Current Events 10/11

In the October edition of Consumer Reports, I found an article that brings some sad news about the possibility of using ethanol as an alternative fuel source. To clarify, in the recent past people have been talking about hauling in our fuel from the breadbasket of America so we don’t need to rely on Middle Eastern oil. The original diesel engine was supposed to run on corn anyway so why not try it again? Those pink fluffy clouds of optimism which I’ll admit I floated my hopes on too, vanished as news of their efficiency came to light.

This article I’m afraid has no clear author to speak of; however whoever it is has a wide variety of sources ranging from ethanol plant owners to professors of ecology to 50 experts. Mr. Whoeveritis also throws a heaping scoopful of numbers. It leaves the reader confused and this reader was reminded of math class. The basic argument is ethanol 85 gets ten miles to the gallon, is just as pricey as gas per gallon, and the country lacks the number of farmers to grow it. However it does promote ethanol 10, a 1/9 mix of ethanol and gasoline, and ethanol is still good for the environment, however hard to get.
In the end I’m forced to face the truth that ethanol may be only in our distant future. For all the numbers Mr. Whoeveritis makes a good point. I’ll give him points for being informal, none for clarity or brevity, and points for good points. This onion I’m afraid is difficult to cut...

Weber Theses

· What is the main idea of Max Weber's Thesis on Protestantism and the Spirit of Capitalism?
· In your studies of the Reformation, what examples can you find, that would support the Weber Theses?
· Can you identify the main parts of the Weber Theses? Can you identify possible criticisms of these theses


Mr. Weber seems to be saying that religion is an important factor in economics surprisingly. One might never consider his/her paycheck as they sit in the pews, but Weber makes quite a point. That being said, his point is how the various churches encourage you to live your life, spend your money on what you need or desire, and how forgiving they are when it comes to a superfluous waste of money. Capitalism is what he claims was encouraged in Protestant churches. Capitalism is nothing scary that only an accountant would know, just a fancy way of saying what everybody’s favorite Philosopher teaches, “A penny saved is a penny earned; now where did I put the paper…” said the wise and forgetful Grandpa. Saving your money to spend on more profitable venture, that being a gift that keeps giving, rather than something that one may desire right now is all Capitalism is.

As far as why he might be right think about some churches you’ve seen. Catholic churches in their hay day, that also being the time of the reformation, are just few things, big, stony, pretty gargoyley, maybe some stained glassiness and expensive. Most protestant churches didn’t have some mutated bat-thing staring at you. Some may have been big and huge and huge and big but it was more about functionality than how pretty it was. After all, when the bills come in the mail, the ugly bat-thing just sits there and threatens to cave in the ceiling. Also most rich people of the time were Catholic to because if they were naughty and anything but humble, your wallet could bring you salvation.

In short the Weber theses are all about why Capitalism works and why mainly Protestant nations had few economic problems compared to mainly Catholic nations. If your religion encourages you to save up, you’re naturally inclined to do so as you run your business and do your shopping. Everybody wins in the long run. In contrast, if you must have the latest computer and all the gizmos and your business is given a new sign, even the old one is just a little faded rather than saving up for a new location, the money dries up fast. When disaster strikes you can sap a bit from the second location account or the save up for new car fund, unless you already spent them. So we watch business flop in Catholic nations because when something bad happens, no one can spend or stay open for business and a domino effect comes into play. Meanwhile Protestant communities stager a bit, but in time regain their composure.

Lastly Mr. Weber doesn’t have to be right. In many instances, nations who were Protestant didn’t capitalize anyway, like Scotland. And other Catholic nations flourished even though the church was glad to over look their how they spent their money, like Italy.

Upcoming class debate

Next Monday I will be arguing the point that men and women benefited equally during the Renaissance. For the record Nick, Josh and I will likely lose because the age of “Male Chauvinist Pigs” ended a while ago and at the same time the victors of that war are still fighting as if it just begun. While my comrades and I may have a better hope arguing that Hitler wasn’t such a bad guy after all or simply not arguing and instead attempt the world’s first snowball fight in a place some say snowballs won’t stand a chance, we will forever press on, even if that means running headfirst in to a pink, bubbly, brick wall of feminism. I do NOT intend on losing, however differently the opposition may feel. This is my final entry before the looming debate. Wish me luck… With onions.

Why Onions?

I have reason behind my madness you know; that being onions. If you’ve ever seen “Shreck” you’d know onions have a deep symbolic meaning. “You see Donkey, ogres are like onions, we have layers” said the ugly antisocial ogre to the donkey who sounded awfully like Eddie Murphy. What our ugly antisocial friend means by that is that onions have layers, and ogres have these layers too. There’s the outside layer, thin, yellow and flakey, the part the passerby only sees. Then as you dig down deeper, further into the onion, you find the true onion, the tasty part, the flavor, the part that hides the things that make you cry. Everything in the world has layers. Some have more than others. In A.P. Euro, my job is to delve into articles, text, and books and find the true meaning of the words.

That goes beyond other people’s text too. Other stuff I’ve read by classmates and non-professional writers, like myself, often lack depth, meaning and/or style. Something could have been written by another robot it’s so plain and boring, or maybe the stuff you’re reading is unorganized and wandering like you’re going nowhere in a hurry. I hate writing like that. I know sometimes it can’t be helped, but nobody wants to read that stuff. Not teachers. Not friends. Not even you’re his/her parents would enjoy such bland content. That’s why it’s Tom with Onions. Onions are a symbol of depth, meaning and style. So whenever you read something, get it with onions.

Pico Assignment

1. According to Pico's statements, what is the dignity of man?

Pico states that the dignity of man is that we are the highest of God's creations. We can choose our own destiny and think, unlike everything else we see on this planet. That is our dignity, we are of God, above the beasts (animals) and we are powerful.

2. How can Pico's ideal of man's dignity relate to the life of a high school student? (Tough question, think about how you fulfill your potential)

Pico is under the impression we should be fulfill our potential, whatever that may be, or be like beasts, unthinking and lowly. I try to maintain good grades, enjoy life and stop to smell the roses. I admit I do have a major goal in life that will require all my potential. I am determined to be a worthy athlete no matter what and overcome my weaknesses. I’m sure other high school students wish to reach their full potential as well and not only that but push it to the limits and reach where no other has before. That is the human spirit I think Pico is talking about. Otherwise what a waste we all would be if we never were anything beyond ordinary.

Current Events 9/15

At Wikipedia there is a preview article about a book being released this October 13th, The End by Lemony Snicket. The End is the last and the 13th in a Series of Unfortunate Events, a popular yet depressing series of children’s books. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be writing about them, but I’ve been reading them since I was a child myself, and I’m dying to find out how it ends.
The author of this article is unknown and quite possibly at least ten different people so I can not call them bias in any way. Their details are accurate; I’ve researched the book since its announcement. The tone is very matter of fact, like most everything on Wikipedia, however there is no way to describe the series, let alone its last book, without an air of mysteriousness. They also bring in hints to its end, including the usual letter from the author on the back of every book in the series. The series is also stated to end the way it began, with the word Beatrice.
Overall our friends at Wikipedia know they’re doing. The article is precise and informal and never bias, even in the slightest. I salute the grand wiki.


Update (10/18/o6) : I finally read The End and it was as great as expected and then some. What was incredibly surprising was Snicket's constant refrences to ONIONS as a symbol and a theme thoughout the whole book (especially in the first five pages, where he writes about nothing else but onions). I had no prior knowledge of his respect for things with layers that make you cry (and it's not a layer cake with chocolate covered thumbtacks), so I am even more honored to bear the name Tom with Onions. I salute Lemony Snicket, with onions. sniff...

welcome