Culture and human expression in arts is an important part of understanding the world around us. New statistics show that the arts and culture sector contributed $763.6 billion. That is somewhere around 4.2% of the economy and is much higher than many other sectors. The cultural views in the nation are changing with a new and emerging younger generation that values different things than previous generations.
Both outdoor recreation and the Arts have increased this year. People are more interested in engaging in a well rounded life. They provide an outlet for the deeper meaning of life beyond work and making money. It provides an appreciation for our culture and the culture of other people.
I have spend a lot of time with people from Europe and other places in the world and what I found is that believe Americans are not very "cultural". I don't believe this to be true. We have our own culture based in our history and need to be practical.
However, we are not always aware of the other cultural attributes that come from Europe and other places in the world. Engaging in cultural activities helps create a greater appreciation for human life and people in the world.
One can also make the argument that watching cultural events also provides a outlet for understanding the beauty and tragedy of life in general. We can get in touch with our emotions and the needs of society. It provides ideals and standards many of us should strive for.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
How "Elitism" in Higher Education Limits Its Benefits
Elitism is the idea that one is better than another because they have more money, resources, are more intelligent, have a better education and more opportunities than others. This may seem true in a short sighted way. However, elitism in higher education stifles its overall mission of helping people learn. When people are essentially locked out of opportunities because they were not born into wealthy families there is a level of dogmatic stunting in growth and depth that leads to inbred ideas that don't perform.
Think of how learning creates structures in our brain and how we understand the world around us. As we move through the education process we come to use certain mental pathways for solving problems and in the end continue to use those same pathways to solve problems. New ideas may be crowded out by conventional thinking.
Typically, in life this isn't a bad thing but in science it can be disastrous as new ideas are limited by the educational process. Some are not able to think outside the box and in the end it leads them to solving the same problems, living within the same mental frameworks, and in the end coming to deeper small solutions within the same line of thinking without ever changing the paradigm.
Elitism encourages cultural conformity from people who grew up with the same privilege and view themselves and their lifestyle as superior to others (It is equally likely that other defined groups also push for conformity). They are not necessarily "elite" but born with privilege. The elite person is the single mother who achieves a higher education, or a guy who invents something new in his garage. They are able to use ingenuity and grit to tackle unique problems.
In this case elitism is based on performance and actual existence in life. It is not based in the falsity of one's superior privilege rooted in things that made life easy for them. In higher education we need new ideas, new ways of doing things, and truly elite people who can think for themselves. A level of diversity is needed that can mix with resources to create new pathways for solving some of the world's problems.
Think of how learning creates structures in our brain and how we understand the world around us. As we move through the education process we come to use certain mental pathways for solving problems and in the end continue to use those same pathways to solve problems. New ideas may be crowded out by conventional thinking.
Typically, in life this isn't a bad thing but in science it can be disastrous as new ideas are limited by the educational process. Some are not able to think outside the box and in the end it leads them to solving the same problems, living within the same mental frameworks, and in the end coming to deeper small solutions within the same line of thinking without ever changing the paradigm.
Elitism encourages cultural conformity from people who grew up with the same privilege and view themselves and their lifestyle as superior to others (It is equally likely that other defined groups also push for conformity). They are not necessarily "elite" but born with privilege. The elite person is the single mother who achieves a higher education, or a guy who invents something new in his garage. They are able to use ingenuity and grit to tackle unique problems.
In this case elitism is based on performance and actual existence in life. It is not based in the falsity of one's superior privilege rooted in things that made life easy for them. In higher education we need new ideas, new ways of doing things, and truly elite people who can think for themselves. A level of diversity is needed that can mix with resources to create new pathways for solving some of the world's problems.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
China Beats the European Union. Is America Next?
Chin's GDP will reach $13.2 trillion this year beating the $12.8 trillion of the combined 19 nations of the EU (According to Bloomberg). The U.S. is at $18 trillion and it will take less than a decade to get there. So what are we doing about it?
Well I think there is a push to change our fate but the U.S. has lost so much manufacturing power over the past 30 years that it will be difficult to get it back without major changes in our political structure but also how we think as a nation.
One of the issues we face is a lack of direction based on a few principles that all political parties can agree with. We have many versions of America and each party seems to have their own goals. Instead of a debate on how we should achieve those goals we have more of a debate of established ideology.
Another major issue is the chaotic and confrontational manner of current politics. This is a problem that has been brewing for decades and our leaders are more concerned with following their own political camp versus making independent decisions expected of highly capable individuals.
We also need new blood in politics. Because large money makes its way into the system the well connected and powerful are making the same type of decisions over and over but new blood with new ways of thinking about things seem to be lacking. Political, social, and economic mobility is becoming difficult.
Of course we should have a discussion on innovation and corporate competitiveness. Our infrastructure is an advantage at the moment but it will need to stay ahead of the competition. That comes with revamping our corporate competitiveness and creating an export economy. The next digitization and AI era can be ours if we prepare our country.
Without change there will be no change. The expected result based on the current trajectory is likely unless the rules are changed. That requires new ways of thinking and protecting what we all hold sacred and changing the way in which we do business to bring forward something new. It requires a focus on a few principles of our future and truly living those American values that provide equal opportunities for all.
Well I think there is a push to change our fate but the U.S. has lost so much manufacturing power over the past 30 years that it will be difficult to get it back without major changes in our political structure but also how we think as a nation.
One of the issues we face is a lack of direction based on a few principles that all political parties can agree with. We have many versions of America and each party seems to have their own goals. Instead of a debate on how we should achieve those goals we have more of a debate of established ideology.
Another major issue is the chaotic and confrontational manner of current politics. This is a problem that has been brewing for decades and our leaders are more concerned with following their own political camp versus making independent decisions expected of highly capable individuals.
We also need new blood in politics. Because large money makes its way into the system the well connected and powerful are making the same type of decisions over and over but new blood with new ways of thinking about things seem to be lacking. Political, social, and economic mobility is becoming difficult.
Of course we should have a discussion on innovation and corporate competitiveness. Our infrastructure is an advantage at the moment but it will need to stay ahead of the competition. That comes with revamping our corporate competitiveness and creating an export economy. The next digitization and AI era can be ours if we prepare our country.
Without change there will be no change. The expected result based on the current trajectory is likely unless the rules are changed. That requires new ways of thinking and protecting what we all hold sacred and changing the way in which we do business to bring forward something new. It requires a focus on a few principles of our future and truly living those American values that provide equal opportunities for all.
How Much Protein Should Active Men into Fitness Eat in a Day
I did a little reviewing of the currently literature on the amount of protein a person who exercises and wishes to gain muscle should consumer. General, ranges are between .6 and 1.5 grams per pound of weight. That is a lot. The recommended sort of informal average is about 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight.
Therefore, if want to gain some muscle while working out you will need to meet a threshold of .6 grams of protein per pound to survive but somewhere around 1 gram of protein per pound to gain muscle.
It can be hard to gain this much protein so I would consider shakes, beans, peanut butter, lean meats, fish, and other sources. You have to consider that eating lots of fatty foods to reach this level will likely mean you are going to gain fat and muscle at the same time. It is wiser to overhaul your eating habits to include salads, lean meats, fish as well as stay away from too many carbs and processed foods.
80% of the battle with health has something to do with how we eat. Exercise is very helpful and is encouraged but may not have maximum benefits if you are scarfing down Mac & Cheese, Fries, and Burgers. Get your eating right, your protein intake, and exercise routine to have a total life improvement in health and fitness.
Therefore, if want to gain some muscle while working out you will need to meet a threshold of .6 grams of protein per pound to survive but somewhere around 1 gram of protein per pound to gain muscle.
It can be hard to gain this much protein so I would consider shakes, beans, peanut butter, lean meats, fish, and other sources. You have to consider that eating lots of fatty foods to reach this level will likely mean you are going to gain fat and muscle at the same time. It is wiser to overhaul your eating habits to include salads, lean meats, fish as well as stay away from too many carbs and processed foods.
80% of the battle with health has something to do with how we eat. Exercise is very helpful and is encouraged but may not have maximum benefits if you are scarfing down Mac & Cheese, Fries, and Burgers. Get your eating right, your protein intake, and exercise routine to have a total life improvement in health and fitness.
Removing "Too Big to Fail" Bank Legislation
The Senate is considering a bill that would reduce legislation on big banks implemented after the last major crisis. These rules are designed to protect tax payers and the economy from future risky investments that could have a detrimental impact on the larger economy. There is some debate as what they should do.
First, let me state there are fundamentally different risks posed by the size and breadth of the bank. Smaller banks cannot impact the economy in a way that would pose serious risk and therefore should not have the same rules as larger banks.
Likewise, it is important to make the argument that large banks made risky, and sometimes selfish, decisions to increase their wealth without adequately assessing the risks to themselves as well as to others. These rules have a purpose and should not be haphazardly thrown out.
We are then led to what the rules should really look like. My suggestion is to adjust the rules to improve commerce while still providing enough checks and balances to ensure banks are transparent about their activities and punished when they "cheat" the system in some way.
Personally, I would like the penalties and punishments for criminal negligence and behavior to go up. Too many white collar criminals are "gaming" the system because to them it is just another expense in terms of fines and fees. They are often left to do what they want when they want as long as the institution will make more money than the fines.
Therefore, it would be wise to streamline some of the more cumbersome aspects of the regulations to ensure banks function well for the benefit of everyone but require them to be much more transparent about their behavior. Furthermore, fines on the institution and criminal punishments are raised to remove the incentives of "business as usual". I think there is a balance that can be made between encourage good commerce, improving trust in the institutions, and making sure there are tools to punish "bad actors".
First, let me state there are fundamentally different risks posed by the size and breadth of the bank. Smaller banks cannot impact the economy in a way that would pose serious risk and therefore should not have the same rules as larger banks.
Likewise, it is important to make the argument that large banks made risky, and sometimes selfish, decisions to increase their wealth without adequately assessing the risks to themselves as well as to others. These rules have a purpose and should not be haphazardly thrown out.
We are then led to what the rules should really look like. My suggestion is to adjust the rules to improve commerce while still providing enough checks and balances to ensure banks are transparent about their activities and punished when they "cheat" the system in some way.
Personally, I would like the penalties and punishments for criminal negligence and behavior to go up. Too many white collar criminals are "gaming" the system because to them it is just another expense in terms of fines and fees. They are often left to do what they want when they want as long as the institution will make more money than the fines.
Therefore, it would be wise to streamline some of the more cumbersome aspects of the regulations to ensure banks function well for the benefit of everyone but require them to be much more transparent about their behavior. Furthermore, fines on the institution and criminal punishments are raised to remove the incentives of "business as usual". I think there is a balance that can be made between encourage good commerce, improving trust in the institutions, and making sure there are tools to punish "bad actors".
Methods of Changing Corporate Culture
Organizational culture is like the glue that connects people together into a pattern of work and approaching problems. While it is difficult for leaders to understand their culture from an objective standpoint they nevertheless know they are in one and intuitively know the rules of existing within that organization. An article in the Harvard Business Review believes you can adjust culture.
The authors indicated that culture is shared, pervasive, enduring and implicit. It is something people have unwittingly bought into and it continues on in a way that few members have full knowledge of. It is believed that culture can be changed if we set the cultural target.
1. Understand the culture
2. Consider strategy and the environment,
3. Frame the aspiration in business realities
Providing a new sense of direction an strategy are a method of achieving cultural change. However, I would further add that simply having a new target doesn't change culture unless there is new patterns in communication and methods of approaching problems. Therefore, culture must be a structural change and an incentive change within the organization and/or it must be a crisis that transforms the inner workings of the organization.
Groysberg, B, Lee, J. Price, J. & Cheng, J. (Jan-Feb, 2018). The Leaders Guide to Corporate Culture. Harvard Business Review,
The authors indicated that culture is shared, pervasive, enduring and implicit. It is something people have unwittingly bought into and it continues on in a way that few members have full knowledge of. It is believed that culture can be changed if we set the cultural target.
1. Understand the culture
2. Consider strategy and the environment,
3. Frame the aspiration in business realities
Providing a new sense of direction an strategy are a method of achieving cultural change. However, I would further add that simply having a new target doesn't change culture unless there is new patterns in communication and methods of approaching problems. Therefore, culture must be a structural change and an incentive change within the organization and/or it must be a crisis that transforms the inner workings of the organization.
Groysberg, B, Lee, J. Price, J. & Cheng, J. (Jan-Feb, 2018). The Leaders Guide to Corporate Culture. Harvard Business Review,
Monday, March 5, 2018
The Book Theory and Reality by Peter Godfrey-Smith
Last week I got done reading the book Theory and Reality which went through the introduction to the philosophy of science. I must say that it is a great book and people who are trying to learn about science and study science should read it. Unlike many other books it provides for a broader knowledge of the context and type of thinking associated with science.
Concepts like empiricism, naturalism, and scientific revolution. You will also find subjective interpretation, empiricism, Bayesianism, Kuhn, Logic and history. Mostly the book will put the different manners of viewing and seeing science and observation into a larger picture.
Sometimes we learn about the method and the overall process of designing experiments but we don't always have the large background knowledge needed to contextualize such information. It is important here because in research one has to be familiar with the methodology to better manage data and observation.
It is kind of a long book but the author does a pretty good job of explaining the concepts in a way that builds off of each other. I think I gained a few IQ points by reading it. It helped me put together all of these different pieces of philosophy and science into a better framework.
Concepts like empiricism, naturalism, and scientific revolution. You will also find subjective interpretation, empiricism, Bayesianism, Kuhn, Logic and history. Mostly the book will put the different manners of viewing and seeing science and observation into a larger picture.
Sometimes we learn about the method and the overall process of designing experiments but we don't always have the large background knowledge needed to contextualize such information. It is important here because in research one has to be familiar with the methodology to better manage data and observation.
It is kind of a long book but the author does a pretty good job of explaining the concepts in a way that builds off of each other. I think I gained a few IQ points by reading it. It helped me put together all of these different pieces of philosophy and science into a better framework.
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