba-players-union-impasse-time-start-season-now-doubt
While commissioner Stern remains optimistic about opening the season on time, the future does not look promising. The first scheduled NBA events are right around the corner. Training camp is scheduled to open October 3rd and the season opener is scheduled for November 1st.
Considering the recent lack of progress many NBA players are deciding to temporarily play professionally in Europe. Over fifty NBA players have already signed contracts over seas and many more are considering following if the lockout continues. The most notable of the group is New Jersey Nets All Star point guard Deron Williams, who signed with the Turkish Besiktas early this summer for 5 million dollars. With Williams departure, it is fairly certain that many high profile players will follow. As of today, the 2011-12 NBA season in serious jeopardy, and the negotiations are not looking promising.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
1984 section 1 reflection.
I really enjoyed 1984 so far. For the first 20 pages or so I was unsure as to weather or not I would like it because it seemed very confusing and dry. It was not until I realized that Orwell wrote this book 40 years before it took place that it had my attention. It is crazy to think that this was what Orwell thought the future would be like, and how correct he was about certain things. One of the things that stood out to me the most was when Winston was at his job. (pp.39-50) Winston's job is to rewrite news articles and put them in the archives. So basically he rewrites the past and makes lies into truth. I found this most interesting because in my Philosophy 101 class we are studying what is truth? And this passage made me think about this question because in Winston's world, is there truth if history can be rewritten?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sports Ambassador
I am one of the six sports ambassadors. I am a huge Celtics and basketball fan so I will closely be following the NBA. The NBA is currently in a lockout because of a labor dispute between the owners and the players. So far, it does not look good for next years season. The players have very little leverage because there were a handful of teams that lost money last year so those teams are in no rush to start next season. I will be following this story through ESPN's NBA page on their website, as well as through analysts and players twitters accounts. Another good website for NBA news is hoopsworld.com.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Duke article
I think that the media has a huge part women being objectified. All over magazines and television you can find girls being as slutty and wearing as little clothing as possible. It is shows like Jersey Shore and the Real World that convince the public that sluttiness is the norm. While it is discouraging that not much as changed since the 50's, i find it hard to believe that there is change on the way. Television is getting more and more riskay and does not seem to be slowing down. Until the media stops portraying women like this, the college party scene for women will probably remain the same.
Farmers childhood definitely shaped his career path. Farmer grew up in poverty and was used to little to no luxury. Therefore, when he is backpacking across the world, from slum to slum, it did not bother him if he has a nice place to stay or clean clothes on his back. On page 51, when Tracy Kidder asks farmer where he stayed as a boy when the bus broke down, Farmer responds "In a tent. Of course. What Kind of question is that?". If Farmer had grown up in a fortunate family, he may have chose a different lifestyle because he would not have been so accustom to hardships like these. For example, Farmer could have just as easily became a successful Doctor in Boston and Lived at home with his family but instead he decided to use his abilities to help others. I think the most interesting part of Tracy Kidders talk was the pictures he showed. Sometimes when I was reading I found it difficult to imagine the conditions of the slums in Haiti and Kidder's pictures really showed the poverty these people were living in. I thought Tracy Kidder did a great job and I would definitely read another one of his books.
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