Names

How important is your name?  Where did it come from?  What does it say about you?  Would it be hard to believe your life course may be set by your family surname or by the first decision made for you when you were born?  Research has shown based on your name, you may be predisposed to choose a certain profession.

Our names are held sacred.  Being a person with an alternative spelling for my first name, I am hyper-sensitive to people pronouncing and spelling it correctly.  Additionally, I am overcome with embarrassment if I mispronounce or misspell anyone’s name.  It is something we own and something we are proud of.  It is the first thing we are given and it stays with us wherever we go.

Your name can have a significant impact on those you meet even before you open your mouth.  Most often unfairly, you are judged by your name.  Researchers have polled employers on their impressions of potential candidates based solely on their name.  The name “John” for instance, creates the impression of someone who is wholesome and dependable. 

In addition to creating an immediate impression, your name may also indicate your future career choice.  A Wall Street Journal article from June 21, 2011 cites a controversial study conducted by State University of New York in Buffalo which claims people are more likely to choose a profession with names that are similar the their own.  While this may seem preposterous, it is hard to argue with:

Dr. Douglas Hart – cardiologist

Sue Yoo – lawyer

Cory Greathouse – realtor

Patricia Boguslawski – lawyer

Dr. Payne – orthodontist

Even if your name does not have to do with your profession, it may provide you advantages in other ways.  Simply ask Mr. Will Wynn, winner of the Austin, TX mayoral campaign from 2003 through 2009 if you would like additional evidence. 

Where did you get your name?   Based on your name, what would be your ideal profession?  Regardless of name, what do you want to do professionally in the future?

Tax Day

April 15^th of each year is traditionally tax day in the United States.  Since the 15^th fell on a Sunday this year and the 16^th is a holiday in Washington, D.C., the tax day this year is April 17^th.  Regardless of the actual day, Americans from sea to shining sea are asked to account for their income during the prior calendar year and pay Uncle Sam their share. 

Whether it is due to the fact we are in an election year or our obsession with the economic woes of the United States, there are countless articles, blog and other editorials concerning taxes and tax rates.  Articles regarding how much the President paid versus his secretary, how much we all pay as a result of people cheating on their taxes, what effect the Buffett rule will have on all of us are littering the internet.

Taxes are necessary if we are going to live in operate in a civilized democracy.  It is necessary for each of us to pay our fair share to provide for many of the services we take for granted.  Tax dollars pay for schools, emergency services, military services, highways and street systems in addition to countless other programs and services.  The question becomes what is a “fair share”. 

In the United States we employ a progressive tax structure when it comes to individual income tax.  A progressive tax is based on a sliding scale that increases as your income increases.  While this may seem unfair to some, there are many offsets to personal income taxes available to individuals for various reasons.  As a result it is possible for someone with higher income to pay a lower percentage than others based on their exceptions or deductions.

What do you know about the federal income tax system?  What other taxes are you aware of?  How would you determine the “fair share” each family should pay?  

Hunger Games

You convinced me the Hunger Games was a worthy topic to dedicate to my blog.  It has not been unnoticed the number of Hunger Games books carried around the school by our middle school students.  If you are like me the recent release of the movie has inspired me to pick up the book. (Yes, I am reading it as well.)  Discussing the story in greater detail inspired me to spend Saturday reading.  I have about 80 pages left.    

In addition to being a good story, the topic is an interesting perspective on our culture and where we are potentially heading.  As I talked about with the 8^th grade class, there appears to be many elements described in the book which mirror the world we are living in, specifically our fascination with reality media.  Television, YouTube, and Facebook, amongst others, are driving our social awareness and perception of reality.  While we would like to think the Hunger Games is taking reality television to a whole new level, but how far is the stretch from what we watch today. 

“Survivor” takes some number of castaways each season, drops them in some sort of desolate area and forces them to find their own water, food, and shelter.  Although they are initially placed in tribes, eventually they have to pick each other off one by one.  They form alliances, cheat, steal, manipulate their way to victory.  Minus the killing, this sounds oddly familiar. 

We seem to have a fascination with watching “real” people.  It has created an entirely new genre in television and provides us all an opportunity to become famous.  Throw in the internet and if you film “Charlie” biting his brother finger, you can be the most watch video clip of all time with more than 442 million views. 

Why are we fascinated with watching reality media?  What do you watch and why?  What values and morals are promoted?  Where do you think the future of television is heading?