Just A Kid's Perspective

Even though many of you are way past your childhood, you undoubtedly have some strong memories of your early days.  If you are a parent, you know how a child thinks, behaves and views the world.  Children have remarkably different way of looking at things than us grown-ups.  Here's a view images that compare how adults view everyday objects compared with how a child sees that same object.  Enjoy!

 

Japan's Economy After the Earthquakes and Tsunami

After the tsunami and earthquakes, Japan’s retail sales have plummeted 8.5 percent in March from a year earlier.  The natural disasters has forced stores to close their doors and discouraged households from making purchases.

Toyota, a Japanese car manufacturer, suffered a record decline in auto sales in March, but a spokes person said production will return to normal by December.

Now Prime Minister Naoto Kan has revealed a 4-trillion yen ($49 billion) spending package to help rebuild the areas devastated by the earthquakes and tsunami.  The package intends to provide 100,000 temporary homes and clean up debris from the natural disaster.  

Often times, we hear about a terrible tragedy, feel terrible for a few days, and then forget about it.  I’ve got the feeling the Japanese disasters are no exception to this rule.  I have not read anything in the papers about Japan in the past two weeks, but it’s economy is going to have a miserable time climbing back up into the upper ranks internationally.  Japan’s debt-to-GDP ratio was the highest in the G8 by far before the earthquake, and this government spending package will make that crucial financial indicator even worse.

Japan’s reconstruction needs will send a country already carrying the world’s biggest debt load into further bankruptcy.  Leader of financial market intelligence Standard and Poor’s has lowered Japan’s local-currency debt rating.  Moody’s Investors, another financial analysis firm, said last month that the disaster might bring about the “tipping point” for the country’s bond market.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (international economic organization designed to stimulate world trade) has urged Prime Minister Kan to double sales tax to 10 percent and implement the increases as soon as possible.    

About a month ago, I wrote a post suggesting ways to give to Japan here

The Japanese still need our help, so give what you can.

Funny Motivational Posters

Recently on Joe's Musings, I have published a number of humor-related posts.  Today, I am continuing that trend by posting a few amusing motivational posters.

Without humor, life would be miserable.

How To Start

“How do you do it?”, she asked me.  “You are so driven and you take all these classes and you are so involved with all these wonderful things.  And you still find time to publish everyday on your blog.  How do you find the time to maintain a blog with all your commitments?”

I flashed a giant grin.  “Well, when you know, it’s easy.”

“What do you mean by that?”, she insisted.  “Most people I know would break under the pressures of stress.  I can’t go more than a few hours without stopping for a few minutes of leisure.”

I thought about what she had said for a moment.  “Blogging is my leisure.  Writing is my hobby.  I don’t consider myself particularly good at it, but I enjoy it.  A lot of young, aspiring writers are concerned getting published.  I’d rather write about things that make me laugh or inspire me or make me feel connected to the rest of the world.”  

“That’s it?  No launch plan?  No business model?”, she questioned.

“Yes, I have monetized my blog to bring in some extra revenue, but most of those tweaks were not my core purpose.”

“I think I get it.  Your writing motivates you to also run your own business online.”

“Yea, something like that”, I responded.  The only way you can fail is by waiting around until you have a perfect plan.  My advice would be to start writing and worry about all the other stuff later on down the road.  Your writings don’t have to be perfect.”

There’s something tricky about starting new things.  We let our analytical side run wild when it comes to planning, designing, and drafting new creations.  Sometimes, all the thought can paradoxically hinder your progress of creating something beautiful.

The fear of failure is another thing that prevents us from starting with a less than perfect plan.  “If you don’t get it done right the first time, you creations will fail and all efforts will be lost.” is the common misconception I’ve heard.  

Neither of these falsehoods are good reasons to prevent you from trying something new.  For me, it was blogging.  I had a core purpose when I first started blogging- to inform and inspire my readers.  How I went about doing that was the part that took some time.  I wasn’t afraid to take the first step and start publishing.  One of the biggest mistakes we can make is refusing to start something because everything isn’t “perfect”.

Less than perfect is a perfect place to start.

Courage and Leadership

I’ve learned over the past year that leadership and courage go hand in hand.  It takes courage to engage the process of leadership.

5 Cowardly Things So Called “Leaders” Do

-Create bureaucracy to hide from responsibility and decision-making.  

-Talk without speaking.  Talk more than they listen.

-Instead of a unifying vision as a guide to action, cowards let fear control their decision making.

-Hide behind jargon or pretend they have the answers.

-Compromise their own system of morality, virtues, and values

5 Courageous Things Actual Leaders Do

-Give generously of their time to the organization.

-Live by their values even when it is tough to do so.

-Accept blame when they make a mistake.

-Speak clearly, honestly, and from the heart.

-Manage conflict directly.

Nature for Monday Morning

Whether you are a well-traveled individual or not, my guess is that you can always appreciate beautiful photos...

Dispatch 4/24/11

Sitting in my dorm room.  It's been a long weekend and I can barely keep my eyes propped open.  I had a few interesting experiences, so I'll briefly mention a few of them.  Today after Easter mass, I spoke with an old friend from youth group.  We spoke briefly about Joe's Musings, philosophy, the spanish-speaking community, business, and doing what you love.  It was a good chance to reconnect with a person from the past.

The next four weeks will be insane.  Finals are normally a chaotic time, and when coupled with applying for leadership positions on campus, things will be sleepless and eventful.  I've really got to put my nose to the grindstone and finish this semester without any regrets.  If I weren't committed to the straight-edge lifestyle I'd be taking shots of expresso already.  I can't remember all that much of the last few days beyond the celebration of Easter and the Good Friday service.

I read in the newspaper this morning that Syria is the next Arab country on the verge of collapse.  Illnesses are becoming more prevalent among Japanese populations on the northeast coast.  A deadly new wave of disease has hit the region.  Google stock is up to $525.10 per share.  Six years ago, Google stock sat at $220 a share.

I saw Limitless this past weekend, and I must say, some of the concepts explored in the film had me thinking deep into the night.  If you could take a medication that would allow you to access 100% of your brain, would you do it?  That's the dilemma the protagonist Eddie (Bradley Cooper was faced with.  He decided to take the medication, and quickly became dependent on the drug.  In just two weeks, he became fluent in languages, made $2 million in the stock market, writes a book, and masters the piano.  I recall one line in which Eddie described the effect of the drug--"Everything I had ever learned or read or heard was organized and available."  Also, if you took this drug, what actions would you take?  Would you use your boosted intellect to cure cancer or solve world hunger?  An interesting ethical question to consider.

Thanks for reading this,

Joe    

Remembering Pat Tillman

Seven years ago, the world lost a great man in Pat Tillman.  Chances are you know the story behind Tillman's death, but today, I want to write a post commemorating Pat as a man.

Right now, the NFL is going through one of its most childish and juvenile stages.  Players are complaining about the monetary size of their contracts, and as a result, a lockout seems imminent.  If Pat was alive today, everyone has an idea of what he would think regarding the lockout.  Tillman was a man of action, a man who wanted to get things done.  "The decisions he made in life, not one was about money.  He would be: 'Just let's get this crap done, we're entertainers.", one-time teammate Zach Walz said.

It is exceedingly rare that a man stays loyal to his values when fame and fortune are flashed in front of his eyes.  In his life and his football career, Tillman exemplified a man of virtue.  First, he remained loyal to his high school sweetheart Marie even though they went to different colleges.  As a college football star, Pat could have dated any pretty girl on campus, but he chose to remain faithful to Marie.  Second, Pat turned down a five-year, $9 million contract offer from the St. Louis Rams at one point in his NFL career out of loyalty to the Arizona Cardinals.  Pat reasoned that because the Cardinals were the only team willing to give him a chance in the NFL draft, he should remain loyal to them.  Finally, Pat turned down a multi-million dollar contract and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

The media and government have sensationalized Pat Tillman in an unfortunate turn of events.  The military manipulated his tragic death and used it as a propaganda tool.  Certain officials within the Bush administration realized the publicity value of Tillman's status, and then lied to the family about how he was killed.  The important message here is that if left unchecked, a country can unethically manipulate death for its own purposes.

Pat with his brothers, Kevin and Richard.

After I read Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, Pat immediately became a role model of mine.  When I was still in grade school, the news of Tillman's death broke.  I vaguely remember hearing about it on the news, but until last year, I never knew about Pat as a man.  Today, I want to honor Pat, the human being.  We can join the efforts of the Tillman family to remember Pat as an individual, not a political prop.  He was a true hero, and the sensationalized version of Pat needs to be recognized for what it is- deception, falsehood, and a lie.  Pat's name has been used as a pawn by those who support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as those who despise them.  This is just wrong.

In many ways, Pat lived by the same principles that motivate me.  According to his family and wife, he was a fiercely independent thinker and an avid reader.  He lived with intensity, and his actions were guided by a strong sense of honesty and integrity.

From Left- Pat's Father, Patrick. Pat's Mother, Mary.  Pat's wife, Marie.

Last weekend, a race was run in Pat's name at Arizona State (his alma mater).  It's called Pat's Run, and 28,000 people showed up at Sun Devil Stadium to run the 4.2 mile race for Pat, who wore number 42 as an ASU linebacker.  The money raised from the event goes to the Pat Tillman Foundation, and eventually, that money will go toward college scholarships for returning soldiers.

Our society is in desperate need of individuals not swayed by money, sex, and power.  In an age where the potential for unethical behavior is extraordinary, we need to remember the people who were not afraid to forego materialistic comfort and do the right things.  Pat Tillman is one of these individuals, and through the work of his family, friends, and supporters, his unique approach to life will never be forgotten.

Comparison of Gender Equalities in Turkey and Norway

By Katherine Viviano


[Editors Note: Today, I'm pleased to feature a research paper written by my sister, Katherine, on Joe's Musings.  Katherine is a freshman in high school and she involved in numerous activities in her community and school.  Right now, she plans to pursue a career either in musical theatre or law.  This paper was written as a part of a research project and is reprinted with her permission. - Joe]    

Comparison of Gender Equalities in Turkey and Norway

Gender inequality is a major issue in the world today.  One of the biggest problems we are facing is the equality level shown in the roles of men and women.  In this research paper, I am going to compare the equality between men and women seen in the country of Norway to the harsh inequality between genders apparent in the country of Turkey.  Not only are these countries in completely different parts of the world, but their values and outlook on equality are also on different ends of the spectrum, as reflected in their standards.  When exploring opportunities available to men and women, gender inequality is blatant in Turkey, where women's economic participation is slowly shrinking, yet it is almost non-existent in the country of Norway, where gender mainstreaming and gender specific actions are in full effect.

Based on the Global Gender Gap Report, coming in a close second behind Iceland is the country of Norway.  (238)  Norway was one of the first countries in the world to enforce a Gender Equality Ombud, which is an “independent agency with the task of promoting equality and combating discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability and age.”  Norwegian women are looked upon as male's equal, not as the inferior gender.  For example, according to the Global Gender Gap Report, in the year 2010, the men in the workforce received an estimated amount of  $40,000, while women received the exact same $40,000. (239)  Nevertheless, Norway certainly maintains a fair and just atmosphere for people of all different ages, races, and sexes to live in.  

Differing from Norway, Turkey treats men and women quite differently.  According to the Global Gender Gap Report, Turkey is ranked 126 out of 134 countries.  (297)  Half of all women are victims of crime, and more than half have extremely low literacy rates due to the lack of education available to them.  Clearly, Turkey isn't nearly as efficient as Norway when providing a gender equal country for their people.  They have rapidly regressed in their ranking as the years have passed.  For example, the Global Gender Gap Report stated that in 2010, the estimated earned income of an average male was $20,441.00, while that of the average female was only $5,352.00.  (297)  In addition, the lack of access to good education for women is significantly decreasing the average female literacy rates.

Norway is taking steps forward to achieve the number one spot and receive the title as the worlds most gender equal country.  One specific area in which they are seeking improvement is the paternity leave for men.  It is quite impressive that they have this practice in the first place, but it is even more impressive that they are working to further expand this law.  It was first introduced in 1993 and within only two years of this law being in effect, the percentage of new fathers who used the paternity leave to it's full advantage was increased from 45 to 70.  This made it apparent that most Norwegian males will indeed take extended time off, with pay, to take care of their new children and wives.  

On the other hand, Turkey is a very conservative country.  With more than half of the population being Muslim, the people of Turkey are primitive in their apparel, actions, and customs.  One of their customs is the vulgar “honor killing.”  Don't let this title be deceiving, because there is nothing honorable about this custom.  Honor killings are, by definition, “An ancient tradition still observed; a male member of the family kills a female relative for tarnishing the family image.”  The prime Ministry's Human Rights Directorate reported that the number of Honor killings occurring in Turkey escalated to a whopping 220 back in 2007.  Imagine living in an environment where women are beaten for acts like staring out the window, greeting male friends on the street, or speaking to long to shopkeepers.   Even worse, daughters of Turkish men are sometimes strangled for being a victim of rape.  These are just a few instances of the terrible abuse and disrespect for women in Turkey.  When something this serious is happening in a country, it should strike a red flag to the government officials immediately.  Unfortunately, all the government officials are men, which means that they all have the same theories regarding the treatment of women.

The practices of the citizens in these these countries are at extreme opposites, which is why they are ranked at opposite ends of the Global Gender Gap Report.  The industrialized country of Norway is accepting and fair towards both men and women in their communities.  This is shown through their high percentage of women in the workforce, along with the high level of parliament seats occupied by Norwegian women.  In Turkey, on the other hand, there are low literacy rates among women.  Essentially, if you have a child, you simply don't work in the country of Turkey.  In addition, women have very few rights.  They are controlled by the Turkish men and limited in their lifestyle because of the social norms and what the men enforce as rules for their wives.

In summary, Norway has demonstrated an environment where men and women operate on par with each other in work and home life.  They each enjoy a high standard of living and being treated with respect in the community.  When looking at pay, rights, and benefits, men and women in Norway are equal.  Alternatively, in the country of Turkey, women continue to be subservient to men.  Their rights are not considered, as they are viewed often times as the property of men.  There is a double standard where men are free in all actions while women are condemned and sometimes even killed when they stray from what is considered the norm.  Women are not offered opportunities to gain education nor meaningful employment.  Norway and Turkey are indeed on opposite ends of the equality spectrum when it comes to women's rights and gender equality.

External Links

1. Gender in Norway- Information and Resources on Gender Equality and Gender Research in Norway

2. The Female Factor- A NY Times article that discusses a Norwegian law that requires 40% of all company board members to be women.

Facebook Is Like a Jail

Inappropriate, but a clever comparison nonetheless.

Creative Uses of Food

It's late on a Wednesday night, and I am far too tired to type up a long post for you.  Instead, I am going to post four amusing images of creative uses of everyday snack items.

The Conversation Going On Inside Your Technology

Computer:Monitor, display this document, ok?

Monitor: No prob, boss. 

Computer: OK, now it looks like Mouse is moving around so, Monitor, will you move the pointer icon accordingly?

Monitor: Anything you ask, boss.

Computer: Great, great. OK, Mouse, where are you going now?

Mouse: Over to the icon panel, sir. 

Computer: Hmm, Let me know if he clicks anything, OK?

Mouse: Of course. 

Keyboard: Sir, he’s pressed control and P simultaneously. 

Monitor: Oh goodness, here we go. 

Computer: i>sighs Printer, are you there?

Printer: No.

Computer: Please, Printer. I know you’re there. 

Printer: NO! I’m not here! Leave me alone!

Computer: Goodness. OK look, you really need to...

Mouse: Sir, he’s clicked on the printer icon. 

Computer: Printer, now you have to print it twice. 

Printer: NO! NO! NO! I don’t want to! I hate you! I hate printing! I’m turning off! 

Computer: Printer, you know you can’t turn yourself off. Just print the document twice and we’ll leave you alone. 

Printer: NO! That’s what you always say! I hate you! I’m out of ink! 

Computer: You’re not out of in…

Printer: I’M OUT OF INK! 

Computer: span style=“font-style: italic;”>Sighs Monitor, please show a low ink level alert.

Monitor: But sir, he has plenty of...

Computer: Just do it! 

Monitor: Yes sir. 

Keyboard: AHHH! He’s hitting me! 

Computer: Stay calm, he’ll stop soon. Stay calm, old friend. 

Keyboard: He’s pressing everything. Oh goodness, I don’t know, he’s just pressing everything!

Computer: PRINTER! Are you happy now?! Do you see what you’ve done?!

Printer: HA! that’s what you get for trying to get me to do work. Next time he…hey…HEY! He’s trying to open me! HELP! HELP! Oh my goodness! He’s torn out my cartridge! HELP! Please! ERROR! 

Monitor: Sir, maybe we should help him?

Computer: No. He did this to himself. 

I-Phone App of the Week

Today, I am proud to announce a post series on Joe’s Musings.  Every week, I plan on reviewing an I-Phone app.  This week, I’ve chosen a joint project created by the History and A&E Television Networks Mobile.  They have teamed up to introduce an excellent history app to iPhone and iPad owners.  The Civil War Today app chronicles the events of the Civil War over the next four years.

If you a history buff and go download this app, then each day, you will be greeted with an update regarding Civil War battles and historic information from the same date 150 years ago.  The features include photos, maps, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and more.  

The Civil War Today app launched on April 12, 2011, the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War.  The app is available today in the App Store, but it is relatively pricy at $7.99.  If you are Civil War fanatic, this is a reasonable price to pay to receive daily content straight from the archives of United States history.

Knowing Where To Tap

I heard a story recently that emphasizes the importance of intuition and know-how.  The purpose of this story is to show that know-how is more important than a title.  You can have a hundred titles, but you must be able to apply what you know.

“There is an old story of a boilermaker who was hired to fix a huge steamship boiler system that was not working well.  

After listening to the engineer’s description of the problems and asking a few questions, he went to the boiler room.  He looked at the maze of twisting pipes, listened to the thump of the boiler and the hiss of the escaping steam for a few minutes, and felt some pipes with his hands.  Then he hummed softly to himself, reached into his overalls and took out a small hammer, and tapped a bright red valve one time.  Immediately, the entire system began working perfectly, and the boilermaker went home.  

When the steamship owner received a bill for one thousand dollars, he became outraged and complained that the boilermaker had only been in the engine room for fifteen minutes and requested an itemized bill.  So the boilermaker sent him a bill that reads as follows:

For tapping the valve: $.50

For knowing where to tap: $999.50

TOTAL: $1,000.00”

Students graduating from college will have a degree, but not all graduates will come out of college with an education.