Filed under: mobile | Tags: crisis theory, Das Kapital, everyday, internship, Keynsian economics, life, love, Marx, political economy, self, Spring 2008, summer
So Karl Marx has a theory in his Das Kapital called the “crisis theory.” In fact, it is one of his most important ideas when it comes to the downfalls of liberal economics of the time. (Go PEIS100!) It basically describes the inconsistent flow of the pure capitalist system between the exchange of capital for commodities and so forth. It tries to explain business cycles and recessions of the market.
More after the jump. But reader beware, the political economy ends and only boredom awaits.
Filed under: posts | Tags: America, Barack Obama, eloquence, ethics, everyday, race, sights & sounds, society, speech
Take 38 minutes out of your day, sit down in front of your computer, and listen.
Are you kidding me? His oratory is ridiculous – if he backs 20 percent of his dream with result, we’re gonna be fine. If he starts playing with the upper quartile, oh my, what a future this will be.
Enjoy, and ’tis all.
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Filed under: posts | Tags: AP English, Berkeley, economics, everyday, Midterms, risk, school, sights & sounds, Tim Minear, tirade, Waiting for Godot, Wonderfalls
So today I took my econ midterm. It was a stressful as hell experience. In an hour and twenty minute class, the professor gave us four problems, each with at least three subsets. But there’s more! Those subsets had subsets. It ended up the equivalent of thirty some odd questions. Needless to day, I think I made some careless mistakes about signs and explanations, but hopefully, nothing too serious. Thank God it is the first of two midterms – with the second being worth more.
This post needs a cut-off.
So i’m taking a break from reading this:
Today was a relatively awesome day. I had almost forgotten that I had switched my morning section so I rushed to find 20 Wheeler, which turns out, is in the catacomb-like belly of the building. After that section, I realize now the GSI team and Prof. Delong really mean it when they say we are “guinea pigs” for this class.
After a harrowing Chinese oral presentation and surprisingly understandable Econ discussion, I went to the dreaded money hoarding bookstore. At this monetary hell-hole, I sacrificed 247 bucks for two measly books, a study guide (because my French economics professor does not explain slides) and a really crappy stapler. From the business standpoint, I can see why they include no staples, but from a good-will to the customer standpoint, WHY!?!?!
I then jumped on my bike and raced towards home. Two seconds into my daily downhill extravaganza near VLSB, the bottom of my jeans catches the chain-guard. My leg is then trapped with the whirling motion of the pedals and I wildly swerve to gain balance again. The result is a nice sized whole in my jeans (repairable!) and a really scared me. I’m going to have to go invest in one of those pant-leg-velcro-reflective-bands so I don’t die.
Oh, and tonight, I made some fried rice with egg and minced pork. To my surprise, it was absolutely delicious. I coupled it with some Miso soup with tofu and I had a fine meal. I’m proud of my housewife abilities (as Chris would call them).
Before I get back to Keynes, here’s a interesting snippet from my reading so far:
Praise, therefore, the beauty of the flame he wishes to touch, the music of the breaking toy; even urge him forward; yet waiting with vigilant care, the wise and kindly savior of Society, for the right moment to snatch him back, just singed and now attentive.
Amen, Keynes, amen.
‘Tis all.
Today was a moderately interesting day.
I went to the local bike shop Velos Sport Bike (The site is a bit outdated.) I got some free, friendly tune-ups and a Kryptonite lock for near $40 bucks. Yes, the bike was only 80 bucks, I spent50 percent of the of bike cost on a lock. Apparently, this is a good lock and free from that “bic pen lock picking” trick that stunned bike owners two years ago.
Along with uglifying my bike with Guerrila Tape, making sure to cover all the Schwinn and Shimano logos, I hope this lock will really deter thieves. Of course, I know if they really want my bike, they’re gonna get it. It sure isn’t the prettiest one of the block though.
I then received a call from the Alumni Association for a scholarship interview for their Leadership Scholarship that I am a Finalist for. I dashed home after uneventful classes and suited up. The interview itself was pretty simple – two ‘56 Alumni asking me questions about my leadership qualifications.
Then one of them stumbled about a question regarding if I will stay in the States after graduation afraid of tickling some racist bone. It was a completely legitimate question. I then asked them if they were married, since they were from the same class and immediately I regretted stepping over the personal information line a bit. The guy was nice though, he jokingly talked about how he would have married her if “some other guy didn’t get in the way.” Good folk.
I realized that I still love driving. At first, I was a bit hesitant to drive all the way back home to get my suit, but really, I enjoyed the drive immensely. I like controlling the evo’s power – keeping her under boost when I want calm and letting that snail spool when needed. It was also extra interesting today because I had some 5 lb weights I was bringing for the bench in my trunk. Whenever I took a bad line on a corner, the weights would smash against the walls of my trunk and I would feel the pain. It helped me practice some efficient apex hitting. 
I am used to the evo’s max power now. 40-100 feels so normal now. Even so, I realize that there is much to be learned about the rest of the power band. Perhaps I can hold off on the upgrades for a bit.
‘Tis all.
1. Chinese class is harder than my political theory classes. However, I feel a real personal gain when I learn a new way to say “hypocritical” in my native tongue.
2. There are some really boring but completely stress-less jobs out there. For instance, my BART ticket was demagnetized, all $16.60 of it. I went down to the Berkeley station to get an exchange and I was directed by the station official to a small little booth where a small Asian man sat.
He had a nice little insulated lunch box in the background. I wondered someone who loved him packed that each day. He also had the obligatory tea bottle with Jasmine tea. On his left ring finger he wore a golden ring with a jade insert. It’s very unstylish, but it fit with his look. Married, from Southern part of Asia I would assume where gold and jade still are in fashion.
He spoke tersely, gruffly and directly.
“40 Cents,” he said in a muffled, accented voice.
I hand him the change and get my nicely exchanged 17 dollar ticket and a cardboard ticket sleeve. I like it – it gives my wallet some structure.
This guy just sits in this 7 feet by 7 feet square locked room in a neglected corner of Berkeley BART on select days and exchanges damaged tickets. He’s very diligent. I wonder what he thinks about. Is he just checking out the college girls that walk by? Does he think about his family or his country? Who knows?
So I think, there are plenty of people with such mindless jobs. They are all needed elements of our economy and they all do what they do to support people they love (or themselves). The American Dream?
How does someone make that person feel more apart of this society? Eh, that’s for another day.
3. One cute girl can really make my day better. So I’m getting myself a drink at a Boba place and the girl who takes my order is one of those people are just massively outgoing and excited. I’ve talked to her before in one of my classes and her personality once again overwhelms me. Bubbly is the best way to describe it.
It is not even like I was gonna hit on her or anything. It was just a random conversation after a tiring day filled with economics and Chinese tests. Gotta make more friends with bubbly personalities.
4. I saw a homeless person give a guitar-toting street performer 2 dollars and a handful of change. Hobbes is wrong, people are generally good.
5. I’m very confident when I have a task to do. I need purpose to be effectively confident.
Well, that’s what I learned today. Sweet huh?
‘Tis all.
Berkeley isn’t a walk in the park. Okay, sometimes it literally is, but metaphorically, never. This first week though, has been just a stabbing of a time.
I’m gonna cut this off here, for the click-through is going to be a burden to read.
I’m home.
Well, I got in yesterday after a grueling but efficient five hour drive. I noticed that most of those big rig drivers are surprisingly considerate. They really tried to get out of my way when they could so I could continue at a steady 85-90 mph. On the flip-side there were some really stupid and dangerous drivers. Some Asian kid in a ’90s Camry blew past me, cutting me off by a few feet going at a ridiculous speed. I matched him just to see how fast he was going – 125 mph. WTF man! He’s literally topping out his engine the whole time. Dumbass kids.
No, I didn’t buy that racing fuel. I was just impressed by the high octane pump at the local 76. Usually, you have to buy that stuff by the container-full. Still, it would be a waste for a 5 hour cruise home. Speaking of racing, the night before I left I pulled up next to something special on my commute home.
For those that don’t know, that’s an Aston Martin DB9. Being rich in L.A., you buy a Ferrari and you’re a just an arrogant bastard – buy an Aston and you’re an automotive connoisseur. Sorry about the terrible pic quality, it was taken at the beginning of my left turn with my camera phone through that bug-stained window. (My poor Evo.) The driver was a guy in his late 50’s, I presume. I gave him a thumbs up before he gunned that melodic engine and roared away.
I had a late dinner with Chris at a Korean BBQ place called Tahoe. We ate way too much. I could feel the saturated fat stack up and clog my arteries. But, you gotta do whatcha gotta do.
[We had about 5 plates of that quantity. Yep, we're that hardcore.]
Do I miss LA? I miss the people a bit. The city itself is pretty cool, but just doesn’t have the laid-back feel of NorCal that I love so much. It’s good to be back.
Mm, short and sweet post. ‘Tis all.
So this will be a discombobulated post. Yes, discombobulated. I could have used messy, or gasp, disorderly, but no, discombobulated. Syntax is such a fickle thing.
First of all, a little cool internet how-to to share. This one is for anyone who enjoys some damn good writing. Not typing, but writing. Those who take notice of how the pen flows and curves on the page. I’m one of those people. I’ve always been fascinated by the written word, venturing into the artistic realm of graffiti and a religious adherence to cursive as my weapon of choice for quick midterm writing.
I used to use a lot of architect specific technical pens (stolen from my dad’s desk) from Pilot called the “Razor Point” series. They are great for their precision. However, they don’t really glide across the page like a good ballpoint pen would. They feel more make writing with a scalpel – not the best feeling.
I actually had this pen I borrowed from my friend Jordan years and years ago, but I always loved that pen. Apparently, this was the holy grail of modern cheapish pens called the Pilot G2. This pen rocks. It just feels so fluid, my lord, it practically writes for you. However, my cousin in Japan told me he could top it. He whips out a 20,000 yen ($200) Mont Blanc pen and lets it loose. HOLY HELL, it blew my mind. Needless to say, when I read about this instructables on how to create a Mont Blanc pen using the shell from a G2, I nearly died out of writing glee. Yes, I’m insane like that. It’s the most simple concept ever – $15 dollars and 3 minutes to create the equivalent (writing-wise) of a $200 pen-masterpiece. FUCK YES.
Anyhow, back to more worldly matters. The new Common album has given way to old school Queen (in godly FLAC quality) and rocking the ears at the moment. I will finish my internship on Tuesday (5) days from now. It went by as slowly and as quickly as I thought it would. Today, I found a place that would make one thousand stickers to put on our display hooks. Then I pulled around 400 shoes for an athletic show convention. Those kind of dull jobs makes TOMS seem as exciting as white bread (which in it’s defense, is exciting enough).
However, TOMS is quite the fireworks of a company when I really look at it. Blake, our founder, was personally invited by former President Clinton to attend his annual Clinton Global Initiatives – a networking, seminar thing that has the power to really throw around some big bucks in the name of philanthropy. Bono will be on the guest list so you know it’s for the rich do-gooders. We are also being noticed by the other firms and being praised as “revolutionary” and “the only one of it’s kind.” Damn, maybe we are like white bread during its conception. YEAST (+) FLOUR (-) WHEAT, HOLY SHIT!
Upon coming home, I know this was quite a great experience, but I’ve posted about that nonsense already so I’ll save you the pain. Also upon coming home, I think I’m going to really turn a corner in my life. I hope everything starts out well next semester. I have two great clubs to help build up, and other personal matters to attend to. I’m going to declare and get my major(s) in order. This is the precursor to either an awesome, life-affirming time, or an absolutely disastrous hell of a time. Either way, it’ll be interesting to say the least.
Like I said before, I am planning a bonfire @ Ocean beach in San Francisco. I have it marked on my calendar as the 24th of August, Friday. Ocean beach has this first-come-first-serve policy on its fire pits which you have to use if you want fire. I think it would be great if we could get there in the afternoon prior to sunset as the bridge and the ocean serve as a backdrop for possibly the coolest sunset ever. Well, if the fog is merciful.
Smorey goodness will occur if Tobias the firemaster can tend to a nice one. Bring something to toss around and that’s all I would want before school starts. Just one good night with some friends. Inform me if you’re down – before Saturday please.
‘Tis all folks.
It’s been two weeks since settling down here. It’s been a lot better than I would have imagined it, but still, who the fuck am I kidding – I want home. Oh, there was much to be learned here in LA and I think I have gotten a good taste of social entrepreneurship and some motivation on where I want to go in life.
Honestly though, I felt pretty incomplete when I left home and I want to go wrap up some business I need to take care of. I need to get my classes in order so next year’s schedule-which also happens to include the start-up of two clubs-doesn’t absolutely destroy my already weakened soul.
Hrm, do you guys even want to cut-off thing where you have to click “more?” I’ll just try a damn long post.
I’ve been sustained by the movies I have downloaded and some good music. Newest edition – the new Common album: Finding Forever. The lyrics are killer and the beats have the Mr. West touch. Kanye’s lyric’s may be shot to hell, but the man can put together a beat. Jaeman also put some of his stuff in my flash drive so I’m chock full of musical discovery right now. Shiny Toy Guns seems to catch my fancy. Is that even a phrase?
My team leader at work started calling me “Steve-Z” so I am going to watch The Life Aquatic soon – I hear it is a fine film. Oh, also, I watched the new Top Gear episode. Just let me say. If Jeremy Clarkson and the Hamster failed to prove their deity-status with their race across Europe for a truffle (Aston Martin DB9 vs Swiss Train System), then there can be no doubt they are the Gods of automotive splendor and television nirvana after this special.
Jeremy and James in a polar-prepped Toyota Helix race Hammond on a dog-sled team to the fucking North Pole. I won’t ruin anything but just let me say, this one is historical. They were going for record books as the first people to drive to the North Pole. There’s some epic, epic moments in there for any fan of the show or anyone, really.
I really can not extol enough the merits of Top Gear. It is beautifully shot, it is hilarious, it is about the coolest machines in the world and everything clicks together in a mesh of goodness. OH MAN. So I went to a-thinking about what I could compare Top Gear to – and now I have it, as crazy as this will sound.
Top Gear is like the perfect girlfriend.
1. Looks and sounds classy and beautiful.
2. Has a witty, sarcastic sense of humor.
3. Can mix deep, moving moments with the levity needed to keep things interesting.
4. Motivated by the challenge of the present and always trying to progress from the past.
5. And of course, loyal to the cause!
I better apply for a marriage soon.
In other news, (Damn, this Shiny Toy Guns is really rocking it), my car is going to get a kick in the ECU soon. Yummy speed soon to come, yep. I have been dreaming about perfect, behind the back, around 2 defenders, in the lane assists. I need to ball, soon and potently – no idea how that would work, but it needs to happen.
Finally,
Let’s have a get together before the semester systems start. Bonfire @ Ocean anyone? I’ll bring the … ocean.
‘Tis all for now folks.
