hoboJoeSays

Technological Innovation in Recessions

2008-12-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

This is a rather random topic but it just so happened to be the research focus of a paper of mine for a class named "Technology in a Post-Industrial Society." I actually thought it was interesting to look at technological innovation from the social perspectives and ultimately see how it relates to the present. Here's what I found (in a quick paragraph):

Most would assume that we're headed (or already are in) the darkest of ages. Despite the pessimism in financial markets however, technological innovation will prove to be a stronghold. As we are in the Silicon Age -- started right here in Silicon Valley -- high-technology companies will be forced to pursue high-utility products that consumers need as their wallets become increasingly lighter. This brings about Callon and Latour's Actor-Network theory, the notion that all actors are interconnected and society is the pivotal actor. But this network has to be intrinsically fueled by something, which brings me to the next part: technicism. Technicism is the notion that technology is and will ultimately be the benefactor of mankind, developed by a sociologist named Schuurman. As companies ultimately are aiming to make profit while fulfilling the interests of the social actor (society), we will soon witness some technological innovation as we have seen in the 1940's.

Proposition 8

2008-11-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

The ignorance in this world disgusts me.

As many of you know, Proposition 8 was approved by the state of California among others. I am far from gay and I sympathize with the "second-class citizens." Why should I enjoy heterosexual marriage when my gay friends cannot? Then the answer hit me: ignorance. I can name ten gay friends who have made more positive change, inspired, and helped more than you or I.

It's late and I don't feel like writing any more but check out: http://www.noonprop8.com/ .

Oh, and for those who were anticipating a steamy, sex-related story: that'll be posted soon.

The Juicer

2008-10-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

You're probably asking yourself "Why the hell is there a picture of a juicer here?" Here's the brief explanation you're looking for:

Today, I had the opportunity to go to the place I once called "home." Despite my apprehensions, everything turned out... well. While preparing for the photo session before my sister tied the knot, I browsed around what was once my refuge: the kitchen. There it was, the big, white, clunky thing; the juicer. Well, before he passed away, my Dad would wake up early, squeeze me some fresh orange juice, make me a bowl of cereal, and talk about baseball, boxing, life, or the damned ducks in the pool. It was little things like that that caught my attention; brought me back to my childhood. It made me realize that I should "squeeze the juice" out of life more often.

I know it's been a while since I've written but I promise there's more to come soon.

-jcv

Dark and Twisted Stories

2008-09-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

So, this is one of the many pictures that I've taken at the Baan Home Hug orphanage in Yasothon, Thailand. Looking back, it was an amazing experience and hopefully I'll have the opportunity to go back. This young girl's name is Ja and she was one of the most mature, beautiful, kind kids I've ever had the opportunity to meet. Sadly, she came from a pretty turbulent background. At three years old, she was innocent and clueless about what the world held in store. Her father, apparently ignorant, uneducated and morally benign, decided to rape her. At three years old, nonetheless. After the incident, she was diagnosed with HIV as a result of her father's actions. That's just the beginning of it. One particularly scarring incident, literally and metaphorically, occurred at the childrens' school. When one of Ja's friend's parents found out about Ja's HIV infection, the parents began throwing stones at Ja. Crazy, right? Sadly, this is just one of the many sordid stories at Baan Home Hug.

Juxtaposition of the Young and the... Older

2008-08-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Again, I'm caught on a flight with an open word processor and a wide array of thoughts as I become pensive about my past two months in Boca. So, a couple things I guess I'd like to talk about (Notice my love for lists. Apparently, I'm a “list-maker” like the rest of my family. Negative sign perhaps?):

⁃ First and foremost, I was thinking how interesting the juxtaposition of the young and the elderly really is. I was caught playing cards with my Nan, Aunt, Ma, and my little cousin. The age dynamic made for a loud, interesting game of “May I” and I certainly learned more about age in general. Besides the inherent crabbiness that seems to saturate the aging population, there seems to be a more reflective attitude present. Kind of like what I'm doing now, much to my chagrin. Although the mean age of the group was roughly 40 years, the conversations generally started with a “Remember when...” or “Whatta ya doing?!” I love them to death but I definitely think it's worth asking, “What's the point of living if you're not happy?” This question becomes increasingly important with age. After all, who knows when we're going to kick the bucket?

Maybe I'm overanalyzing, but I think that the conversations tend to reflect their attitudes towards life, in a greater sense. Shouldn't we worry less about cherishing the past and what happened yesterday and focus more on the future? Even if you're 60, 70, or 80... you still have another day to live... hopefully. Why not make it useful and productive and actually make a change, fulfill a New Years' resolution from 10 years ago, or help out someone in need? Why should you go to bed easily when there's a Vietnam vet on the street with PTSD or war induced injuries? Why should you have a warm, hot meal when there's a baby suffering in Africa? (I too would like a couple years of rest after 50 years of working, but, the reality is “What's the point?”) The things you could have accomplished in those couple years far outweigh all of the BINGO or mahjongg games you could have won. For the believers: Would you want to go to the Pearly Gates knowing you threw out a letter to donate to a non-profit, neglected to help a kid in India or some other worthwhile cause? I think not.

Bombs or Doctors?

2008-06-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

"If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions," George W. Bush aptly predicted, "then we're going to have a serious problem." If I didn't know any better, some serious problems are already taking root. Inefficient healthcare, a plummeting economy. ailing lending giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and a war that has irrefutably become an eyesore are just the tip of the iceberg. As the list of government expenditures increases exponentially, it's hard not to question the price tag of such a costly Iraqi war. Shown here, the battle in Iraq has been more costly than healthcare and other domestic necessities combined:

###

Now, I don't necessarily want this blog to become a platform for my political tendencies but sometimes it's hard not to state the obvious. I don't necessarily believe in public healthcare or, conversely, privatized healthcare. Yet, it's increasingly apparent that there are much better ways to spend billions of dollars and thousands of lives than on an unseen and unnecessary battle. Sadly, as the late George Carlin said, "We can't get healthcare to our old people but we can bomb the sh*t out of your country."

For the Love of the... Money?

2008-06-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last wrote, but time's been a rare commodity lately. Hopefully, I can keep this short and concise.

As an intern at an investment firm, I'm constantly surrounded by money; Dollars, Yen, Euro, Pesos... you get the point. As a result, I've asked, "Am I in it for the money or the love of the game?" Ultimately, to be successful requires not only intelligence, but deft skill, passion, and a knack that few have.

Now, doesn't the image of a mansion on pearly white sand beaches, palm trees, and margaritas sound tempting? Isn't the vision of beautiful Puerto Rican women feeding you grapes enticing? Yet, unlike Jimmy Buffet, I'm not looking to waste away in Margaritaville. Instead, I've opted for a life of hard work, philanthropy, and love. I've decided that what I achieve in life shall not dictate who I become... yet so many become their jobs. Sadly, wealth becomes a source of egocentrism, arrogance... and narcissism.

But my goal isn't the bank account with eight figures or lavish estates reminiscent of Columbian cocaine plantations. Instead, I'd prefer a modest home and European backpacking trips with my family. I'd prefer to donate to the underprivileged, to develop the next solution to global warming or starvation, and to see my family happy. I think it was Confucius who said:

"To be able, under all circumstances, to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue. These five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."

Before I run off on philosophical tangents, I'd like to conclude with one statement: people should reevaluate who they've become and ask themselves, "Am I in it for the love of the money or the love of the game?"

Off Track Hypocrisy

2008-06-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Horse racing caught my attention last night on the news. As one

of the most inhumane sports to grace the front pages of newspapers,

it has become an accepted part of our society that is inextricably

associated with gambling. Rather than state the obvious, I thought

I'd put in my two cents on the topic. Maybe I can look behind the

facade that includes pretentiously wide brim hats and rich men in

suits and ultimately say something insightful.

Known as the 'Sport of Kings' since early Roman times, horse racing has evolved into a sport controlled by the gambling industry. As a result of the malign influences such as bettor relations and monetary rewards, animal abuse has risen tremendously at training facilities. In addition, horse racing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world -- approximately 128 deaths per 100,000 riders and 800 equine deaths per year -- putting both the equine and the jockey at risk. Accordingly, there should be a reevaluation of the sport's values and practices. As a former horse trainer, I understand the physical strain that horses have to go through. However, I've never been one to aggressively argue for animal rights yet, a horse at least deserves some respect. And despite their subservience, they have a level of intelligence that could potentially rival some humans.

Another interesting and related topic that struck me was the betting aspect of the sport. According to U.S anti-gambling laws, betting is only illegal if skill is not present in a bet. Accordingly, 'The Dominant Factor Test' is used to verify the amount of skill used in a bet. If it is determined that there is skill involved, there is no violation of anti-gambling laws. I know the average citizen randomly picks a horse with a funny name from a list... how skillful do you have to be to do this? Sure, you have to be able read but I think that hardly qualifies.

As a staple in the New York gambling world, Off Track Betting has become a popular locale to place a bet on a big race and ironically, it is owned by the State of New York. What gives the State the right to start its own gambling practices over you or I? Ultimately, I think the government should redefine the word "hypocrisy" or change the law. After all, who doesn't like to win with a royal flush?

Mr. Environmentalist

2008-06-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

I accidentally spilled copious amounts of gasoline on an already tarnished gas station pavement. Unfazed, I chuckled at the enormous gasoline bill my uncle had incurred in order to satiate his boyhood fantasies of fast cars.

It never occurred to me, Mr. Environmentalist, that I was somewhat hypocritical. Always preaching to recycle a soda can or reuse a paper towel, I neglected to realize the results of my laziness. No, I couldn't have held the nozzle like almost every human being and ultimately, I paid the price. So, like British Petroleum's vain attempt at corporate greenwash with their alluring "green" symbol, I was in turn, a hypocrite myself. Maybe I should take heed my own words more often.

The price at the pump is another thing to consider as Summer-time kicks into high gear. This morning I paid $4.10 per gallon of regular gasoline... not ultimate, not premium, but regular. To some this might seem like a drop in the bucket, but for me, I felt my wallet lose more weight than Jared on his Subway diet. As the demand for various commodities reaches record highs, we must consider the causes of such dramatic spikes in prices. In an argument with my uncle, we concluded that this was not simply a matter of supply and demand, but result of a more delicate framework of politics, current events, and corruption.

On the economic forefront, there has been a decrease in the value of the dollar as the Fed continually floods the market with money in an attempt to assuage the looming recession. Ultimately, this has lowered the value of the dollar in real terms, yet the US dollar still has the same spending capacity. This measure, the capacity of currencies to purchase select bundles of goods, helps delineate the changes in the market and prices of goods. Knowing this, the decreasing value of the dollar has simultaneously created a push for higher oil prices and the value of units of goods per dollar has remained relatively steady.

Boasting a nominal GDP of over $3.42 trillion, China has become one of the largest consumers of oil. As if it weren't enough that we have to pay $140 a barrel, China's demand is expected to increase by 7.5% per year, increasing the value of oil even more. In addition to the reallocation of demand, greater tensions and corruption in the Middle East and South American countries have contributed to the soaring prices. President Bush made a brave declaration today from the Rose Garden stating that oil prices are high due to hostility from oil producing countries and we must look at alternative energies. In addition, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina not only displaced 120,000 people, but also severely damaged production and refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. This endless cycle eventually perpetuates itself; we need to stay away from the pump in order to lower gas prices, fight foreign hostility, and save the environment.

I think we should look optimistically to the future as we feel the greedy hands of corporations leaving into our wallets. With the new age of technology and renewable energy, we can only hope for cleaner and brighter future for our children.

A Long Trip Home

2008-06-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

So the other day I packed my bags and left school... at four o'clock in the morning. I crammed every last sock and pencil into my already teeming suitcases and hastily said my 'good-byes.' It wasn't until I boarded the plane to Florida did I ask, "What was the point?"

Granted, I learned what the Coase Theorem is, how to find a null space, and the meaning of life... just kidding. But I guess this year inevitably made me question more. One question that seemed to plague me was "Who am I?" Just to clear it up, no, I'm not literally a hobo. Well, some might think that I am and to each his own. Ideally, I would have picked a more fitting name like "Traveling Gypsy Joe" or "Migratory Joe" or something to that effect... but that doesn't rhyme now, does it?

So, for those of you who might have accidentally stumbled upon this page, you could possibly be reading about the future President or your local sanitation engineer. Personally, you can just call me "hoboJoe." Straight out of my freshman year at Stanford, I'll be your source of knowledge... some useful, some not. I'd like to say I'm a jack-of-all-trades, good at all, great at none.

I'm usually one to over analyze, though. I'm optimistic and pessimistic. Optimistically pessimistic... or pessimistically optimistic? Sometimes I don't follow my convictions and I make too many compromises. I complain sometimes, and I take things personally. I have to do everything. And then there's the recurring question, "Why?" Maybe throughout the course of these blogs I'll figure out the answers to my already daunting list of questions.