Research Sources

Fedorkhin, Alexander and Shiv, Baba. "Heart and Mind in Conflict: The Interplay of Affect and Cognition in Consumer Decision Making." Journal of Consumer Research (1998): 278-92. Print.
Ferguson, Leonard W. "Industrial Psychology." Annual Review of Psychology 9 (1958). Print.
Jacoby, Jacob. "Consumer Psychology: An Octennium." Annual Review of Psychology 27 (1976). Prin
Lynch, John G. and Zauberman, Gal. "Construing Consumer Decision Making." Journal of Consumer Psychology17.2 (2007): 107-12. Print.

Bonding Over a Mascot Response

I think for this article, the starting question was, “How do people feel about the N.C.A.A. edict?” Lapointe writes in his article about the N.C.A.A. decision to ban the use of “mascots, nicknames or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin.” The article, “Bonding Over a Mascot” focuses specifically on the reaction to the edict at Florida State. Much of the author’s research to answer this question came in the form of interviews. He begins the article with a quote from Toni Sanchez, a current student of Seminole ancestry who attends Florida State. She calls the ruling “beyond idiotic” and goes on to say, “I know what a real Seminole is. This Anglo guilt and regret doesn’t affect me.” T. K. Wetherell, the president of Florida State, also offered his opinion for the article. He calls the mascot a “marketing tool” and asserts that the Seminole tribe knows this and approved because they are “good businessmen” and “great politicians.”  Lapointe also gathers opinions from the side of the N.C.A.A. According to Myles Brand, the president of the N.C.C.A., the decision received more negative reactions than anticipated, but he still believes the decision was the right one.

In the end it seems that the mascot that was considered “hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin,” didn’t really offend those whom the N.C.A.A. suggested it would.   

Is Google Making Us Stupid Response

            I don’t know if being part of the “younger generation” makes me biased, but I do not entirely agree with Carr’s assertion that the Internet is making us stupid. As people have evolved, so has the technology that they use. Man has been continually finding ways to make things faster, stronger, simpler, and cheaper all throughout history. As times and tools have changed, people have adjusted to adapt to new ways of life.

            In the article, Carr’s main concern is that the younger generation and those who use the Internet on a very regular basis will lose the ability to read deeply. His argument is that because we bounce around from site to site on the computer, our abilities to concentrate and stay focused on a single thing, like a lengthy book, have diminished. With such short attention spans, we only have the ability to process small amounts of information at a time before moving on to the next thing.

            While some of his assertions may be true to a certain degree, they are not without flaws. It is true, while on the Internet it is easy to jump from page to page and become distracted, this does not mean that we cannot shift gears and sit down with a good, lengthy book once in a while. Carr also suggests that the Internet has changed the way in which we absorb information, and I agree. When my parents were in school they would need to pour over many different books in the library in order to find the right information for a project or a paper. What used to take hours decades ago can now be done almost instantly. When finding the right information is so quick, it’s so much easier to work efficiently. Having thousands of databases at your fingertips eliminates wasting time to physically search for the information. Even in an emergency that needs immediate action (like spilling a whole glass of red wine on your mother’s pristine white carpet) there is an immediate answer or solution.

            The Internet has also made the entire world more connected and younger people more globally conscious. The Internet has broken down physical barriers that once kept nations more isolated than they are today.  

Joy Response

            In the article “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us,” Bill Joy’s primary concern is exercising caution when it comes to the creation of new technology. The discoveries we have made, concerning technology, have helped to make our lives run a little bit more smoothly. We have the ability to constantly be in contact with one another, and we have the ability to access information almost instantly. New technological advances have also been beneficial in the areas of medicine and surgical procedures. Less invasive surgical methods have been developed, as well as treatment options that are more effective and less painful. However, we have made some technological discoveries, like cloning or genetically enhanced produce, that have raised questions about morals and ethics. And now, with new advances in the field of robotics, we are again encouraged to take a step back and consider the consequences of our actions. As more doors open, new dangers emerge. And while we humans are naturally inquisitive, which is no doubt a positive attribute, we also need to proceed with caution.

            As a writer, Bill Joy does an excellent job of appealing to ethos. The number of books he has read, the work he has done, and his knowledge of the field all work to convince readers that he is an authority on the topic. His quotes from various sources suggest he is well-read, as well as supply relevant support and examples for his argument. For example, “’Either of two cases might occur. The machines might be permitted to make all of their own decisions without human oversight, or else human control over the machines might be retained.’” He also quotes from George Dyson, “’In the game of life and evolution there are three players at the table: human beings, nature, and machines. I am firmly on the side of nature. But nature, I suspect, is on the side of the machines.’” Besides providing quotes to set up the problem, Joy also employs the help of parallel examples. He writes, “Our overuse of antibiotics has led to what may be the biggest such problem so far: the emergence of antibiotic-resistant and much more dangerous bacteria.” Examples like this show that technology that had been intended for good, has ultimately had an adverse effect. So although we cannot predict every single outcome some new technology will bring, we must at least entertain the idea that something bad could go wrong, and plan accordingly.

             Although this article was published 11 years ago, I think the issues are still relevant to today’s society, if not more so. We are continually making break through after break through, and all of this newfound knowledge has the potential to become dangerous if used improperly or carelessly. What is important is that we recognize the fact that there are potential negative outcomes, and exercise much caution. 

Topic Proposal

          In my hometown there are two Catholic high schools: Central Catholic and Holy Name. Central, founded in 1940, was the first of these two schools. The school is housed in the old Luden Mansion (of Luden’s Cough Drops) and until 1964 was the main Catholic high school in Reading. Then, in 1964, Holy Name High School was founded and a fierce rivalry was formed. The games pinning the Central Catholic Cardinals and the Holy Name Blue Jays were always the best attended. Even throngs of alumni religiously (pardon the pun) attended. My grandparents, who went to Central, even once chose to go to a basketball game instead of a birthday party for my sister, who is enrolled at Holy Name. Needless to say, the pride of alumni and of current students is strong.

Recently, however, a decision was made that would change things entirely. Two years ago, Father John Barres became the new bishop of the Diocese of Allentown. One of the youngest bishops to date, Barres has been very active in his new role, making more appearances than old Bishop Cullen ever did. And for the most part, he has been extremely well received and liked, that is to say until this decision came along. Starting now, measures would be taken to merge Holy Name and Central Catholic. For the last couple of years, Central’s enrollment has been dwindling. The old mansion that houses the school is small, out of date, and basically falling apart. Holy Name is by far the stronger school with 500 kids compared to Central’s 200, larger facilities, and stronger athletics (although that last one may be a little biased on my part). Although others foresaw the closing of Central Catholic, they did not think it would happen so abruptly or in the manner in which it is happening. The bishop has proposed to merge to two schools into one “Berks Catholic” and house the school at Holy Name’s current location. Needless to say, students and alumni couldn’t be more displeased. Both schools will be forced to lose everything that once defined them: their name, their mascot, their uniform, their colors, their teachers, and their rivals. Instead of stripping both schools of their identities, I propose a more unitive movement. Although there is no alternative to the actual merge, there is no reason that both parties have to be negatively affected. Instead of the generic “Berks Catholic,” the school could be called “Holy Name Central Catholic High School.” Students and alumni, instead of being pinned against one another, could come together under a unifying name. Many of the decisions made by the bishop so far have included rebranding and a massive overhaul of the schools’ identities. If the history and traditions of both of the schools could be retained, I think the whole community would be much happier.     

News Links

Friday, March 18, 2011

Radiation Fears and Distrust Push Thousands From Homes in Japan
- This article discusses the "advisory" evacuation that is taking place in Japan as a result of radiation fears. After an earthquake and a tsunami, the explosion of a nearby nuclear power plant raises concerns about harmful radiation.

U.N. Approves Airstrikes Against Libya
- This article talks about the United Nations Security Counsel's decision to authorize military action in Libya against the rebels headed by Colonel Qaddafi. Although the article concerns a foreign country, it is relevant because the U.S. is now considering taking military action and offering support.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Arizona Rejects Further Anti-Immigration Measures
- The State Senate decided to reject newly proposed anti-immigration measures despite its reputation for strict immigration laws. This harsh stance on immigration has very negatively affected Arizona's economy. The tourism and convention industries have taken a huge hit, with the damage ranging from $15 to $150 million.

Nonunion Construction Grows in New York City
- As the real estate market gets back on its feet, new buildings are being constructed in New York City. However these new building projects are being given to nonunion workers instead of union workers. Although union workers are traditionally consider the safer and more skilled of the two, the cheaper price for the nonunion workers has enticed companies to hire them instead.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Euphoric, Egyptians Vote on Future
- For the first time in decades, Egyptians flocked to the polls knowing that this time their vote would actually count. After dictator Hosni Mubarak was overthrown, lawmakers compiled a series of constitutional amendments that would be voted on by the people. With these amendments, the Egyptian people hope to move towards a nation that is more democratic.

Mixed-Race Growth in Mississippi Signals a Shift in Attitude
- In the deep South, where marriage between blacks and whites had traditionally been frowned upon, data has shown that multiracial populations have increased significantly over the last ten years. Such shifts suggest a change in the way people are thinking about race and ethnicity.

A Modest Proposal

The satiric “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift was written during a time when Ireland was suffering greatly. As Swift describes, “the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms.” Aggravated by the conditions of his country, the author offers a proposal in order to ameliorate his afflicted home. Some of the issues he identifies are the vast number of beggars on the streets, the many instances of extreme poverty, voluntary abortions and the murdering of bastard children, and the country’s inability to do anything to fix these problems. The satirical mode that he utilizes supports his overall message. Because no one else has really made any attempts to come up with a solution, Swift creates his own sarcastic proposal in order to portray his aggravation and hopefully call others to action. The method he uses is effective because it shows how desperate the country is. It is also effective because it makes those in power feel foolish for not having made any steps towards improvement. Under the title, Swift gives his purpose for writing the piece: “For Preventing The Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being Aburden to Their Parents or Country, and For Making Them Beneficial to The Public.” However the true purpose is to get people to take notice and do something about the extreme poverty that has afflicted the nation.  

     One issue that is commonly debated in the United States is the nation’s debt. Spending money that we just don’t have has driven up the national debt into the trillions of dollars range. Politicians constantly talk about and debate over budget cuts that never seem to materialize. And as they waste time, the debt continues to grow and grow. Although taxes seem to rise more and more every year, the debt is not being lessened at all. Politicians and policy makers need to realize that we cannot continue to spend the way that we have for the last couple of years. There needs to be some sort of change made. In order to spend money, we need to have money, so for now, we are just going to have to get away with less. It’s as simple as that. Although long-term goals do need to be made, something needs to be done now. We can’t continually put this debt off hoping it will somehow work itself out in the future. That is just not realistic. Something must be done or soon we will see our country bankrupt.