As I listened to the Billy Joel song "Vienna" the first few times it sparked a reverie within me. Are we to head the advice of the Piano Man, and others who similarly believe that you should not try to grow up too young, or the less enticing instructions from our elders demanding early maturity.
It is becoming more and more common for youths of my age and disposition to live at home longer, to not necessarily go to college, and to not necessarily find a career immediately after they have finished their education (whether by choice or not). This trend of post-high schoolers and collegers returning to the once empty nest, or never leaving, seems to be continually frowned upon by the parents of these blood-suckers.
I can not deny, as many believe, that laziness and limited desire for independence is to blame. However, I think that much of the causality can be aimed towards the big bad world that teens and twentysomethings with limited facial hair have to face. The blue collar world of the fifties, sixties and seventies, is no more. Outsourcing and insourcing and supply-chaining has drastically reduced the number of domestic workers needed to keep multi-national or multi-province companies operating smoothly.
The cost of living, especially in California, in conjunction with taxes and the appallingly low minimum wage make the early independence of our parents a dream of the past. Moving out and buying a home before you are the age of 25 with out a spouse is nearly a fantasy. Even though the present housing market is a buyers dream, the poor lending practices of the national banking system have prevented it from being a "first-time" buyer's dream.
Careers just are not as available as they once were. The amount of money to be made while starting at the bottom rung is almost not worth it without the years of experience to promote your initial salary.
It makes sense why many of my generation want to stay close to home. The laziness is permissible to my kind, because of the safety net that accompanies. I do not know how many of fellow high school graduates spent hours and hours at restaurants and Starbucks counters. Even if some of these examples are the ones that have moved out with a boyfriend, or good friend, they can barely stay afloat working full-time jobs of this calibur. When are they supposed to get the education required for position that were once being thrown at high school graduates?? Why do people all of a sudden need a bachelor's degree to manage a restaurant or small office?? The abundance of college graduates does not magically make these positions harder to hold and carry out the duties of. The standards and obstacles for jobs that have been around for decades have floated just as fast as the inflation rate, and left those with limited income, or natural born intelligence without the slightest possibility to compete.
This is leading me to believe my generation, will become the generation of lifelong renters, the generation of life long double-jobbers, the generation of dreams and hopes that were put on permanent hold and stand-by. WE CAN'T GET THE JOB WITHOUT THE EXPERIENCE, AND WE CAN'T GET THE EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THE JOB.
So I ask, are we supposed to grow up fast and thrust ourselves into the big bad world as soon as we can, or are we to take our time and figure it out and find a path that is bearable and profitable?? What do you want me to do Moms and Dads??
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
to teach...
to teach is a skill and a desire. As I am now a substitute teacher in my home town...I have a totally different perspective on education than I once held. I have been around education, particularly special education my entire life. I have worked with children with simply learning disabilities, to children with serious mental handicaps.
But, it wasn't until I entered a classroom as a leader, not an assistant or aide, that I realized the deficiency in our public education system. They will allow with, a recent college graduate, who fortunately has much more teaching experience that most in my position or age bracket, teach, or babysit a class.
I don't find this to be proposterous...but unusually trustworthy.
I'm not truly complaining due to the fact that this is one o the few employment opportunities I can arrange with little to no useful work experience. It is nice to know that the state of California sees the value in having a bachelor's degree, even if the majority of businesses seem not to.
With the economy in dire straits, experience seems to not only be the key to success, but mere employment. Many of my fellow recent graduates are maintaining jobs that do not require their available education level, merely because the market has such competition, and companies seem rather unwilling to provide the time, money and effort necessary to train and prepare a new hire for their position. They would rather plop someone in front of a computer screen knowing they could say "GO" and the individual would know what to do immediately.
This trend is rather unfortunate for my generation as the offspring of baby boomers in today's job market. However, with the baby boomers all creeping ever-so-closely to that retirement age, these corporations that have been employing this work force 30 plus years out of college, are facing a drop in the job pool. Once my parent's generation retires, they will have to bite the bullet and employ the lowly unskilled college grad.
The irony is with testing, curriculum and intense competition of enrollment in today's universities, I must toot my generation's own horn and say that I think we are smarter than our parents. The ever increasing requirements to graduate high school, to gain acceptance (even into state universities) is rapidly increasing due to the high volume of applicants. Every college is fortunate enough to claim that their exclusivity is at a record high. All I have to say is...thank our parents for shelling out the 2.5 kids their parents did before them.
My simply request is to the employers of this world. Knowing the high level of achievement required to graduate and even to gain enrollment in today's colleges, why have you not demonstrated acknowledgment of a diploma as a valuable enough achievement to find an entry level position in your firms and corporations? Obviously we are smart...and more than capable of learning. Chances are we learned more in our undergrad studies than you did in your master's program.
Think it over and get back to me.
But, it wasn't until I entered a classroom as a leader, not an assistant or aide, that I realized the deficiency in our public education system. They will allow with, a recent college graduate, who fortunately has much more teaching experience that most in my position or age bracket, teach, or babysit a class.
I don't find this to be proposterous...but unusually trustworthy.
I'm not truly complaining due to the fact that this is one o the few employment opportunities I can arrange with little to no useful work experience. It is nice to know that the state of California sees the value in having a bachelor's degree, even if the majority of businesses seem not to.
With the economy in dire straits, experience seems to not only be the key to success, but mere employment. Many of my fellow recent graduates are maintaining jobs that do not require their available education level, merely because the market has such competition, and companies seem rather unwilling to provide the time, money and effort necessary to train and prepare a new hire for their position. They would rather plop someone in front of a computer screen knowing they could say "GO" and the individual would know what to do immediately.
This trend is rather unfortunate for my generation as the offspring of baby boomers in today's job market. However, with the baby boomers all creeping ever-so-closely to that retirement age, these corporations that have been employing this work force 30 plus years out of college, are facing a drop in the job pool. Once my parent's generation retires, they will have to bite the bullet and employ the lowly unskilled college grad.
The irony is with testing, curriculum and intense competition of enrollment in today's universities, I must toot my generation's own horn and say that I think we are smarter than our parents. The ever increasing requirements to graduate high school, to gain acceptance (even into state universities) is rapidly increasing due to the high volume of applicants. Every college is fortunate enough to claim that their exclusivity is at a record high. All I have to say is...thank our parents for shelling out the 2.5 kids their parents did before them.
My simply request is to the employers of this world. Knowing the high level of achievement required to graduate and even to gain enrollment in today's colleges, why have you not demonstrated acknowledgment of a diploma as a valuable enough achievement to find an entry level position in your firms and corporations? Obviously we are smart...and more than capable of learning. Chances are we learned more in our undergrad studies than you did in your master's program.
Think it over and get back to me.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
a time for...
So this is that time of the year when we reminisce about the fond and not so fond memories of the past 12 months. We meet with friends. We sit and talk. We say phrases and keywords that bring up inside jokes or our favorite movies. We, in the words of Dr. Dean Edell, "Eat, drink and be merry."
We crowd around to chime in the new year, some get a midnight kiss, and others don't. Some make it to the countdown...and unfortunately some don't. We remember friends lost, and cherish the friends gained. We feel it is a time for new beginnings...so many decide to forgive even if they decide not to forget. It is a time when we want to feel loved and and make others feel the loved.
But, the turn of the year is famously earmarked for our decision as a population to make promises. Typically they are promises to ourselves, but the occasional promises are for loved one. These resolutions as we call them are all to commonly far fetched. We make plans to lose 25 pounds, or be happier, or some other vague or unlikely-to-be-carried-out item. I can't say there has been a year in which I can recall what my resolution had been. Sometimes it can be mere months when we have forgotten our sacred personal promise.
So this year I have decided to adopt a tactic to prevent this. I am going to make a resolution to only make personal promises I know that I will keep. I don't want another year to go by with regrets. Your biggest regrets come from letting yourself down. Don't tried to avoid failure, but don't commit to it. Make the promises you know you can keep with the right work ethic.
Presently I don't have any resolution for myself. It has been a good year. I am only short on income, not friends or happiness. I am sure things will accumulate that I want myself to achieve. I can not change my personality or my less desirable character traits. However, I can do more things for myself. Not the purchasing of clothes or music or going out. I can do things that will be beneficial to me mentally. I will not limit the prospect of my own happiness due to fear of failure or rejection.
Happy New Year, and make it stay that way.
We crowd around to chime in the new year, some get a midnight kiss, and others don't. Some make it to the countdown...and unfortunately some don't. We remember friends lost, and cherish the friends gained. We feel it is a time for new beginnings...so many decide to forgive even if they decide not to forget. It is a time when we want to feel loved and and make others feel the loved.
But, the turn of the year is famously earmarked for our decision as a population to make promises. Typically they are promises to ourselves, but the occasional promises are for loved one. These resolutions as we call them are all to commonly far fetched. We make plans to lose 25 pounds, or be happier, or some other vague or unlikely-to-be-carried-out item. I can't say there has been a year in which I can recall what my resolution had been. Sometimes it can be mere months when we have forgotten our sacred personal promise.
So this year I have decided to adopt a tactic to prevent this. I am going to make a resolution to only make personal promises I know that I will keep. I don't want another year to go by with regrets. Your biggest regrets come from letting yourself down. Don't tried to avoid failure, but don't commit to it. Make the promises you know you can keep with the right work ethic.
Presently I don't have any resolution for myself. It has been a good year. I am only short on income, not friends or happiness. I am sure things will accumulate that I want myself to achieve. I can not change my personality or my less desirable character traits. However, I can do more things for myself. Not the purchasing of clothes or music or going out. I can do things that will be beneficial to me mentally. I will not limit the prospect of my own happiness due to fear of failure or rejection.
Happy New Year, and make it stay that way.
Monday, December 29, 2008
we USED to be fast cars and freedom
This entry was sparked after watching a film earlier today regarding a young vietnamese man's plight to America to find his American GI father. The story's primary focus is his horrific and degrading experience in his travels abroad and in America.
This young man never gives up for two reasons: his father, but more importantly his belief in the opportunities that America can provide immigrants. The film sheds some light into the inaccuracy of this age old belief of our nation.
Our society used to exist on the forefront of moral integrity. We are the country that supports religious, political, ideological and personal freedom. At least we present ourselves to be. Thousands of pieces of litigation, wire taps and court cases later, our certainty in our own moral fiber needs reevaluation.
We have become the country of bailouts, the outlawing of abortions, and one which has suspended the basis of our justice system...habeas corpus.
Our beliefs in the pursuit of our own happiness led us to a free-market system. This free-market system is responsible for us having the strongest economy in the world, or former economy. With China at the forefront of international economic growth, our government's decisions to repeatedly ignore suggestions and desires to allow for more regulation, all but forced our government to handout billions in loans and bailout money to the two cornerstones of our economy, cars and Wall Street.
The Big Three have been responsible for some of the greatest and fastest cars on the planet. But it was their unfortunate philosophy of bigger and faster is better that led them to the footsteps of the White House on bended-knee with bucket hat in hand. Gas prices shot up and forced the consumers to realize the luxury and speed characteristics that earmarked our country's vehicle design are astonishingly illogical. Why do we need so many 4x4s and pick up trucks?? Of course it has been the desires of the public that the manufacturers have played to. However, if not so many millions had been spent on advertising of the "all-new more powerful V-8 engine and never-to-be used extra head and cargo room," then perhaps the public would not be begging for it.
It has been our own ignorance of experts and statistics that has time and again plagued this nation's well-being. We continue to re-elect the same congressmen whom we blame for our financial insecurity and high cost of living. Fenno's Paradox is as alive and well as it has been for years. It is the perplexing position of individual's approval of their congressperson and contradictory disapproval of Congress as a whole.
It is these congresspeople who head the committees that submit the legislation that leads to the taxes we complain about, the poor status of our school and highways and approval of an ever-growing military budget. It is our elected officials that make the votes. We have no one to blame but ourselves. It is true that industry is in bed with congress. They have the money to provided for campaign contributions and lobbyists to see their interests acknowledged. But it was the elected officials of years passed that gave into the lobbyists and accepted those campaign contributions.
It is in fact our very own freedom that led the current infringement upon our rights. If we had made more educated decisions in previous elections, we might not be as disgruntled. We have moved from a nation of hope and happiness, to one of stress and fear.
But as Obama's Innaguration is around the corner, so too hopefully is birth of a new era. One of more coprorate and financial regulation. An era in which the greed of superconglomerates is no longer fed by the desire for reelection. Hopefully it is an era equated with the addressing of the interest of the public at large, and not the top tier of the economic sector. Perhaps it will be an era to lead us back to the persona of fast cars and freedom.
This young man never gives up for two reasons: his father, but more importantly his belief in the opportunities that America can provide immigrants. The film sheds some light into the inaccuracy of this age old belief of our nation.
Our society used to exist on the forefront of moral integrity. We are the country that supports religious, political, ideological and personal freedom. At least we present ourselves to be. Thousands of pieces of litigation, wire taps and court cases later, our certainty in our own moral fiber needs reevaluation.
We have become the country of bailouts, the outlawing of abortions, and one which has suspended the basis of our justice system...habeas corpus.
Our beliefs in the pursuit of our own happiness led us to a free-market system. This free-market system is responsible for us having the strongest economy in the world, or former economy. With China at the forefront of international economic growth, our government's decisions to repeatedly ignore suggestions and desires to allow for more regulation, all but forced our government to handout billions in loans and bailout money to the two cornerstones of our economy, cars and Wall Street.
The Big Three have been responsible for some of the greatest and fastest cars on the planet. But it was their unfortunate philosophy of bigger and faster is better that led them to the footsteps of the White House on bended-knee with bucket hat in hand. Gas prices shot up and forced the consumers to realize the luxury and speed characteristics that earmarked our country's vehicle design are astonishingly illogical. Why do we need so many 4x4s and pick up trucks?? Of course it has been the desires of the public that the manufacturers have played to. However, if not so many millions had been spent on advertising of the "all-new more powerful V-8 engine and never-to-be used extra head and cargo room," then perhaps the public would not be begging for it.
It has been our own ignorance of experts and statistics that has time and again plagued this nation's well-being. We continue to re-elect the same congressmen whom we blame for our financial insecurity and high cost of living. Fenno's Paradox is as alive and well as it has been for years. It is the perplexing position of individual's approval of their congressperson and contradictory disapproval of Congress as a whole.
It is these congresspeople who head the committees that submit the legislation that leads to the taxes we complain about, the poor status of our school and highways and approval of an ever-growing military budget. It is our elected officials that make the votes. We have no one to blame but ourselves. It is true that industry is in bed with congress. They have the money to provided for campaign contributions and lobbyists to see their interests acknowledged. But it was the elected officials of years passed that gave into the lobbyists and accepted those campaign contributions.
It is in fact our very own freedom that led the current infringement upon our rights. If we had made more educated decisions in previous elections, we might not be as disgruntled. We have moved from a nation of hope and happiness, to one of stress and fear.
But as Obama's Innaguration is around the corner, so too hopefully is birth of a new era. One of more coprorate and financial regulation. An era in which the greed of superconglomerates is no longer fed by the desire for reelection. Hopefully it is an era equated with the addressing of the interest of the public at large, and not the top tier of the economic sector. Perhaps it will be an era to lead us back to the persona of fast cars and freedom.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas Cheer...??
I have come to the conclusion that we are a strange society. We spend nearly an entire calendar month preparing for our Christmas celebrations. Hours of shopping accompanied by company parties and decorating.
Aside from the preparations is the so-called "spirit" of Christmas. It the time of year in which our culture has convinced us that we should be exceptionally courteous, giving and grateful. Whatever is necessary to guilt trip our society into kindness should be utilized. No quabbles with that.
The confusing portion of "Christmas Time" is how quickly it disappears. The countless hours of anticipation of those one or two days and nights of joy seems to dissipate miraculously by the 26th of December. Indeed some Christmas trees, lights and decorations may remain for the following week. But the fervor of that special time of year ceases to exist. People do not seem to have the smiles in their eyes. The courteousness and philanthropy have been all-used-up like the toilet paper roll.
Now that the holiday season is nearly over, we can once again expect our friends and family mentioning the failing economy, global warming and how much they loathe their jobs.
We spend so much time preparing, and are so quickly able to put Christmas behind us. Why doesn't Christmas extend further?? Why aren't gifts still exchanged and parties thrown beyond midnight of December 25th?? If Santa Claus has no problem sticking his ass into Thanksgiving, as comedian Lewis Black has stated, why can't Santa's fat keester push its way through to President's Day??, if not only for the reason to perpetuate further holiday cheer. Religion plays no role in my life aside from the fact I celebrate Christmas because it has nearly become an American obligation. But if we as a country could stretch the life of the Christmas "spirit," we would be able to extend the graciousness and good-doing that characterizes it. People would be happier and less-stressed about their lives further into the new year, and make life in this country that much more bearable.
I say leaves those "Merry Christmas," and "Happy Holidays" window paintings up through January, or the whole year if you dare. The is no denying the ability of the holiday season to cause a transformation in the psyches of millions of Americans. If it takes a never ending holiday season to maintain a more pleasant state-of-mind of our friends and neighbors, what, if anything, is wrong with that??
Aside from the preparations is the so-called "spirit" of Christmas. It the time of year in which our culture has convinced us that we should be exceptionally courteous, giving and grateful. Whatever is necessary to guilt trip our society into kindness should be utilized. No quabbles with that.
The confusing portion of "Christmas Time" is how quickly it disappears. The countless hours of anticipation of those one or two days and nights of joy seems to dissipate miraculously by the 26th of December. Indeed some Christmas trees, lights and decorations may remain for the following week. But the fervor of that special time of year ceases to exist. People do not seem to have the smiles in their eyes. The courteousness and philanthropy have been all-used-up like the toilet paper roll.
Now that the holiday season is nearly over, we can once again expect our friends and family mentioning the failing economy, global warming and how much they loathe their jobs.
We spend so much time preparing, and are so quickly able to put Christmas behind us. Why doesn't Christmas extend further?? Why aren't gifts still exchanged and parties thrown beyond midnight of December 25th?? If Santa Claus has no problem sticking his ass into Thanksgiving, as comedian Lewis Black has stated, why can't Santa's fat keester push its way through to President's Day??, if not only for the reason to perpetuate further holiday cheer. Religion plays no role in my life aside from the fact I celebrate Christmas because it has nearly become an American obligation. But if we as a country could stretch the life of the Christmas "spirit," we would be able to extend the graciousness and good-doing that characterizes it. People would be happier and less-stressed about their lives further into the new year, and make life in this country that much more bearable.
I say leaves those "Merry Christmas," and "Happy Holidays" window paintings up through January, or the whole year if you dare. The is no denying the ability of the holiday season to cause a transformation in the psyches of millions of Americans. If it takes a never ending holiday season to maintain a more pleasant state-of-mind of our friends and neighbors, what, if anything, is wrong with that??
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
parking lots and roundabouts
After doing a bit of passenger seat riding this morning, I have come to realize that parking lots are one of the most intriguing places to view poor driving habits. People seem to have trouble deciding whether the laws of the open road apply to parking lots. Some are courteous enough to let people in...others seem to believe that "...as long as I'm driving straight...I'll keep going."
I compare parking lot driving to Americans trying to negotiate roundabouts. They look like rats in a maze. Unless you dangle a piece of cheese in their face, they have no idea when to go. In the case of human beings, the cheese is a traffic signal. It is like they suffer from paralysis if there is no traffic signal or stop sign in sight. It never fails to make me laugh to see a person waiting at the entrance of a roundabout allowing 4, 5 or 6 cars pass by ahead of them before they take their chance entering the dangerous abyss.
My suggestion. Any time the proposed construction of a roundabout is approved. All residents in the vicinity of said construction site should be sent a user manual. This little, easy-to-produce, cheap pamphlet would be a short tutorial on how to properly negotiate their new, friendly, neighborhood, roundabout.
I propose this on behalf of the guy behind the lady who is waiting for a break in traffic and has already allowed 7 cars to take her turn.
oh...and Merry Christmas Eve...even though I don't believe.
I compare parking lot driving to Americans trying to negotiate roundabouts. They look like rats in a maze. Unless you dangle a piece of cheese in their face, they have no idea when to go. In the case of human beings, the cheese is a traffic signal. It is like they suffer from paralysis if there is no traffic signal or stop sign in sight. It never fails to make me laugh to see a person waiting at the entrance of a roundabout allowing 4, 5 or 6 cars pass by ahead of them before they take their chance entering the dangerous abyss.
My suggestion. Any time the proposed construction of a roundabout is approved. All residents in the vicinity of said construction site should be sent a user manual. This little, easy-to-produce, cheap pamphlet would be a short tutorial on how to properly negotiate their new, friendly, neighborhood, roundabout.
I propose this on behalf of the guy behind the lady who is waiting for a break in traffic and has already allowed 7 cars to take her turn.
oh...and Merry Christmas Eve...even though I don't believe.
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