So as many of us know there is an all powerful being that has saved grades, answered educational prayers, and wrecked curves. The all knowing student's deity known to many as Google reigns as the definitive search engine (sorry bing and yahoo) to use when we just don't want to look hard enough for an answer. Not just students, but everybody seems to use Google for whatever they need to find. While we may find Google a godsend that has all the answers we could ever hope for, some think it is making our own abilities to find answers and solve problems. Nicholas Carr's entire article Is Google making Us Stupid? analyses how are use of Google and internet databases are grinding away at our abilities to make connections and find information for ourselves.
Carr points out how not-so-long ago a person had to look thru an encyclopedia or collections of articles at their local library for simple quotes or bits of information. right now I could tell you that on 16 December 1991, Kazakhstan became the last Soviet republic to declare independence and that its communist-era leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, became the country's first President and has retained that position for more than two decades. Did you know that? I certainly didn't but one quick Google search has given me more information in moments than what i could find in three hours at a library. The only issue is that instead of reading a great deal of information and drawing information about culture, trade, history, and various other points about the nation of Kazakhstan, I've found one small bit of in formation and promptly left. I don't even think I could locate Kazakhstan on a map and i just told you about its president and independence from the Soviet Union. Carr is right when he says that we don't look into things and lose the deeper reading skills we once had. With other points on how writing on a laptop, on a typewriter, with pen, or with quill will effect how a person writes and how efficiency can have benefits and struggles, Carr never really answers whether or not Google is making us stupid.
Carr's article has valid points and he's not wrong when he says that Google and the internet as a whole is changing the way we think. With the new method of information hopping and picking up pieces of data and whatnot, there is a new breed of study, analysis, and hypothesis. Instead of looking for possible solutions we look at whats worked in the past and work from their. We've gone from problem-and-solution to trial-and-error. The most significant change is that we are gunning for efficiency rather than quality. If a person can write a paper using sparknotes and summaries in an hour, why would he or she ever want to spend hours of study and analysis to make a deeper paper. The opportunity cost of time is weighted more than anything else. Google isn't making us stupid, its making us faster. In doing so we may be sacrificing content and knowledge but we don't seem to mind and it doesn't look like its going to change any time soon.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014
The Ethics of Living Jim Crow
There are few words I can use to describe Richard Wright's article surrounding upbringing in southern American society, but eye-opening likely stands above all. Coming from the primarily white, near northernmost state in the US, the only diversity a person generally experiences is in the interior of larger cities aside from one of the highest concentrations of Hmong immigrants in the nation who are not necessarily subject to Jim Crow. Wright's depictions of how prevalent of a role racism and segregation played in his life show a new lifestyle not witnessed or understood by middle class white kids in Smalltown, Midwest, USA. Regardless Wright illustrates clearly how influences of racial supremacy still exist and flourish in cultures for 300 years after their creation.
In Wright's article, he describes various life events that were heavily influenced by Jim Crow such as his childhood fights with the other white children who were out for blood, his short career working in an optical workshop where intimidation and neglect were normal, and how his eventual growth in career still held a limited lifestyle purely for his skin color. Wright manages to show that by living in the south, a black man is never truly equal and as a result must learn a new cod of ethics to adapt to the white lifestyle around him. These social norms never seemed to be questioned seeing as they were enforced by men in white outfits armed with nooses. A society of fear and white supremacy gives way to an entirely different culture. Wright's article describes simple hazing to fighting to full fledged beatings at the hands of whites in a coming of age that is unlike any other.
The message of Wright's article doesn't seem to be an attack on whites as a whole or be an effort to guilt all of those who read it. Wright seems to instead write of his own experiences and bring to light a new lifestyle that is mostly unknown to Americans since they will likely never experience it. This eye-opening article gives a look into southern customs that aren't advertised on restaurant menus or in issues of Country Living. Jim Crow is an issue that has existed for hundreds of years and is shockingly still a widely accepted aspect of American culture. Wright's tales of his experiences sit as only one example of what a typical black boy experiences in the south growing up. Culture that has existed for centuries is near impossible to change which means that stories like these are likely to continue, perhaps not as extreme but still in some fashion as time goes on making the iconic stanza "All men are created equal" meaningless.
In Wright's article, he describes various life events that were heavily influenced by Jim Crow such as his childhood fights with the other white children who were out for blood, his short career working in an optical workshop where intimidation and neglect were normal, and how his eventual growth in career still held a limited lifestyle purely for his skin color. Wright manages to show that by living in the south, a black man is never truly equal and as a result must learn a new cod of ethics to adapt to the white lifestyle around him. These social norms never seemed to be questioned seeing as they were enforced by men in white outfits armed with nooses. A society of fear and white supremacy gives way to an entirely different culture. Wright's article describes simple hazing to fighting to full fledged beatings at the hands of whites in a coming of age that is unlike any other.
The message of Wright's article doesn't seem to be an attack on whites as a whole or be an effort to guilt all of those who read it. Wright seems to instead write of his own experiences and bring to light a new lifestyle that is mostly unknown to Americans since they will likely never experience it. This eye-opening article gives a look into southern customs that aren't advertised on restaurant menus or in issues of Country Living. Jim Crow is an issue that has existed for hundreds of years and is shockingly still a widely accepted aspect of American culture. Wright's tales of his experiences sit as only one example of what a typical black boy experiences in the south growing up. Culture that has existed for centuries is near impossible to change which means that stories like these are likely to continue, perhaps not as extreme but still in some fashion as time goes on making the iconic stanza "All men are created equal" meaningless.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Talk of the Town
How could any American forget the life-changing, earth-shattering events of September 11th, 2001? In the immediate aftermath of the tragic attacks, the airline industry would come close to collapse, new-found racial stereotypes would surface, and paranoia would ensue. In the wake of these events there would surely be mixed emotions and feelings, yet no two people would ever share the same outlook. The New Yorker would publish two articles in their "Talk of the Town" section; one by John Updike and the other by Susan Sontag.
9/11's events are certainly infamous and could hardly ever be described under positive connotation; Updike and Sontag take two very different approaches to describe, analyze, and ultimately write two distinct articles that display the varying types of reactions to the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Updike's article is a more artistic seeming piece that focuses on depicting what he witnessed from an apartment in Brooklyn a short ways away from the towers. With such descriptive and thought provoking statements like, " We knew we had just witnessed thousands of deaths; we clung to each other as if we ourselves were falling," its difficult not to relive the day. Updike spends little time placing blame and looking for answers as he instead seems to focus on what exactly happened. Updike is able to point out the frailty of man and society as a whole while at the same time shows a great deal of pride in his city. Updike takes a tragedy and analyzes the effects of it and creates an image of patriotism and fear rising from the ashes of the World Trade Center to create a new lifestyle in America unlike any before.
Far from Updike's style of writing and seemingly poetic description of tragedy is Susan Sontag's article on the attacks. In Sontag's writing, there is little time for mourning or sympathy and instead a near instant jump into sarcasm and a strange ode to the attackers. Sontag makes it a point to show some kind of respect towards the hijackers and despite not stating it herself makes the divine attack seem as if it were some sort of noble quest. While Sontag makes a valid point that America was not o.k as it may have seemed, declaring the president a robot-like being and the members of congress spineless, policy-jumping politician is certainly no method of addressing the much larger issues at hand. The leaders of our government at the times of these attacks were undoubtedly terrified and confused. Shock and panic surely follows an unprecedented attack such as the one on the fateful morning of September 11th. The main purpose of Sontag's message is not to console or find strength for the American people, but rather to point out further flaws and policies that have collectively manifested themselves in the form of several hateful hijackers onboard four different planes on a seemingly normal Tuesday morning. Sontag points out something Americans may need to hear but don't wish to, yet she sounds increasingly condescending throughout the article.
The two featured articles show two contrasting stories on the subject. Updike's imagery compared to Sontag's dose of reality shows that in dark times, there is no right way to think and all thoughts are rational.
9/11's events are certainly infamous and could hardly ever be described under positive connotation; Updike and Sontag take two very different approaches to describe, analyze, and ultimately write two distinct articles that display the varying types of reactions to the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Updike's article is a more artistic seeming piece that focuses on depicting what he witnessed from an apartment in Brooklyn a short ways away from the towers. With such descriptive and thought provoking statements like, " We knew we had just witnessed thousands of deaths; we clung to each other as if we ourselves were falling," its difficult not to relive the day. Updike spends little time placing blame and looking for answers as he instead seems to focus on what exactly happened. Updike is able to point out the frailty of man and society as a whole while at the same time shows a great deal of pride in his city. Updike takes a tragedy and analyzes the effects of it and creates an image of patriotism and fear rising from the ashes of the World Trade Center to create a new lifestyle in America unlike any before.
Far from Updike's style of writing and seemingly poetic description of tragedy is Susan Sontag's article on the attacks. In Sontag's writing, there is little time for mourning or sympathy and instead a near instant jump into sarcasm and a strange ode to the attackers. Sontag makes it a point to show some kind of respect towards the hijackers and despite not stating it herself makes the divine attack seem as if it were some sort of noble quest. While Sontag makes a valid point that America was not o.k as it may have seemed, declaring the president a robot-like being and the members of congress spineless, policy-jumping politician is certainly no method of addressing the much larger issues at hand. The leaders of our government at the times of these attacks were undoubtedly terrified and confused. Shock and panic surely follows an unprecedented attack such as the one on the fateful morning of September 11th. The main purpose of Sontag's message is not to console or find strength for the American people, but rather to point out further flaws and policies that have collectively manifested themselves in the form of several hateful hijackers onboard four different planes on a seemingly normal Tuesday morning. Sontag points out something Americans may need to hear but don't wish to, yet she sounds increasingly condescending throughout the article.
The two featured articles show two contrasting stories on the subject. Updike's imagery compared to Sontag's dose of reality shows that in dark times, there is no right way to think and all thoughts are rational.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
The Mildly Interesting Tale of Jed Parick Buchholz
Shalom and welcome brothers of Zion and gentiles alike to The Procrastinator's Blog run by yours truly, Jed Buchholz. I'm sure you're all dying to know more about me so I suppose I'll give a brief introduction for those of you who may not know.
My name is Jed Patrick Raymond Buchholz, but most people call me either Jed, Bucky, or Jew with the latter pair being almost exclusive to the gridiron. Being mostly French with some gypsy blood, my ancestry is a long confusing line of nomads and monarchs that surely met in the most unlikely of circumstances. While there isn't too much else to tell about the basics there is plenty to discuss deeper. Won't you join me as we explore me? (My apologies for the phrasing)
If there's a good way to go about this I surely haven't found it, so I suppose I'll simply begin to list off various bits and pieces until the page is of adequate length. Good deal? Good deal.
Like I said I'm mostly French with my father being born in the town of St. Nazaire, a lovely port city in the Bretagne region. From this my family and I hold French customs and traditions very highly with dishes like Moules et Frites, Couquilles St. Jacques, and Escargot to be primary dinner staples.
When not enjoying French cuisine I can often be found in or on the track, football field, weightroom, basement of my home, or kitchen at McDonald's. Sports and burgers are the two things I live by and I wouldn't have it any other way.
What more can I really share? Forgive me as I've hit a wall... alright so what may have been a half second read to you has been ten minutes of pondering over a bowl of frosted flakes for me, but I think I've found some subjects so let's get back to it.
When I'm not bat home or work, I can usually be found four hours away near the UP border in a small town called Mercer where my family's cabin sits on the shore of beautiful, weedy, and murky Lake Mercer. If I could be anywhere at any time it would likely be there where ATV/UTV riding can follow endless combinations of trail, where fishing and watersports can be enjoyed on literally thousand of lakes, and where the sounds of police sirens and loud neighbors are replaced with the peaceful wail of loons and often nothing more. Tranquil isn't it? If it wasn't so far and different from typical lifestyle back here I'm certain I'd move there in a heartbeat.
I suppose the last thing I can share is something exclusive that I'm certain nobody else knows, don't get too excited it's nothing earth shattering. Some nights when my father and I are up far later than we should be, we'll be watching TV with what seems like literally zero things of interest to watch. On nights like these my father and I often tune into obscure sports such as cricket, badminton, Scottish hurling, lumberjack games, and even pesapallo which is Finnish baseball. Honestly we find crap you'd watch if ESPN 8: The Ocho was real and sometimes watch for far too long. Several times we;ve watched heated cricket matches go until the tea breaks (not even joking they have tea breaks) and then call it a night. Honestly try watching cricket and learn the rules, I'd recommend watching an England vs. India match, those are always great matches.
There isn't too much more to say I guess so I guess I'll leave you all to the better things you have to do than read about my life. Thanks for stopping by and seriously, try watching cricket. Shalom -JPB
My name is Jed Patrick Raymond Buchholz, but most people call me either Jed, Bucky, or Jew with the latter pair being almost exclusive to the gridiron. Being mostly French with some gypsy blood, my ancestry is a long confusing line of nomads and monarchs that surely met in the most unlikely of circumstances. While there isn't too much else to tell about the basics there is plenty to discuss deeper. Won't you join me as we explore me? (My apologies for the phrasing)
If there's a good way to go about this I surely haven't found it, so I suppose I'll simply begin to list off various bits and pieces until the page is of adequate length. Good deal? Good deal.
Like I said I'm mostly French with my father being born in the town of St. Nazaire, a lovely port city in the Bretagne region. From this my family and I hold French customs and traditions very highly with dishes like Moules et Frites, Couquilles St. Jacques, and Escargot to be primary dinner staples.
When not enjoying French cuisine I can often be found in or on the track, football field, weightroom, basement of my home, or kitchen at McDonald's. Sports and burgers are the two things I live by and I wouldn't have it any other way.
What more can I really share? Forgive me as I've hit a wall... alright so what may have been a half second read to you has been ten minutes of pondering over a bowl of frosted flakes for me, but I think I've found some subjects so let's get back to it.
When I'm not bat home or work, I can usually be found four hours away near the UP border in a small town called Mercer where my family's cabin sits on the shore of beautiful, weedy, and murky Lake Mercer. If I could be anywhere at any time it would likely be there where ATV/UTV riding can follow endless combinations of trail, where fishing and watersports can be enjoyed on literally thousand of lakes, and where the sounds of police sirens and loud neighbors are replaced with the peaceful wail of loons and often nothing more. Tranquil isn't it? If it wasn't so far and different from typical lifestyle back here I'm certain I'd move there in a heartbeat.
I suppose the last thing I can share is something exclusive that I'm certain nobody else knows, don't get too excited it's nothing earth shattering. Some nights when my father and I are up far later than we should be, we'll be watching TV with what seems like literally zero things of interest to watch. On nights like these my father and I often tune into obscure sports such as cricket, badminton, Scottish hurling, lumberjack games, and even pesapallo which is Finnish baseball. Honestly we find crap you'd watch if ESPN 8: The Ocho was real and sometimes watch for far too long. Several times we;ve watched heated cricket matches go until the tea breaks (not even joking they have tea breaks) and then call it a night. Honestly try watching cricket and learn the rules, I'd recommend watching an England vs. India match, those are always great matches.
There isn't too much more to say I guess so I guess I'll leave you all to the better things you have to do than read about my life. Thanks for stopping by and seriously, try watching cricket. Shalom -JPB
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