The God's Must Be Crazy Reflections

The God’s Must be Crazy

                1. In the film The God’s Must be Crazy, the coke bottle which falls from the sky symbolizes how we create meaning from our social life and base it on various symbols. In our modern world, we could equate this to brand name sunglasses or a sports care as symbolizing elevated financial or social status. In the film, the coke bottle was an extremely useful tool which could not be recreated. It quickly became a source of jealousy between the members of the bushman tribe, much like a member of a neighbourhood winning the lottery would do. The branch of social science which would examine this is primarily anthropology. Anthropologists frequently dig up and examine ancient or modern artifacts and try to explain or theorize their purposes in a society or culture. In the God’s Must be Crazy, the coke bottle is one of those artifacts. Obviously, a modern anthropologist would know what a coke bottle was, but someone from another planet might think it has a completely different use.

                2. In our society, we have numerous socializing agents with many variations for each one. Some of them are government run institutions, some are private, and some are religious. In our society, school is a very important and influential socializing agent. It is in school that we learn how to interact with one another, how to learn, and how to discover ourselves as people. The media is another very important socializing agent. The media teaches us slang and influences how we speak, it encourages us to dress a certain way, and decides what our interests are. In the bushman culture, there are much fewer socializing agents and they are much simpler. Since they have no centralized government, economy, or organized system of education, the socializing agents of the bushmen are much more related to their day to day chores and activities. For example, the bushman children play games together and learn to interact in that way. As they grow older, they learn to hunt and gather food which affects their roles in the community.

                3. I would prefer to live in our society. Although the bushmen have a simple and relaxed life, I would miss the perks of technology, the comfort of our modern world, and the potential for learning and achieving large scale goals. I think though that there are sometimes, and will continue to be times when I am stressed out about things, such as school or work, and I would gladly live in a society where those things do not matter. With the bushmen, there is no need to worry about money, material things, and commitments to oneself and others. The bushmen just live peacefully and happily, sharing what few possessions they have and helping each other out in any way they can. That to me would be a very good life, however it would be too simple at times and would not give the opportunity to fulfill all of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs according to me. With the bushmen, I would never be able to achieve self-actualization.

                

Globalization

                Over the last few centuries, changes in communication, colonization, politics, and economics have drastically changed the way we live. As the world’s civilizations become ever more connected, it is important to look at globalization and the impact it has on the lives of people around the world. As with all issues, there are many sides to the question as to whether globalization is good for humanity, or bad.

Let us first examine the positive changes that globalization have brought to the world. It is now much easier for countries to diversify their economies, allowing for greater financial growth and freedom. Take China, for example. With the advancement of more efficient globalization, the nation of 1.3 billion people has a market of billions more to ship its goods and resources to. Consequently, China has become a vibrant market full of international investment. They are seeing some of the greatest amounts of GDP growth ever and there are fewer people in poverty than there were in the past. There is, however, a flip side to this in terms of human rights and ethics, which we will examine later. Another positive aspect to globalization is the global connectedness between people that have been brought about by the media, internet, communications systems, and cheap travel opportunities.  We are now much more informed about other cultures and societies as well as world events due to our universal access to the internet, social media, and various other news sources. The availability of (relatively) cheap air travel has also allowed more people than ever to engage in cultural tourism. This has led to more understanding between cultures and societies and less cultural stereotypes that may have been due simply to ignorance.

One of the most negative impacts of globalization is the human rights abuses that can derive from it, as well as the desolation of smaller economies at the expense of larger ones. In many nations which specialize in primary and tertiary industry, (mining and production), low wage workers who have next to no formal education can be employed. These workers often work very long shifts in dangerous conditions and the pay does not reflect on this. This occurs due to the western consumer demand for cheap goods. Another negative, which was mentioned above is that smaller countries can be taken advantage of. There was an example with Jamaica, where the IMF loaned a large sum of money to them to repair and build much needed infrastructure. However, there was a catch. In exchange for this loan, Jamaica had to accept a high interest rate and open up their markets to the world. Consequently, they are still repaying this loan today and the local banana trade, which made up a large and important part of their traditional economy. The banana trade was destroyed because multinational corporations were able to harvest them for cheaper, leaving local farmers without a market.

The principal change Globalization has made to my life is the availability of very cheap clothes and cheap electronics, both of which are manufactured in multiple different locations around the world. The other major impact globalization has on my life is the availability of news sources. I find world events fascinating and it is easier now than ever to see what is going on around the world. 

Journal 4: Financial Wellness

There are many different form of wellness and varying definitions on these forms. Our group chose to highlight financial wellness. We needed to be aware of our own personal financial wellness and to set goals for improvement. Financial wellness can be defined as being aware of one’s financial assets and being in control of the intake and outflow of capital resources. To be financially well, one must have a steady source of income and be able to regulate how much is spent in order to ensure that extraneous debts are not acquired. However, in life, debt is almost always an inevitable reality so an individual must be able to make a plan to control and repay this debt in a timely and efficient manner.

My personal goals during the five days I was monitoring my financial wellness were similar to the definition of financial wellness mentioned above. This year, I got a flexible, well paying job in which I work around 5-8 hours a week, although occasionally it can be upwards of 15 hours. I made sure I was making at least twice as much as I was spending, and I was successful in this endeavor. However, I was still surprised at the amount of money I spend in my daily life. Looking past the five day period, I saw that I had made a total of approximately 870$ since the beginning of my job, which was the end of September, through to late November. This struck me a being a very decent amount of money, however I was shocked when checking my bank balance to see that I had spend upwards of three hundred and fifty dollars in that same period without much to show for it.

Seeing how much money I actually spent was a real eye opener for me. Consequently I made a goal for myself to keep receipts for things and keep a track of my expenditures. I pay half my car insurance and my cell phone bill which together amounts to around 80$ a month. Other expenses of extra food, clothes, and personal amenities accounted for this money spent, however it was still a shock. The second half of keeping a track of expenses is to control expenses, and cut extraneous or unnecessary spending. To deal with this, I looked at my wants, my needs, and what was really worth it. Although I don’t need a cell phone or the ability to drive, they are luxuries that I do not want to do without. To keep costs low however, I do try to bike when I can to save on gas money. For example, driving across town to work really only takes a minute less time than biking—and often longer than biking during rush hour. Unless it is colder than -5*C, I try to ride my bike. Driving across town and back is extremely inefficient due to all the stopping and starting and leaves a noticeable dent in the fuel level indicator. Another way I have been saving money has been by being less lethargic in the mornings, thus giving myself time to make a lunch. Previously, I have been so slow at getting up, that I end up just giving to go buy myself a lunch because I simply do not have time to make one. Waking up an extra 10 minutes early has put an end to this problem.

Throughout this assignment, I was acutely aware of the personal psychological impact financial wellness can have on a person. My realization at the amount of money I was spending made me feel stressed out and desperate. However, when I planned out my finances, the stress became much more manageable and I realized that in the long run, the money I was concerned bout was fairly inconsequential and would be recovered in a short period of time.

By the end of the five days, I can’t say that I felt better about my financial wellness. The realities of how much I spend put a damper on my happiness over planning and setting goals. However, I have a clear plan for the future and I appreciate the need for saving so I am confident that I will be in a very good financial shape during and after university. I plan to, no matter what deposit 100$ a month into a medium risk mutual funds account when I turn 18. I will continue putting money in this forever and it should eventually rack up a significant sum of money. Overall, these past few days have led me to be more aware of my state of financial wellness and I will be better off for it now, and in the future. 

Face to Face Contact as Viewed by the Three Social Sciences

Although it is often done subconsciously, face to face contact is one of the most important ways humans and some animals communicate. Small changes in eye movements, a furrowed brow, or twitches in the corners of a mouth (called micro expression) are all ways which we can pick up someone’s true emotions—even if these emotions go against to what the person is trying to communicate verbally. Before verbal communication, micro and macro expressions in people’s faces and body language was the only way to converse. However even now with strongly developed languages, face to face contact still allows for an inside look to a person’s emotions or feelings.

                Micro and macro expressions exhibited during face to face is of particular interest to psychologists for many reasons. These expressions and reactions to things said during a conversation can be used to figure out what someone is really thinking about the conversation. Macro expressions are not to difficult for most people to figure out. A furrowed brow, a lack of sustained eye contact, or fidgeting can easily be attributed to nervousness or boredom. However, when it comes to more complex emotions, such as whether someone is being truthful or not, one must resort to reading micro expressions, a feat which is much harder to accomplish without many years of training.

                Face to face contact is a very personal thing and tends to be associated with affecting individuals more readily than society as a whole. However, with today’s increases of interactions over text messaging, phone calls, or the internet, it must be asked what the sociological impact of having reduced face to face contact will be. It is likely that any change will be neither positive nor negative to society as a whole. On a positive not, people can communicate faster and more efficiently. However, without face to face interactions, it can be hard to tell exactly what someone is trying to communicate and misunderstandings may become more prevalent. So long as we, as a society learn to adapt positively to shorter, less detailed or informative communications, there will be no negative impact on society. 

The adverse effects of Technology in our Society, and Environment

The adverse effects of Technology in our Society, and Environment

                There can be little doubt that advances in modern technology will change our world forever. As with anything, the changes brought about by technology will be both positive and negative. Currently, everything in the developed world, from banking and international finance, to education, to personal entertainment depends greatly on technology such as the internet, computers, cell phones, and other technological systems which we have come to rely on. This comes as both a blessing and a curse.  On a positive note, technology has, and is currently making our lives easier and more efficient. These days, even things like banking can all be done with a pocket sized Smartphone and 3G internet connection. However, the downside of all this is with technology and connections to the world so easily accessible, we often forget basic social skills which can lead to various social and emotional implications.

                Take this scenario: your wife comes home every day after work and spends upwards of six hours on a chat room. She feels great because she is meeting many new people, but she is forgetting about you, your family, and your shared household responsibilities. This is not an unrealistic scenario at all. Many people become attached to what could almost be seen as alternative families online.  People have been known to spend hours on these chat rooms, as well as online games such as World of Warcraft and there are many accounts of ruined relationships due to obsessions with excessive use of the internet. A similar example of this which many more people , (primarily those in high school and university) is social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, amongst others.  These are especially accessible because their so easy to use on mobile devices, which the majority of young people have. This means that if you have some form of smartphone, you are literally never disconnected from social networking. This can be a major distraction from real relationships and it can distract from important activities like school or work.

                Psychologically, addiction to technology can severely impact the social interaction skills of people due to lack of practice. This then transmits to negatively affecting society, because the individuals who make up society can no longer effectively interact with each other. Technology can also have adverse environmental impacts if discarded improperly. Many computerized devices contain heavy metals and materials which cannot break down and which are harmful to the environment. Future anthropologists will look upon the environmental degradation caused by our dependence on technology with distain. However, as with everything, we must attempt to pursue the lesser of two evils, and ironically, it is likely that future technological developments will assist in solving the problems which technology is currently creating for the environment.  And as we have done for thousands of years, humans will adapt to the changes technology is bringing both to society, and to individuals.

Five Future Headlines

Five Future Headlines

Germany, France, Netherlands unite under new coalition. Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Ireland call for aid.

                The increasing instability of the Euro, caused by fraud and financial mismanagement from various European countries will inevitably cause the breakup of the European Union. The continent will undergo several years of fiscal turmoil as they adapt to once again, having separate economic systems. Countries such as Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland who have the worst government deficits, credit ratings, and unemployment levels will suffer the worst of all. In order to whether the economic chaos, fiscally strong countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands will unite to form a new European Union and will adopt a common courtesy, without having to deal with the broken political and economic systems of the various European countries which are partially responsible for the majority of the current crisis.

United States of America adopts Chinese Yuan as official currency

                Similarly to the situation in Europe, the United States is plagued by a large federal deficit, massive amounts of debt, and high unemployment, all of which are the fallout of two very costly wars and a Wall Street caused recession.  As the nation plunges further and further into debt, the cost of borrowing money will begin to increase rapidly. It is likely that a future presidential administration, either republican or democratic will attempt to solve this debt crisis by printing large amounts of money, essentially devaluing the US currency and making the 15 trillion dollars and counting owed by the government easy to pay back. Unfortunately, this will wreak havoc on the savings of the American people. As seen in Zimbabwe and post WWI Germany, the United States will go into hyperinflation putting it’s people into a state of absolute poverty.  To solve this crisis, the government will adopt a stable and (becoming more) powerful currency. In this hypothetical situation, that currency will be the Chinese Yuan.

Canadian technology giants Research in Motion and Bombardier merge and expand.

                Canada’s economy revolves heavily around the primary industry, ie. Resource development. Since the majority of these resources, such as coal, oil, potash, and iron ore are finite, and will inevitably run out in the not so distant future. That means that in order to remain a large player in the global financial system, Canada will have to expand and capitalize on its research and development and manufacturing sectors, much like Japan, Korea, and Germany. This means that Canadian technology giants like Research in Motion and Bombardier, along with other new companies that may emerge, will become much more prominent figures in Canada’s economy.

 Human population stabilized at 9.5 billion for third year running

                Many developing countries in the world today have already seen drastic drops in their fertility rates due to greater access to education for men, and more importantly, women. Women in countries like Iran and India are now only having two to four children as opposed to seven or more which was the norm not too many years ago. This, along with better access to contraceptives, aging baby boomers, and China’s one child policy indicate that the earth’s population will eventually stabilize. The UN predicts the world’s population will reach 9 billion by 2050, and if trends of reducing birth rates continue, it will probably stabilize shortly after that.

Last documented case of HIV/ AIDS recorded one year ago to the day!

                Scientists are already making huge strides in finding treatments and preventative vaccines for HIV/ AIDS. As with many other diseases which are now history, it is inevitably that a cure will somehow be found. This, coupled with increased education on sexual health for women in developing countries and access to contraceptives, will eventually cause HIV/AIDS to go the way of smallpox.