21st Century Upper Class Innovator "Steve Jobs"

By: Charnise Gillis

In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and personal wealth. Only a very small few proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but still control vast amounts of wealth and power in society.  One of the greatest innovators in the upper class of the 21^st century is Steve Jobs.

Jobs and his company Apple were a world beating technological combination, with products like the IPhone, IPod, and IPad. Many believe that it was Jobs skills that set apart Apple’s products from the rest. He is perceived as one of America’s legendary business promoters. Steve jobs started his enterprise in a spare room of his parent’s home. He is known to starting the first PC that is suitable for day to day usage.

In 1986 Jobs decided to buy Pixar. He made many hits such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo while in command of Pixar. Thereafter, he sold Pixar to Disney for a substantial $7.4 Billion in Disney stock, which made him the biggest stockholder of Disney with in excess of $4.2 billion shares.

Then, Steve came back to Apple and bought out the IPod and ITunes that transformed the music business. The release of the IPhone changed cell phones that individuals use today. The publishing trends of the world also have changed since the IPhone was created. Individuals of society feel that the use of IPhones is more convient to use with its touch screen technology and advance Microsoft. Steve jobs noticeably transformed society’s way of life nowadays.

 Many analysts believe the company is well-positioned for the future, but his death still leaves many questions. The stock moved little when Jobs announced in August that he was stepping down as CEO, and it moved little after the announcement of his death on October 5, 2011.

I believe Apple products was one of the first technical devices I actually fell in love with and feel I always have to have it. It makes my scheduling and multitasking easier than any phone I have ever owned. I wonder what will happen to Apple after the death of Jobs. Apple has so much power and status over all Microsoft and cellular phone companies and I wouldn’t want to see it go to waste. I personally do not believe Apple will be the same. No one else is capable of having the skills and leadership to replace the role of the entrepreneur Steve Jobs.

What will happen to the company he created? Do you think Apple products will have the same affect on society after Steve Jobs death?

Education: Does Schooling Really Matter?

By: Monique Brockington From a person's early childhood days of elementary school, the most popular question that your teacher asked was, "What do you want to be when you grow up?". Of course we gave the most common answers such as a dotor, a lawyer, a teacher, a nurse, a fire fighter, a policeman/policewoman, president,or like mommy and daddy. We were also taught by our parents & teachers that if you stay in school, do well & go to college, you could be whatever it is you want to be. With hard work & persistance anything is possible. As children some of us were taught the importance of a good education, to think of schooling as your financial ladder towards your future. Who you are or turn out to be in life based on your social status will be achieved through your education & occupation.

I believe that schooling matters when you consider the financial aspect of it, there's a difference in pay depending on the occupation you choose and the degree level you pursue.If you can finish school and get a degree, it shows that you can commit to something and see it through but if you drop out before you get anywhere, it just proves to an employer that you might not cut it. The schools that you attend plays a huge role in that, for example, public schools vs. private schools. The opportunities are offered if not handed to you with private schools, but when it comes to public schools, you have to make your own way, put in your own foot work to create your success in life.

Another factor that plays a role in which schools are best to go to is the teachers experience. Picking a good school occurs way before you attend a college. You have good teachers who actually teach you how to apply what you learn and have a decent life, and then there's the mediocre teachers who could care less rather you learned something or not.....only thing that matters is that they get paid their check for doin absolutely nothing. So to answer the question, yes schooling matters to a certain extent but it doesn't define a person's success in life.

Does Status Matter?

By: Michael Rothenburger

People all over the world reside on varying levels of status, a prestige and class ranking based on ones level in society relative to another. I would believe that most people would prefer to be at the top of these rankings where honor and prestige is assumed and expected; unlike the lower ranking status, which is less desirable because of the negative associations that go along with it. But how much should your individual status, in relation to others, matter to your personal happiness?

There are two positions in which status is viewed; ascribed status, what we were born with and achieved status which is earned. Regardless of how you attain your status, the question is; why do you have one? In America, there is a passage in the first sentence of the 2^nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independence that states, “…all men are created equal...” So, why is society still categorizing everyone into varying levels of rank, class and ultimately, status? Although, we may never know who started it or where it came from, the fact of the matter is, as a society, we judge one another.  And when you stop and really think about it, who are we to judge what level of status someone is in? Look at the following video.Do you buy in to Robert Bucci's philosophy? 

I believe Robert Bucci is selling happiness as much as his product; he equates great wealth with an easy, happy, and care free lifestyle. While I would admit, owning a yacht would be wonderful, I don't believe that simply owning one will make me happy. This video is a perfect example of the mindset that I believe to be detrimental to our culture. How society determines status depends on different factors: wealth, education, and level of career attained are some generally accepted benchmarks. However status is determined, the fact of the matter remains, attributing status in this manner is equivalent to judging someone’s life based on superficial things, what they have, verses who they are.  

Basically, all I’m saying is judging is inappropriate and status should be irrelevant in everyone else’s eyes but your own. Allowing others to judge and label you is an issue that can cause you to go to great lengths for something so meaningless, you might as well have a status bar elevation coupon tied to a stick and held out in front of you to get you going; just like what is happening to my donkey. 

Social Class & Health

By: Elisa Ventura

It is sad to say that our health will normaly depend on social class. We all know that if you are from a poor family the last thing on our parents minds are our health. It is not their choice of course; it is only because they are too bussy worieng about paying bills and keeping their jobs. Furthermore, a wealthy person has a whole lot more access to good health care unlike the poor who don’t have as much.

According to, Hardvard University Researchers, crunched 40 years of U.S census data to reveal that the gap in death rate between the poor and the rich Americans has nearly doubled since 1980. In fact, people who earned 36,000 or less a year in 2000 faced a 64% chance of early death than those in a household bringing on 101,000 a year. It is also shocking to know that, to predict a person’s health the primarly question one would ask is “what is their social class.” I find this very disturbing.

VS.

Both of these pictures represent a healthy eating place vs. a not so healthy one. As we all know most poor people can’t afford to buy at a whole food. Nutriciouse food is highly expensive therfore; the poor class normaly has no choice but to buy from these non healthy restaraunts.

In conclusion, something should be done so that we are all equal in health and in many more things. As we know the way the sytem works, it would never be equal but those who care we can try to make a difference.

Fitness Confusion

 By Sa'ood Abdul-Basit

 

The other day, I  happened to walk into the Y and noticed something different.  Usually the magazines available for member's reading pleasures are decorated with slim women or in some cases, men, promoting the same thing, "Weight Loss". 

Flex Magezine

Flex Magezine

This time I felt in a way, "accommodated"  when I saw the new edition of Bodybuilding Magazines(Examples Above) made available in the gym, after all, the last thing I want to do is lose weight.   America appears to have a obvious obsession with promoting weight lost. Some say because we are the country with the highest rate of over weight people.  Still is it correct to promote majority of the time slim as being fit?  I'm not against anyone who is slim(I am myself) or would like to become slimmer etc.   Still I feel it is wrong that being "In shape" is overly associated with a slim figure,  after all being slim does not necessarily mean you have a healthy body.

It is my theory that this common practice makes most people follow a low food diet when it comes to working out programs. The main problem is that people do not understand what exactly they would like to achieve with their bodies, but whatever it is they assume it can be achieved by a low calorie diet.


Ladies, do you want to lose weight? lower bodyfat percentage? Gain weight? Increase your Curves?

Guys Do you want to lose weight? get a sixpack? gain muscle? increase muscle Tone? Build Mass?

All these things can be asociated with each other, but in many cases, they can not be all achieved at once.
Lets say calories for example, what are calories?  calories are simply energy for your body .  We all need calories to survive,  the average person burns around 5000 calories each day! Calories come from food,  the amount of calories in each food depends on the type of food itself and its serving size.  Just because a food has less calories, does not necessarily mean it is more healthy, just as foods with more calories are not always less haelthy.(Again Food Type is what  matters the most with this issue)

Workout and Diet 
Different diets suite different workout plans.  A person trying to Build muscle mass would eat completely different from a person trying to rapidly lose weight.

Bodybuilding diets: For us who want build huge muscle  this is the basic of how we want our diet. Consist of a high carb and protien rich diet, usually requires you to eat more calories than you burn each day, this is commonly known as the "Bulking stage".  Secondly, mainly for competive bodybuilders, there is a second stage known as "Cutting",  that serves to rid your body of excess fat and improve the apearance in muscle tone. Carbs are usually only consumed before and after workouts,  protien is still a rquirement to maintain the muscle,  less calories and meals that are of low fat percentage( Clean Meals).

Workouts should Include Heavy Weight lifting and  limited Cardio(during the cutting stage, more cardio is needed)

Weight lost Diet:  Whether you've seen or heard of it from Oprah, the View, Rachel Ray etc. Diets like these maybe perhaps the most commonly promoted in America.  This is for those of us who wish to drop body weight rapidly.  As you probably already know low Calories are a must, meals are usually aimed to be "clean" or as low fat as possible.

Workouts Should Include Cardio, and some weight lifting to maintain muscle(simple weights or Heavy)


I cant be certain why weight lost diets are so stressed in our society. Perhaps it is due to what I stated earlier(The claim America is the highest rate of overweight people in the world).  But I have another suggestion,  Perhaps it is due to the sexist views that women must maintain a slim figure to be considered acceptable by media promoted standards. I believe men do also have a image projected to them as well, of course muscle is a sign of masculinity in our society and many parts of the world.  But I don't feel men are pressured to match the media projected images as much as women.

This issue reminded me of sociology mainly because it relates topics such as  "Weight Loss Obsession". I would label it a social norm in our society based on media facts such as the  Magazines, Television programming, and word of mouth.      

To conclude, most of us do not have the same body type so  before you decide you want to transform your body through diet and exercise,  consider your current body status and do your research first.

Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum

By: Lan Lam

            In Sociology Class we learnt about the hidden curriculum in education.  According to “Sociology Matters”, hidden curriculum refers to standards of behavior that are deemed proper by society and are taught subtly in schools.  In each school district every child are being taught the general skills like Math, Science, English, and History, but what makes them different from one another is the way the skills are taught in each social class. The inequality of education among social class gives little mobility to lower class because wealthy communities are known to have better education, which helps them to prepare for their future career, rather than poor communities learning how to behave and learn simple instructions.

            I read an essay from English class called “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” by Jean Anyon, where the meaning of work is learning. This essay discusses examples of work tasks and interaction in five elementary schools contrasting in social class communities. The examples illustrate the differences in classroom experience amongest the schools. The students work in each social setting in the light of a theoretical approach to social class analysis. It is suggested that there is a "hidden curriculum" in school work that has profound implication for practice in education.  

           Here is a link to the essay that I have read in English class, it may be a little long but you might be surprised by the information given.

                                 http://cuip.uchicago.edu/~cac/nlu/fnd504/anyon.htm
          We can’t face the fact that we are born in a society where the rich gets richer while poor schools get poorer. It’s a shame that we have to think of education that way as if there’s no hope. Good thing for fundraising and alumni giving us hope to our new generations that mobility can exist. Although we have some help, WE as a society should stand up to the Board of Education ask for more resources to children’s in need so they have a fair education like anyone else.

In case if the essay is to long to read here is a video that also gives an example of social class in education.