Orit's Third Summary and Response

Summary of “How Steve Jobs Made Business Cool Again, 1981”

By: Virginia Postrel

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-26/how-steve-jobs-made-business-cool-again-1981-virginia-postrel.html

According to Virginia Postrel's article "How Steve Jobs Made Business Cool Again, 1981"   in the Businessweek (August 26^th, 2011)   Steve Jobs made a significant cultural change of the perception of businesses and work.

Until 1981 the business executives and managers were known in the public only for their business activity and financial achievements. Doing business until then was perceived as boring, impersonal and the objectives at that time were financial.

In 1980 young entrepreneurs' of which Steve Jobs was one of them built up very successful business, became millionaires in their 20s and became heroes, celebrities and role models. The initiative and drive was making money but it was as well based on aspirations, pleasure and self-expression and satisfaction.  These people kept working very hard although they had more money than they knew what to do with and that they could spend. This was a cultural change. Business and work became a passion.

These businesses that started at Silicon Valley in a garage grew rapidly and became a new workaday reality and cultural norm. In different to the past the business became known and big source of interest to the public like sport and fashion. The traditional models of managers were replaced by young brilliant, arrogant college dropout entrepreneurs' not well dresses and without a tie.  The concept of work changed too. The work started filling a large part of people's life and in order to be satisfied and do a good job people need to love what they do and believe in it (Steve Jobs speech in 2005, Stanford University).

According to Virginia Postrel the change in the norm and the new concept of work offers greatness and self-fulfillment but also perpetual dissatisfactions. As the objectives are now not only making money but also having satisfaction and leaving a cultural mark the risks in achieving it are high and the work becomes the people identity.

Response

I think that Virginia Postrel explains very well the cultural change Steve Jobs and the other young entrepreneurs' made in the way people think of  businesses and work.   It is not any more only a place people make money. It is as well a place where people should be creative, find interest and get aspirations and satisfaction.  The work became a very import part of people's life.  I fully agree with Steve Job's statement in his speech that people need to love what they do. We are spending most of our time at work and it is important to enjoy and have satisfaction from it. We will then do a great job.

Yutaro's Third Summary and Response

According to the NY Times article of In Alabama, calls for revamping immigration law by Campbell Robertson. The state of Alabama has been considering about new anti-immigration law.  In order to receive garbage pick up service, dog licenses and flu shots at county health department and such basic cares, recipients needs to proof that the person is either a citizen or a legal resident. This law has been considered as most aggressive state-level immigration law since the day, September 29, became effective. Some political leaders are already considering about making changes, not only slightly but big one.

  There are reasons this law is not as easy to change as most people think.

  First one is very simple. Eighty percent of the population of states thinks it is a good bill, which makes for politician to hard to deal with in order to keep their supporter. But as they hear more complaints from business owners, some of them may start re-consider.

  This law is putting illegal immigrants in tough place by them not being able to receive utility services such as electricity, water, and gas. Also receiving basic permissions like renewing driver’s licenses, business licenses and car tags.

   There are some unintended consequences people suffer as well. For example, a military guy who just came back from Afghanistan trying to get a tag for new truck was not able to receive his tag since he did not have birth certificate to proof he was a legal citizen.

  Until the Legislature meet and discuss such issue in January, discussion and problem coming from this law will not be gone.

Response

The whole nation of America was built by immigrant for immigrants. If their reasoning is whoever comes first get served first, there logic makes no sense since most of the land did not belong them to begin with. It seems to me a little contradiction towards one of American traditional value of equal opportunity. Some may argue that illegal immigrants are not Americans, but I firmly believe that important thing about being an American is not being born in America but having American and liking America. I personally do not care to become an American citizen but I do not think anybody have right to stop whoever want to be an American, after all this is still a young country. Also main duty politicians are not getting elected by saying voter would like. Politicians job is having solid idea that would not change no matter what the circumstance is. I am sure most of politician understood those basic ideas when they started their career but after while, I guess, their priority changes from expressing solid idea to getting elected to stay on their comfy seat.

Giang An HUY Third Summary and REspond

www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/us/middle-class-areas-shrink-as-income-gap-grows-report-finds.html?_r=1&ref=business
 

Title: Middle-Class Areas Shrink as Income Gap Grows, New Report Finds

By SABRINA TAVERNISE

Published: November 15, 2011

According to SABRINA TAVERNISEs’ article “Middle-Class Areas Shrink as Income Gap Grows, New Report Finds” on New York Time, there is a big change in the number of middle class families in the US.  A recent study shows that map of prosperity has changed with increase of rich and poor families, and the decrease of middle class families. The study raises a concern over the gap between the rich and poor in the US. This is the consequence of the change in the US economy with the decline of Middle class jobs and income.  The other issue is that the landscape of resident area with the increase of rich and poor area, the middle class residential area is decreasing by day; therefore, the equality of opportunity is also decreased because the children in poor area have less access to good school, education facilities, and the poor areas have less access to public facilities such as park and public transportation.

I do agree with the article in some perspective, the gap between the rich and poor is wider; however, I believe this is just a temporary situation because the US economy is recovering and that will increase the number of middle class jobs. The middle class families who became low income family because of bad economy will have a good change to revise their finance and social class.  

Bruce's Summary (3)

Summary of “Obama Plans to Step Up Talks on Free Trade Pacts”
By SEWELL CHAN


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/business/10trade.html?scp=6&sq=korea%20fta&st=cse

According to SEWELL CHAN: Obama Plans To Step Up Talks on Free Trade Pacts in Neyork Times (February 9, 2011), on Wednesday, the Obama administration said that they were going to absolutely turn in the bill to expand the two free trade agreement - Colombia and Panama - by the end of the year.

Ron Kirk, The United States trade representative, also mentioned that the administration will even submit KORUS FTA as well.

Apparently, members of the new Republican majority in the House let other know the two agreements couldn't make progress because of opponents.

Mr. Kirk also said said American trade negotiators would go to Colombia to achieve a goal to evolve the agreement.

The Colombian Embassy said it is time for Colombia to get new deal since they are different from the past.

Representative Dave Camp of Michigan said America is dangerous as other countries or orgaznizations, such as Canada or EU, made better deal than America had done.

On the other hand, Mr. Kirk said "We will not sign agreements just for agreement’s sake and They must be enforceable and of the highest standard and in the interest of America’s workers, farmers, businesses and entrepreneurs."

Response

Politic is so complicated. This is the first impression while I'm doing this assign. The reality is just like competetion which is American traditional value - we learned in class. It seems America and Colombia both want to make benefits for their country. However, it is hard to make win-win deal. Also, if someone fales negotiation, it is unavoidable to get blame from their citizens. Furthermore, since Korea also has the issue about dealing with US FTA, this article reminds me of the arguements of pros and cons for The US FTA. I think I should appreciate politicians for not fighting other countries since they would argue to achieve their goal with other groups of people. Also, it seems hard negotition. Specially, the world politics.

3rd Summary of Jiarui Li

3^rd Summary of Jiarui Li

“When Minority Groups Collide”

http://library.cqpress.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:2048/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2001021620&type=hitlist&num=1

Summary

Recently, redistricting efforts specially focus on right of voting in the congress of the ethnic and racial minorities which are in the majority. However, they are facing two problems of creating majority-minority districts. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said to majority that they might not separate people into different voting districts basing on race. The second problem is who can represent the voice if there were two or more minorities at the same time in the same area. Multicultural and multiracial districts will face more challenges of the political power of African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities (Jennifer Gavin.)

Response

This article fairly describes the factor of situations that they are facing. I think the two problems of what the article demonstrated can be solved.

Thee Generations...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/your-money/three-generations-two-comfy-homes-a-few-steps-apart.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=three%20generation,%20two%20comfy%20homes%20a%20few%20steps%20apart&st=cse

Summary

Three generations living together in the same location, Wanda Urbanska the mother of the family, her son Henry, 14 years-old and her mother a retires college professor. Living together makes sense economically because of current situation, and also it can rely on each other. Working together they gained access to thing that they could not have alone like buying a house which was bigger than what would had bought by separate; however, they still having their own space.

Zoning rules are obstacles of those people who want to transform or expand a home, but in some popular zoning rules have been changing; nevertheless, some people ignore zoning rules and build, transform, or expand any way. Because of the grand demand a new industry is emerging known as the cottage industry. Builders of this new industry wants to make the price competitive with the cost of being in a nursing home, so in that way peoples will be more likely to build the cottage house.

Finally, living together can help to save money by splitting bills and to have better relationship being close.

Response

I think living near or close to family is a convenient way to get easy help from them, also I think it a help to keep a good relationship with who live near to you. I believe that family is a fundamental pillar in our live, so living near to them is always good.

Jessica's third summary

Calming Schools by Focusing on Well-Being of Troubled Students

By Anna Phillips

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/nyregion/calming-schools-through-a-sociological-approach-to-troubled-students.html?ref=education

Summary

According to Anna Phillips’s article “Calming schools by focusing on well-being of troubled students” in the New York Times Wednesday Review (October 14^th 2011), Mark Ossenheimer, who was principal of the Urban Assemble School for Wildlife Conversation, convoke the meeting include several teachers and a social worker. They watched the students and list names of student, who have problems outside the school such as deep depression of housebound parents, illness, gender-identity issues and etc. This meeting was Turnaround for Children, a nonprofit organization for helping student solve their issues. Dr. Pamela Cantor, who was Turnaround’s founder and president, said that this organization was created to solve and these children can leave their issues at the door and come in and perform is dreaming. Turnaround focuses on students’ psychological and emotional well-being. After many years, people argue that school should pay attention on what high-quality, well-trained teachers can achieve in classroom. In 2009, an independent study by the American Institutes for Research found that after three years with Turnaround, five Bronx middle schools were happier places. Each school reported fewer student suspensions and teacher absences, and four of the five placed fewer 911 calls. Moreover, the rate of improvement of grade at school is increasing clearly day by day. For instance, Patrick Kelly, principal of the Urban Science Academy, said that the improvement in the school’s atmosphere as “dramatic” because this school has been working with Turnaround for 5 years. Every teacher in a Turnaround school is required to undergo training and good experience in how to manage and prevent yelling or asking a student to leave the room. In New York City, federal grant brought Turnaround to more schools, even in elementary school.

Response

This article is true and I agree with that. In my opinion, I think Turnaround is good organization for all students because it could provide metal help for students who are in trouble. For example, Jenny, my friend was really depressed after her parents’ divorce; she couldn’t concentrate to study because she felt really upset about that. I think if my school has Turnaround organization, it will help my friend cope this problem easily. Turnaround could make many schools become happier place.

Soohyun's last summary&response

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/education/first-time-foreign-students-in-us-increased-by-8.html?_r=1&ref=internationaleducation

summary: According to this artice, from 2010 to 2011, the rate of the international students in U.S is increased at first time. The research announced that the rate is up to 8%. Chinese students have contributed increasing rate compared with 2011, they are coming U.S to study more 20% than last year. Noticeably, the students from Middle east and Turkey came more 10% than before.

About 200 graduate schools also researched which subject is popular. Education and the physical and earth sciences have high proportion of enrollment. However, they chose doctoral's progrmas a lot, master's program is decreased from 2010


response: As time goes by, the students who want to study in U.S is increasing , they are pursuiting their dream and equality of opportunity both. Because sometimes the education of America provide more chance than other country but one complainning thing is tuition is really high... Students will come more so the council of school may decrease the tuition of international students.

Zuyan’s Summary

Summary of “Income Slides to 1996 Levels”
By CONOR DOUGHERTY
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904265504576568543968213896.html
According to Conor’s article “Income Slides to 1996 Levels?” (SEPTEMBER 14, 2011) critics have argued that the income in the typical American family has dropped from the last 3 years and the economy went back to the point of the 1996 level. Because the economy was bad, more families were living below the poverty line and more people lose their jobs. This article is argues about how the economy changed in these years and how the bad economy influence people’s daily life.
First, according to the Census, Conor showed the income of average family fell 2.3% compare to 2010; compare to the year 1999, the income now was 7.1% below the year 1999, which showed us how the economy went bad in these years and the gain boom age in 2000s has gone. The full-time year income fell, but in the other hand, median income went up in women recent years even though they still make 77 cents of a dollar earned by men.
Conor also mention about the fraction of Americans living in poverty went up to 15.1% and around 22% of the children are now living below the poverty line. From 2007 to 2010, the nation’s per capita net worth gained which is good to people; in the other hand, the biggest asset in American family is their homes, but now the value is decreasing. However, the recovery is slow and it going to take a while for the economy to recovery.
Conor showed the examples of people lose their jobs and people moved from big house to apartment because the bad economy. From the census report, more and more people are worried about the American economy in the future. More than 140’000 people lose their jobs, poverty rates among people younger than 18 grew 20% more than year 2010 and more people lacking in their health insurance. Meanwhile, the gap between the rich Americans and poor Americans did not change much.

Response
In my opinion, the economy caused a lot of problem to people and their families. For those who live in the top level, it is not a big deal for living and having extra family activities. For the middle-class people in the America, they are having hard time looking for the jobs and they have to be hard work even though the full-time job will not pay that much like in the past. As for the people who live below the poverty line, I think the government will help them from the anti-poverty programs, such as subsidized housing, food stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Final Summary of Myung Chan Kim

Summary of “Since 1990s, U.S. Students’ Math Has Sharpened, but Reading Lags” By Sam Dilllon

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/education/us-students-math-skills-sharpen-but-reading-lags.html?scp=1&sq=U.S%20students'%20math%20has&st=cse

According to Sam Dillon’s article ”Since 1990s, U.S. Students’ Math Has Sharpened, but Reading Lags” in the New york times (November 1, 2011), federal officials said that elementary and middle school students showed significant progress in math while they have no progress in reading over last two decades. In addition to this fact, Mr.Driscoll who is the chair man of the department of education and experts offered some assumption. There has been improvements of the math in the United States, since children study most of math in school, although math education in the United States is below than some high math education countries. However, many students don’t spend much time on reading.

The score on recent test of reading and math in the 4th and 8th grade students all over the country brought out only insignificant transitions. The average fourth and eighth students increased only one point from tests scores of 2009 in math and reading but average math score was higher than reading.

In contrast to fourth grade students’ score in math which was 13 percent in 1990, fourth graders gained 40 percent points in this year. However, fourth grade students score in reading gained only 5 percent points in this year. Sharon Darling who is founder of the National Center for family was despaired of this facts but not astonished because he think that students spend same amount of time outside as they spend in school and since there are 30 million parents and caregivers who are not good at reading in the U.S., they might can’t teach their children well.

New York’s score of tests showed the national tendency which students are gaining high scores faster in math than reading because, in reading, they increased 4 percentage points in this year from 1992, while they increased 14 percentage points in math in this year from 1992. However, in this year, fourth grade scores in New York remarkably decreased and New York became the only state where math scores decreased.

Response

In general, i thought, many American students wasn’t good at math (Paragraph 40 in chapter 9). However, after i read this article, i totally changed my mind because, many of them are good at math than reading. When i was in Norwood High school in the city of Cincinati and state of Ohio, i realized that many students are trying to work on their math more than reading because, some of them thought reading is too hard. In addition to my experience in America, i also found out that many students in America might like math than reading because as this article showed, average students are gaining higher score in math than reading. Therefore, i suggest that teachers should give students more interesting readings as assignments in order to make them more interested in reading. Then it will naturally leads to gaining high score in reading. However, they should not lose focus on math.

Jun Summary and Respond

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n24_v83/ai_13609576/?tag=content;col1

Black woman awarded $415,000 in racial discrimination case April 12 1993 Johnson Publishing Co.

Summary

A 37 years old Black woman Anita Holt got $415,000 from out of court settlement by Life Care Services Corp which is considering changing their hiring and promotion system. Three years ago, she declined to promote because her race could give bad effects to the company even if she holds master’s degree. Thus Ms. Holt sued the company during working at a retirement care consulting firm in Massachusetts by co-owner. The company responded quickly. The company distribute the letter tells about their fault and their damage to lose the ability person to their all employees. As a result, she was satisfied for the company’s respond. Bruce A. Fredrickson who is attorney of Ms. Holt added there is discrimination in the U.S and it is still perceptible, also this case will effect to employers to rethink about civil rights avoiding discrimination.

Respond

After I read this article, I felt the importance of protecting society from racial discrimination. The amount of money was so big that we can see how the government put the racial discrimination too important. Nowadays, we don’t see the news article like this much (this article was written in 1993) and it was the effort of government. The article was saying “the company also agreed to distribute a two-page letter to all its employees acknowledging “errors in judgment and practice”” it means to me that every employee will try not to have discrimination in their mind. I have never worked at the company, but I don't really understand why discrimination exists in the work place. American values have equality of opportunity and hard work. She did have equality of opportunity when she was in the company except promotion process and she did hard work getting master’s degree but as a result, she couldn’t promote only because of race and this is so bad.

Final Summary and Response from Paulo!

The Left's "Inequality" Obsession

Arthur C. Brooks | Wall Street Journal

July 19, 2007

http://www.aei.org/article/society-and-culture/the-lefts-inequality-obsession/

According to the article “the left’s inequality obsession” by Arthur C. Brooks the inequality in the US between the rich and poor has grown even more in the past years. Statistics show a growing difference between these two socio-economic groups. While the incomes in the higher class increased by two-thirds, and in the middle one quarter, the lower class has gotten a raise in just one fifth. It’s is something to be worried about experts say. The velocity for rich for getting richer is considerable faster than the time that takes poor to get richer. The problem is not just the fact that difference exist, the biggest problem is that the gap has grown during the time. In fact, in 1973 average wealthy family earned as much as tenth times an average poor family, while now the difference has grown to 15 times bigger. Other example of this inequality is the one given from president Obama. He affirmed that an average CEO earns more than an average worker in a whole year. This difference has given terms from experts as John Edwards who called it “the two Americas” or Sen. Hillary Clinton who called present’s economy as "trickle-down economics without the trickle." The difference has been seen as source of unhappiness or miserableness for the ones in the lower class; therefore, new policies focus on solve the problem in inequality so this “unhappiness” doesn’t grow. However, statistics show unhappiness hasn’t grown even though the economic gap is becoming bigger. Studies proved that Americans are focused more on comparison to other, so they believe they would be happier earning more than their partners no mattering how much it would be. Finally, in order to meet all American’s necessities there are plans of better repartition of incomes; however, it’s seen as wrong for some people because it would create laziness. Therefore, experts believe there has to exist equality and inequality, so everyone works hard for their purposes.

Response

I think inequality is something that exists and we cannot change; however, we can try to make it smaller between different social groups. Even though I believe money doesn’t buy happiness, I think it is always better to have financial support, so you don’t have to care about money. The people who have more are more likely to focus on other things as job or education, while lower economic groups have always the difficulty of paying bills and stuff. It makes their lives different, so they cannot compete equally. Therefore, I agree that there must be difference between those who did have the same opportunities and did not work hard, but not between those who are born poorer or with fewer chances to succeed.

“How to bring an end to the war over sex ed”, summarize and response by Therese

Summary

The Time Magazine article “How to bring an end to the war over sex ed” by Amy Sullivan-Anderson take a deeper look into the sex education in America[1]. The United States experienced a rise in teen births in the second year in a row in 2009. That is after 15 years with drop in this statistic. The change is not wanted, especially since the amount of teenage pregnancies is alarmingly high compared with other western countries. In the age group 15-19 the statistics from 2006 displays that 41.9 give birth for every 1000 youth. The same number in Canada differ with13.3 per 1000(more than three times less). South Carolina is a state that is behind the national average in teen pregnancies (12 point higher), but luckily have had a great fall in the birth-numbers (27% decline). The change is partly because of the 1988 comprehension health education act the state introduced. But the continuing high statistic is worrying the population in Anderson County (170,000 inhabitants) which is mainly religious.

The organization United Ways - with Carol Burdette in the front – wanted to do something, and made contact with Impact, which is a teen-pregnancy-prevent organization. Burdette got to know that they had a sex education curriculum, but they did not get room in the schools. The South California public schools are by the act implied to have 12.5 hours of sex education, but most of them have abstinence-only (not having sex before marriage) programs since they are funded by the federal government. This is although research show that comprehensive programs are the best. Douglas Kirby’s neutral studies were conducted over more than three decades, and concluded that abstinence-only programs had no effect on sexual behavior. In contrast half of the comprehensive programs led to a delayed debut, reduce of sex partners, and an increase in condom use.   There is also a difference in the type of comprehensive programs: the old about safe sex is not working, while the new that concentrates about behavior in teens is working. This type also is favored by a superior majority of the parents, and the cost of unplanned and teen pregnancies is high (in US: $ 9 billion). Another problem is that teachers have few standards to follow; it is as many as 17 American states that do not have required sex education.  

In 2004, United Way, in cooperation with Impact, made efforts to start comprehensive sex educational programs in district 3 in Anderson County. They switched the teachers that often have this subject - the athletic coaches and the science instructors - out with real sex education teachers. Kristen Jordan has two courses at Starr-Iva middle school; the students are learning about basic sexuality and decision-making skill. Also in high schools is she an important character where she is a trusted person who offers good answers and a help in difficult situations. The students in this program are educated in more than abstinence since most youths today are not willing to wait. But also 66% wish they had waited longer. For that reason the students are given information about abstinence, birth control, sexually transmitted infections, and also given a better self-esteem. One of the teenagers that has benefitted from the change the schools did in the program is Jewels Morris Davis. She turned the family tradition around when she turned 16 without getting, or getting somebody else, pregnant. In a drug addict mother and foster care she turned to sex for affection. The program the school offered continued to be there for her, and others that needed support, and she changed her direction. Today she is happy and proud. She has set some clear goals, and is successful at school with attending cheerleading, the track team, and possesses a confident attitude.

Response

This article has a really good point; the American sex education needs to be taken seriously. I know from experience that the comprehensive type of sex education is great, and that a good sex education has a lot to say about the pregnancy rate. In Norway this has been the practices for many years and Norway has some of the lowest rates of teenage pregnancies. It lies around 10 per 1000. In my hometown we learn about sex, sexuality, decision-making, and saying no from an early age, with the biggest emphasis on this type of education in the middle school. In addition, and maybe most important for many, we have a house for the young with a central location in our town. This place is not only for sex education, but there are free doctors you can talk to about everything. It also has a café, concert room for local bands, workshops, filmmaking equipment, youth group, everything a young girl or boy needs to create a personal identity and feel a sense of community. It has really worked for the youths to have a place to go, and a place to be heard. I hope the American people eventually will help all young boys and girls to feel confident enough to make the decision to have sex, or not, when they are ready and in a healthy way.

---

[1] Sullivan-Anderson, Amy. "How to Bring An End to the War Over Sex Ed - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Time Magazine, 19 Mar. 2009. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1886558,00.html>.