'Money Determines Happiness'
I guess money DOES buy happiness...at least on one measure in Korea. I can't say that I'm surprised. Lower-level jobs (those that don't pay as much) require slave-like obligations to the job and job security is nill in many cases. That would make for a stressful life, I'd guess.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Why Sleep Is Needed To Form Memories
Why Sleep Is Needed To Form Memories
I guess this is just another reason why I should get more sleep (said around 3am). Just add this to reams of other articles advocating sleep for health reasons. It seems to me, the best thing that we can do for ourselves and our children is to establish good sleep habits.
This is tough for me to do now. I've had such terrible sleep patterns for so long that I don't think that I can change. Add to this a non-standard, alternating schedule and a child that dictates when I sleep and when I wake and you get a man who is always tired. I'm sure that this is true of many people (for similar or completely different reasons).
I guess this is just another reason why I should get more sleep (said around 3am). Just add this to reams of other articles advocating sleep for health reasons. It seems to me, the best thing that we can do for ourselves and our children is to establish good sleep habits.
This is tough for me to do now. I've had such terrible sleep patterns for so long that I don't think that I can change. Add to this a non-standard, alternating schedule and a child that dictates when I sleep and when I wake and you get a man who is always tired. I'm sure that this is true of many people (for similar or completely different reasons).
Friday, February 6, 2009
Obama's Latest Pick for DOJ is RIAA Lawyer Who Killed Grokster and Sued Jammie Thomas - ReadWriteWeb
Obama's Latest Pick for DOJ is RIAA Lawyer Who Killed Grokster and Sued Jammie Thomas - ReadWriteWeb
The question was never whether Obama was in someone's pocket, the question was whose pocket. Now we know. With his moves regarding DOJ picks, Obama has placed himself squarely in the entertainment industry's pool of goons.
It was so stressful not knowing when he would disappoint me. I wondered where it would manifest itself on a daily basis. It's like walking down a street and worrying that a killer hides behind every shadow (except that I knew there was at least one killer in one shadow).
This isn't a major problem, but it certainly concerns me. These guys have shown ZERO concern with the rights of the people. They have supported malicious lawsuits that ruined the credibility of the RIAA (what little there was). What will become of the already pathetic DOJ?
The question was never whether Obama was in someone's pocket, the question was whose pocket. Now we know. With his moves regarding DOJ picks, Obama has placed himself squarely in the entertainment industry's pool of goons.
It was so stressful not knowing when he would disappoint me. I wondered where it would manifest itself on a daily basis. It's like walking down a street and worrying that a killer hides behind every shadow (except that I knew there was at least one killer in one shadow).
This isn't a major problem, but it certainly concerns me. These guys have shown ZERO concern with the rights of the people. They have supported malicious lawsuits that ruined the credibility of the RIAA (what little there was). What will become of the already pathetic DOJ?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Korea Beat › “One Teacher Changed A School”
Korea Beat › “One Teacher Changed A School”
The real title should be, "One teacher changed a school by guilting other teachers to donate 25 hours a week overtime."
I posted a long comment on the KoreaBeat site, so I thought I'd just paste it here.
I applaud Ms. Kim for the changes that she's brought to these schools. By any means necessary is a good mantra for education.
The problem here is that this change initiative is not scalable. This is localized change that is unlikely to promote large-scale change. Additionally, and most importantly from a teacher's perspective, what about the teachers'? What about their right work a reasonable schedule? What about their right to spend time with their own families? What about their right to be paid for optional overtime?
Simon is right. This plan robs Peter to pay Paul (not monetarily, of course, but in terms of study hours). However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm coming from the point of view that there is nothing that can be done in the short term to limit the amount of study time Korea students have to put in. It is a socially derived necessity when you life path is essentially determined by the university you attend rather than the skills and knowledge you bring to the table. You have no choice put to do all you can to get an edge. This educational arms race will continue for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, day-long education could be a method of equalization that Koreans always appear to be looking for. It wouldn't completely work (those with means can always find a way), but it would seem to work for the many.
Of course, I return to my previous point of scalability. For this to work Korea-wide, teachers would have to "volunteer" to work 65+ hour work weeks for the same or similar pay that they currently receive. If payment were required, this would increase payrolls in the neighborhood of 40% country-wide. This would result in a ballooning of the DoE budget and necessitate tax increases or movement of funding to cover the difference. The growing number of childless and empty-nesters would be in an uproar and likely route any politicians voting for this. Not to mention the parents who would still complain, because the money they are saving on weekday hagwons has just been moved to pricey, intensive weekend programs :)
This was much longer than I planned, but I'm procrastinating and this is a good way to do so. Thanks.
Dan
The real title should be, "One teacher changed a school by guilting other teachers to donate 25 hours a week overtime."
I posted a long comment on the KoreaBeat site, so I thought I'd just paste it here.
I applaud Ms. Kim for the changes that she's brought to these schools. By any means necessary is a good mantra for education.
The problem here is that this change initiative is not scalable. This is localized change that is unlikely to promote large-scale change. Additionally, and most importantly from a teacher's perspective, what about the teachers'? What about their right work a reasonable schedule? What about their right to spend time with their own families? What about their right to be paid for optional overtime?
Simon is right. This plan robs Peter to pay Paul (not monetarily, of course, but in terms of study hours). However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm coming from the point of view that there is nothing that can be done in the short term to limit the amount of study time Korea students have to put in. It is a socially derived necessity when you life path is essentially determined by the university you attend rather than the skills and knowledge you bring to the table. You have no choice put to do all you can to get an edge. This educational arms race will continue for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, day-long education could be a method of equalization that Koreans always appear to be looking for. It wouldn't completely work (those with means can always find a way), but it would seem to work for the many.
Of course, I return to my previous point of scalability. For this to work Korea-wide, teachers would have to "volunteer" to work 65+ hour work weeks for the same or similar pay that they currently receive. If payment were required, this would increase payrolls in the neighborhood of 40% country-wide. This would result in a ballooning of the DoE budget and necessitate tax increases or movement of funding to cover the difference. The growing number of childless and empty-nesters would be in an uproar and likely route any politicians voting for this. Not to mention the parents who would still complain, because the money they are saving on weekday hagwons has just been moved to pricey, intensive weekend programs :)
This was much longer than I planned, but I'm procrastinating and this is a good way to do so. Thanks.
Dan
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