Progression From Regression

The recent recession has not only impacted the lives of the working class, it has impacted each and every human being. From the elderly, to middle aged parents trying to bring in a solid income, to fresh-out-of-college students, to teens, to children, the recession has America at an all time low. As Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger". In order for America to progress, we need a clean slate. I think that the recession will only make America stronger. It's almost like a big bucket of Clorox being poured all over the economy, the money that has been carelessly tossed around, and a multitude of other things that have all contributed to the economy. In the photo above, hundreds of people are waiting in line at a career fair. These people aren't stragglers, and they aren't low-life's. The men and women waiting in this line have resumes in their hands, and some are even in coat and tie, or a skirt and blouse. This speaks volumes to the recession that we have on our hands, because this photo shows that everybody is affected, and everybody will come through this together. I see this as progression in America.

The Pursuit of Happiness

I was in Denver this weekend, visiting my brother at DU. When my mom and I weren't at DU, we stayed at a hotel not far from downtown Denver. This wasn't my first time in Denver, but this time definitely confirmed a belief I had conjured up, regarding Denver. I never really thought about it, I guess I thought it was just luck, but I definitely strongly believe that when you travel (or at least throughout America) people are different everywhere. I don't mean different as in personality wise, I mean I think people who don't live in a materialistic, uptight society (the north shore) are much more laid-back, much happier, and genuinely kind people. I'm not saying that people who live where we live are not genuine, but I do believe that people who don't look at the materialistic things in the world, and choose to see the natural beauties, are generally happier human beings. This may be a very far-fetched blog post, but I thought I'd share my findings. What do you think? Do you find that people are nicer when they aren't as better off?

The Price of Beauty

When I think of progress in America, I think of overall progress, progress in many different ways. I think that America is becoming much more conscious of the economy, health issues, human interaction and other ways to help fellow citizens (or in this case, fellow human beings). On the radio this morning, I hear an interesting blurb about Jessica Simpson. Supposedly, Simpson is working on a new TV show called The Price of Beauty. Simpson is planning "on a road trip around the world in search of what people find beautiful and why." I think that this is progress in and of itself. If this comes through, and the show is produced, how amazing will it be to have Jessica Simpson (a huge idol to young girls everywhere) showing what true beauty is? This speaks progress and the fact that Simpson is even promoting the idea will hopefully show women everywhere that beauty is no longer stick-skinny, leathery tan and 10 pounds of makeup. What do you think? If this idea is produced, do you think it will have a big impact on anything? If so, what/how?

The Way We'll Work

"Ten years ago, Facebook didn't exist. Ten years before that, we didn't have the web. So who knows what jobs will be born a decade from now? Though unemployment is at a 25-year high, work will eventually return. But it won't look the same. No one is going to pay you just to show up. We will see a more flexible, more freelance, more collaborative and far less secure work world. It will be run by a generation with new values--and women will increasingly be at the controls."

This article from the May 25 issue of Time Magazine talks about how work is going to change in the next ten years. I thought this article was so interesting, because its so valid. Ten years ago, Facebook was not around, yet ten years before that, the internet was not even invented. The article discusses ten ways in which the workplace will change and what will become of the "cubicle lives" and how women are soon going to rule the work world. What do you think will become of the work world? Where do you see yourself working in ten years??

The Have and The Have-Nots....

I thought i'd jump on the band-wagon and also write about just how materialistic the North Shore really is. The other night, one of my brothers who lives in the city came home for dinner. We were talking about the North Shore (specifically Winnteka). When you look around at where we live, it's unbelievable and I think alot of times it's taken for granted (I'm guilty of this as well). It seems that there are too many people who are overly-concerned with their image, and "keeping up with the Jones" as K-Hop put it. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of families in the North Shore who could care less about their image, but I definitely think that some people are too concerned with being the best and having the most. My other brother goes to Denver University in Colorado and he chimed in with an interesting comment. He said that living in the North Shore does minimal preparation for the real world, and I believe it! My brother noticed that once he got to Denver, the material things didn't matter. It didn't matter how big his car was, or what clothes he was wearing or where he came from, and I thought it was really interesting how different parts of the country have different values. What do you think? Do you think that the North Shore is particulary obsessed with image? Why do you think certain parts of the country are image-obsessed yet others aren't?

Look Where They Are Now (look at our success!)

Today in class we discussed the bulletin board near the second floor rotunda. The board reads: New Trier Graduates: Where are they now? What does this say about our school? Sure, there are plenty of graduates that aren't celebrities who probably deserve to be on that bulletin board more than Steve Carell, but I don't think that the bulletin board says anything about our administration. The school obviously wants to brag about the success that their previous students are now having, but who wouldn't? I think the board should have a different title, maybe something like Did you know? or something that suggests there are other New Trier graduates out there doing amazing things, they just aren't on the red carpet. I think that it's sad that we only idolize the "stars" and the "celebrities" but that's the way things have always been, and students are attracted to that bulletin board because who wouldn't want to read about the celebrity that is now walking the red carpet who once walked the halls of YOUR highschool.

Sign of...anything?

I was in Ohio this past weekend for a crew regatta and found a car parked near us with the American flag clipped to the top of the window. We used to see these all the time, but I feel like we see them less now that some time has passed from 9/11. I don't see this as a sign of disrespect or loyalty to America, but I see it simply as a window decoration. I thought that it was interesting that the driver chose to put the flag on their car window of all places, and I didn't ask them! What do you think? Why put the American flag on your car window? What does that symbolize? Do you see it as disrespectful?