What? Tobacco Admissions

So....it has been brought to my attention with an article that I read yesterday, that the government wants tobacco companies to admit on advertisements that nicotine is not only addictive, but also hazardous.

Thank you government for simply stating the obvious.... Anybody that smokes knows that its bad for them, yet continues to do so, simply because of nicotine dependance. Whether they know it or not.

I am an ex smoke, and I smoked for about 4 years. Even with asthma and knowing that it can cause numerous issues, I continued to smoke. And I will tell you why......even though you know the reason. Because I was addicted to nicotine and the simple lifestyle of smoking a cig.

The part that I find funny about this whole situation is that tobacco companies still in one form or another deny the fact that smoking is hazardous to the publics health. Even if you are not a smoker.

My personal message to tobacco companies:

Stop your complaining, own the fact that you make a profit off of 1,200 American's dying everyday. Give into what the government wants. And take the hit in profits. Maybe your self-respect will increase.

Which in my opinion is more important than profit shares, but thats just me.

Till tomorrow, keep your eyes and ears opened to the truth that is right in front of you. You just have to look a little closer.

I love Apple, but I also Love Android

Over the past decade, Apple has become a powerhouse in the technology industry. In my opinion, Steve Jobs is a visionary and a genius for coming up with the applications and the technology that he did at the time. He unlocked the idea bridge to the publics imagination (Good), but has also driven competitors to drive towards the same technological advances (Bad?).

I am some what of a visionary myself.....I like to analyze trends and figure out where they will be in the future. Turns out I was so right about apple, thats why I invested. But what I noticed about the Android technology is that it has evolved a lot quicker and stronger than Apples phones. In the next 2 years, android will surpass Apple. Why you ask?

Well....because it took almost a decade for apple to get to where it is today, and for android it only took 2 or 3 years....you do the math people!!

In my prediction, I see Apple still being around, but will most likely be second best to consumers, if they cant pull a trick or two out of their hats or sleeves.

Fake and Bake Tanning

When I think about the concept of going into a box with uva and uvb rays condensed in a box, I say you must be mad. This is before I did it the other day. Thats right folks, I went into a tanning bed for 10 minutes, came out slightly burned and full of color.

Your probably asking yourself, "why in gods name is Justin writing about tanning"?

I will tell you why. Because I find it to be an interesting part of todays culture, especially on Long Island.

Think about it, you see it glamorized everywhere, more on tv's "hit show" the Jersey Shore.

Lets face it, people that are young or old want to look sexy and feel that having a darker complexion gives them that extra edge. But what happens to their skin after prolonged tanning, after years, maybe even decades.....I will tell you what you get, wrinkly and leathery skin.

So what you say? Well why don't you do what I do and go every once in awhile, and get your tan from the sun, during the spring and summer, and become pale in the fall and winter.

Who cares? The most important thing, is that you love yourself. Sounds corny, but its true.

See you guys tomorrow

Energy Drinks Are Bad

I was drinking at least two red bulls a day. They say its supposed to keep you focused and energetic, but what they forget to mention in the advertisements for the past 10 years, is that the crash is terrible, the ingredients are extremely bad for your heart and liver. Oh ya, and it causes heart palpitations.

I am writing about this because after a scare with energy drinks, I have decided to no longer drink them, and I would encourage you to do the same.

The fact that newspapers are just now writing about how bad energy drinks, is actually alarming. I just find it ironic that todays culture accepts quick fixes, and then discovers that products like these are no good, after prolonged usage.

Libya Opposition

Like many Americans, I wake up in the morning, brush my teeth, take a shower, get dressed, get into my car and go to work. There are a few moments of joy during the work day that make life worth living for.

For instance, passing along and receiving funny messages from friends and family, planning what i'm going to do after work, and one of my favorites is checking the stock market to see the gains and losses of invested stocks.

However, going with my new focus I really have to share how i'm feeling about the 200 point drop in the stock market today. I don't know about you guys, but it really irritated me and got my blood boiling. Specifically because the majority of the reason why the market did so shitty today, is because of that psycho Moammar Gadhafi and his reign of tyranny through out the Middle East.

Something that is going on across the world is affecting Americans and the way they feel about their economical stability. As well as my own. Who needs that kind of stress, not US or the USA.

I for one am tired of the increased gas prices, lack of job opportunity due to cut backs and the ever lasting feeling of not feeling safe.

New Era

So I have been thinking, and the reason why I have not been blogging for over a year and a half, is because I haven't had any motivation to write.

I think the reason why, is because its been a difficult year, personally. In addition, I also have lack of interest in whats going on in the general public.

However, I had a lovely conversation with a encouraging person, who told me to "follow my dreams". So instead of putting pen to paper, I will be putting thoughts out in the world, digitally.

I have realized that the new focus of Psycholitiks, is not to report the news, but how the new influences me, and my daily life.

Illustration of Information in Novels

 

In Fahrenheit 451 and The name of the Rose, a common theme is the role of the government’s hierarchy and the ability to control knowledge. Both the book and the film illustrate a strong sense of how society and the people within that society thrive off of knowledge and information. This raises the question, is the government right by holding information back from the public?

The freedom of knowledge has given the public the ability to overcome obstacles and tribulations. Without knowledge, our own thoughts would be suppressed. For instance, in the film, "The Name of the Rose" conveyed the message that some knowledge is like a forbidden fruit, "dangerous". When the Monks found the Socrates book in their library, they knew that it was wrong, because it was a source of laughter, which was not allowed. Despite, the monks knowledge of knowing that this book was forbidden, the temptation to read it’s secrets were too great to resist.

Therefore, the fact that these monks found a source of laughter, which represented lack of respect to the Catholic Church. This would undermine the Franciscan hierarchy. In addition, the power of free thought is a dangerous and powerful tool among men. The Socrates book did exactly that, by nurturing free thought. This fact illustrates and reinforces the theory that when one has more knowledge, they rely less on others for directions. In other words, the secret of knowledge poses a threat to people in power.
Another example of how dangerous knowledge can be was demonstrated in “The Name of the Rose”, when a monk read Socrates and was found murdered and used as an example to surrounding citizens. This example, was meant to keep people in line and show that you do not go against the powers of the government. The character, William, played by Sean Connery, used his intelligence to outweigh demonic possession, and used his knowledge to solve the case of the murder that had taken place. The character of William, already possessed his own train of free thought, which enabled him to unfold oppressive hierarchy of power.

Another example of controlling information can be seen in the novel “ Fahrenheit 451”. For instance, the main character, Montag, who is a fireman burns books. This is a way for the government to limit societies knowledge. In our world, the role of a fireman is to save anything that is materialistic or a source of knowledge. In contrast, in “Fahrenheit 451”, a fireman’s job is to destroy books in order to keep people from thinking outside the norms of society. The problem with this is that without any books, peoples memories begin to fade, and then nobody has any recollection of history.

Throughout both books, the common theme of fire is used. Montag who is the main character in “Fahrenheit 451”, is a fireman whose job is to set fires, in order to suppress the society and keep order as it should be, in the hands of the government. Since he has been putting our fires for so long, and does not know the reasons behind his orders, he has a void of emotions and feelings, that normal people in our society naturally have. Therefore, the use of fire conveys the most powerful means of destruction. The destruction of books in a sense is the destruction of free will and thought.

On the other hand, in the “Name of the Rose” the people that were seen reading or obtaining knowledge in one form or another would be burnt at the stake. For example, the character Menocchio was burnt at the stake, because we gazed his eyes on the Socrates book, which was the most sinful things that one can do in the eyes of the church. The reason Menochhio was burnt at the stake, is because he was opened about his intelligence and this theories and philosophies. These are the reasons why the hierarchy views knowledge as a privilege that is reserved for certain people.

Therefore, through the analysis of each book and the common themes of knowledge and fire, it is obvious that if the ruling power of a society loses the upper hand on their citizens, their power dissipates. This theory can be used in modern society as we see it today. For example, when the government holds the majority of information, and chooses to either censor the information, or only distribute the knowledge as they see fit, the citizens of that society have fear in their hearts. However, when the knowledge is acknowledged publicly, the government loses authority and order over the citizens that they suppress.