The Importance and Motives of Philanthropy

While reading through Part II - A Topography of Transactions - of John Bloom's The Genius of Money philanthropy seemed to be a reoccurring and central theme when discussing the economy and economic transactions in a broader sense. Bloom examples that, yes, the "economy" we exist in and take part in would continue to produce, consume, and even profit without the presence of philanthropy and everything would keep running like the well-oiled machine that capitalist America is. However, organizations, activities, or services that depend on gift support and charity - among those some of the most important, such as: education, research, culture, the arts, etc. would fail to see the light of day.

To myself, and Mr. Bloom as well, philanthropic or non-profitable entities prove to be the most essential and valuable aspects of our economic, social, and political well-being. Bloom even goes as far to state that, "gifting is the most important and productive component of an economic system" (72). Well...if this is the case, why don't people gift or give more? Bloom notes that a gift is 100% risk, and even though the returns and benefits you,  your community, and in some cases the world receives from that gift are immeasurable, individuals still see it as a risk.

The next chapter dives into the value of community and the personal relationship individuals need to develop when it comes to economic transactions. Even though Bloom uses a finance article from the New York Times as an example, he still notes the importance of a strong, community, and - most importantly - personal relationship when dealing with transactions and business.

All of the above points Bloom discussed are equally as important to me and I truly believe if you want your business or you as an individual to flourish and prosper economically and financially, you need to find a way to socially interact with your community and your business on a deeply personal level and participate in philanthropic activities, whether it be time or money that is donated. The reason I believe this is so essential and believe it works, is because I have witnessed it first hand.

My father, Dr. Robert J. Brosi D.D.S. (lol) owns a successful Dentistry practice in a small town right outside Yosemite National Park - Oakhurst, California. He has been in business for 20+ years and, in my mind - as well as others, is a very well respected Dentist and community member in our small town. One example of the philanthropic actives Bob, as I refer to him, participates in is Free Dentistry Day. He, and his other dentist colleagues, participate in this day and give free dental work to all members of the community. Not only do none of the dentists profit, they use their own resources, supplies, and time to give back their skill and knowledge to those less fortunate. As Bloom argues, what is the price and return of participating in something like this? Surely, in terms of economic value, there is 0% return and 100% risk involved. However, dentists - like good ol' Bob - still choose to participate every year. Rather than a charge against the profits lost through supplies, resources, materials, etc. of Free Dentistry Day, Bob - and other dentists - surely celebrate the way they help individuals and change their health for the better rather than the economical gains they could have received.

Unfortunately, not everyone think in terms like those I have discussed above and Bloom has discussed in detail. If every individual acted more altruistically, then surely more and more individuals would benefit and more would be able to participate and reap all the wonderful aspects and caveats life has to offer.


http://www.sierranewsonline.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4606:yhs-senior-project-helps-free-dentistry-day&Itemid=467

Above is the link to an article, written in the local newspaper, about Free Dentistry Day. My dad has a picture with his staff on the right-hand side! :)

Silicon Valley

If anyone is in the market for a new TV show to binge watch this weekend, or sometime in the near future, then ladies and gents I have found TV gold for you. Silicon Valley is a tech comedy type show that anyone can geek out to. It is based in the infamous Silicon Valley and chronicles tech guys preparing to launch their own company and data compressor program. If that was way over your head, don't worry. A lot of the stuff they discuss isn't tech lingo I'm familiar with either, however don't let this scare you. I truly enjoy the show and can still follow the trials and tribulations of the up and coming tech revolution company Pied Piper, along with all the characters that made up this so called nerd posse.

My boyfriend, who just happens to work in the mysterious world of tech, turned me on to this show and highly recommended it. While he obviously understands all the code jokes and the software references, he also finds the humor outside of the tech lingo absolutely hilarious as well. It's nice to see a show that changes the way, those of us who don't know, think about the tech industry and just have competitive and ever evolving it really is.

The show is on HBOgo and I strongly encourage everyone to get it a whirl, including you Professor- you would enjoy! It received an 8.5 rating on IMDb which is quite high, meaning it must be good! These days I don't waste my time with anything rated below a 7!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hbos-silicon-valley-tv-review-687302

The Other Invisible Hand

As I have begun to read The Genius of Money by John Bloom I have discovered new ways to look at how money, and any type of currency, effects individuals, social groups, and businesses - big or small. As a result of money existing as the official currency for any type of social, economic, or political transactions, relationships are formed solely based on how much or how little money you have according to a specific chapter in Bloom's book "Money and Its Subtle Influence on Social Life".

What Bloom discusses in this particular chapter definitely has some truth to it, even though admitting so seems morally corrupt. Bloom states that, "when money or financial issues are at play in the context of decision making, even the most socially conscious, warm-hearted people tend to act in an anti-social manner" (Bloom 15). Furthermore, money changes the way people are motivated for the better and is used as an incentivizer to work harder, while money changes people's behavior towards others for the worse.

People who have money will retreat and isolate themselves, while losing their altruistic values and beliefs that expresses concern and compassion for those without and for other individuals. While this statement may seem pretentious and no one wants to admit this is the case, people do organize and segregate based around money. Bloom goes as far to suggest that while money is always going to be a part of life and a dictating force in decision making processes, we need to understand the injustice and chaos that has emerged from participating in such an egotistically centered economy.

However, the solution or suggestion Bloom presents seems misguiding. How are we supposed to remove money and its influence out of our daily decisions and routine when it is such an essential part of our social and economic life? It's hard to say, really. Bloom wants individuals to become "conscious of the unconscious" meaning become aware of the decisions we are making based on money. BUT if we are unconsciously deciding these things and using money so frequently and so dependently how does Bloom expect every individual to integrate financial practices with our deepest values and beliefs when WE ARE NOT EVEN AWARE THAT WE ARE DOING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Bloom is too idealistic and hopeful about this particular concept, in my opinion. Hopefully, as I continue to read (because I only made it about half way through the first part) Bloom will propose some more realistical solutions.

Fire Season

As most you of already know, California - as a result of the drought - is very, very dry especially during summertime. Therefore, fires are more prone to start and to escalate during this time.

I grew up right outside Yosemite National Park in a small town called Oakhurst. Oakhurst is known as the "gateway to Yosemite" and is a very cute, quaint, and small town. I loved growing up in Oakhurst and loved being apart of such a close knit and tight community, however as I got older I realized I needed to move away. However, Oakhurst will always hold a special place in my heart and will always be home to me.

Due to the serious drought in California, within in last two years or so fires have been a horrific issue for residents of California. Last summer (2014) my hometown Oakhurst had about six to seven serious fires and my family and I had to evacuate three times due to proximity of the fire to our neighborhood. It was devastating to see fires, most started accidentally, destroy wildlife and land that makes living in Oakhurst so beautiful and so desirable as well as homes and businesses of friends and families. Below is a picture of one of the more serious fires in Oakhurst that destroyed countless homes.

The reason I share this with everyone is because today, again, I have received news of two fires starting to kick off this summer's fire season. This is a serious issue for my community of Oakhurst as well as other small mountain communities that are being affected by the drought in California. If there is anyone out there that doesn't take the drought seriously or isn't immediately affected by it, take some time to read about some of the smaller mountain communities being harmed by the drought and the wildfires that take advantage of the drought and think twice about your water consumption!

Omnivore's Dilemma: Organic Industry

The need and demand for "organic" food, whatever that even means anymore, is a big topic in Michael Pollan's book. Pollan proceeds to attempt to explain the industrial organic complex: which can be described as the large-scale farms and good processing areas that supply the ever growing demand for organic food. Pollan uses Whole Foods as an example to try and explain that even though food is labeled organic, consumers may not be buying wholly organic food, as he later explains is nearly impossible and not at all sustainable, and instead buying into the idea and lifestyle of eating organic thanks to creative and deceiving marketing.

To exemplify his point, as described above, Pollan spends some time with Joel Salatin, a truly organic farmer - not to mention very eccentric individual - who runs a successful farm in Virginia. Salatin's small farm insists on selling locally and relying on himself, the various animals on his farm, as well as mother nature to provide 100% organic food since nothing has been imported/exported and everything is grown using resources and techniques provided by nature. After spending time with Salatin, Pollan realizes the extreme difficulties of actually providing authentically grown and organic food and why there aren't too many farmers that are willing to go 100% organically when the challenge is so great. Salatin describes his work as being fused together mentally and physically and that he sincerely believes in an organic lifestyle. Instead, most farmers take the easy way out and industrialize the job, keeping things "mostly" organic.

After this, in the final section of the book, Pollan attempts to prepare a meal using only ingredients that he has hunted, gathered, or grown himself. He hunts boars, gathers wild mushrooms, and uses greens from his own garden among other things. What he concludes is that the meal him and his family ate from McDonalds and the meal he prepared himself are, "equally unreal and equally unsustainable" (Pollan).

While this statement made by Pollan is a little unsettling he does have a point. If the farm that Salatin works on and sustains is the standard for producing organic food, it just is not a realistic expectation of food production for how many people live in the world today and the different locales people inhabit. However, creating false ideals and using deceptive advertising on organic products like the industrial organic complex does is not ideal either. This being said, Pollan has a point that most farmers are not willing to go as far as Salatin does, and thus we get a mix of food that we don't really know whether it is organic or not. The bottom line is, there may not be a real solution to our food system or the way we produce food anytime in the near feature. I think Pollan's desire and job was to merely inform people to become aware of these issues and realize the danger of the industrial food complex so that we may enact change and pay more attention to what we are eating.

On the Topic of Herbivore's....

So, reading Omnivore's Dilemma (and all about corn) made me think about some other nutritional and diet-based books I have read. Michael Pollen talks about cows and other animals naturally being herbivores, but instead are fed diets infused with fats and other grains that their body was not BIOLOGICALLY made to process. This in turn created a whole variety of complications, medical issues, and even sicknesses and diseases for the animals. Well, as it turns out the same is said for humans.

I've previously read the book The China Study by Colin Campbell, which now that I think about it is a very odd "leisurely" type read for me to select. Anyway, here's a little wikipedia blurb about the book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_China_Study). So what Colin Campbell and his son have set off to research are the relationship between animal-based diets and chronic illnesses, sicknesses, and disease. Some of the diseases and illnesses that are discussed are - heart disease (which if I remember correctly is one of the leading causes of death in the United States), diabetes, and certain cancers. Campbell and his son directly relate the rise of these types of sicknesses and disease to a largely consumed diet of animal-based products.

This being said, the most comprehensive nutritional study was conducted in China comparing diet to death rates of a certain type of cancer. What they more or less discovered was that consuming a strictly plant-based diet or one containing little to no animal products (meat, dairy, etc.) significantly reduces your chances of contracting any of these diseases as described above. Furthermore, if you already have one of said diseases, eating a plan-based diet could reduce the rapid reproduction of those diseases and in turn, could prolong your life and your long term health.

Whether or not this study is scientifically/statistically significant or correct, which I believe it is, diet can and does have a direct impact on your health and it's something that more Americans need to pay attention to. I use the term "Americans" because I believe other parts of the world are exempt from the embarassingly bad eating habit that exist in the United States. For example, Europeans have a completely different relationship with food than we do which I discovered while studying abroad for roughly four months. They believe in celebrating food and dinner and meals are a process that must also be celebrated. Therefore, everything (produce) must be of the freshest content and they believe in all sorts of wonderful flavors. This being said, you never once saw a fat European walking down the street. Europeans eat well, exercise more, and enjoy a lifestyle where they can embrace all the great things about fresh food and what it has to offer.

I genuinely believe that what we put into our bodies directly effects our mental, physical, and emotional capacities. Some may believe that eating meat does not harm our bodies, but based on research that has been collected in The China Study Campbell and his son really believe and have proven that a plant-based diet can promote longevity. I guess you could look at this blog post as just some food for thought for now....

Omnivore's Dilemma: Thoughts and Concerns (June 8th)

Reading Part 1 of Omnivore's Dilemma I was, at first, a little reluctant when the author focus on corn for little over a 100 pages, but I'm excited as to see where he goes with it and what he uncovers about how corn continues to play a role in our everyday lives. In this day and age where there is a surplus of readily available information the author describes the ignorance of the American population in relation to knowing where their food comes from or what is even in the food they consume on an everyday basis. Well, Michael Pollen is here to inform you that is can be summed up in one word all of the answers, questions, and concerns you may have about the food you eat and where it comes from or even what is in it....CORN.

After reading the first part of this book I was honestly horrified to admit that I was just as uninformed as the rest of the population on the food I consume even though I would like to think I eat exceptionally healthy/try to at least buy locally and organically. The mantra "you are what you eat" becomes transformed into a new version of "you are what what you eat eats, too" that is fully compatible with this day and age. For the world's greatest era of dumb consumers, no one puts much thought about what goes into their bodies and after reading this book I most definitely will reconsider my entire relationship with food.

Realizing that the agricultural industry and the food we consume is organized by the government solely for profit and not at all for our benefit, when our health and well-being is at risk is slightly disturbing. To industrialize and market something so vital to the human species is disgusting and I'm surprised that more people aren't outraged. I believe that it's because a lot of individuals are so unaware of what is happening and are so uninformed. To know that the corn industry not only is harmful to ourselves, animals, and farmers but that it also contributes to the ever rising climate change and the state of our environment strengthens the case for an entire overhaul with our so-called "food system" and the way food is not only grown, but delivered to consumers.

Job Memo

Legal Assistant

As a temporary job, with a decent salary, until I go back to school I work as a legal assistant. If you were not aware, there is a lot of “busy work” and preparation that goes on in a law office that someone must complete. It certainly will not be the lead attorney maxing out at $400 plus dollars per hour, so naturally it is me: a young college student who will basically do anything to make a buck.

Legal Assistants are responsible for a variety of legal tasks that help attorneys and other associate partners around the office. I would describe a legal assistant as a “behind the scenes” worker who shows up and does all the menial tasks to make the office, attorneys, and staff seem like they have everything together, are organized, and can portray to the public and client a professional, put together environment. Most legal assistants, including myself, sit in small offices or cubicles to complete all their tasks and unless working in a small firm, do not have much client interaction.

There are a wide variety of tasks that a legal assistant can be assigned to do, however I will describe some of the most common day-to-day tasks that I have most commonly carry out as well as some examples of why no one in the office really wants to do any of the tasks I am given.

•        Filing, faxing, photocopying, organizing
•     Conducting legal research
•     Preparing documents (client correspondence, court memos, etc.)

 Filing/Faxing/Photocopying/Organizing

This specific set of tasks that happen on an everyday basis in a law office are pretty self-explanatory and are very boring, mindless, and repetitive. However, I have had a few mishaps in the past as I’m sure most people have. One big case I was assisting on made it necessary for me to organize all legal documents, evidence, notes, call logs, and anything under the sun that had any relation to this case. Therefore, I did unlimited amounts of filing, photocopying, faxing, and organizing evidence into huge binders that then would be looked over by all the lead attorneys on this particular case.

This seems easy enough, however you must have great attention to detail when dealing with such evidence as to file everything correctly and deem what is/what is not important. So, after I created upwards of 10 huge binders containing all the evidence that was most important to this case the lead attorneys reviewed it and claimed that one face to face transcribed interaction with the client was missing, but was absolutely essential to their defense. I immediately panic, having put together this entire portfolio it could only be my fault that this one piece of paper was missing. I had been working on this specific case for months and start reviewing everything I did to see if I could remember where that paper was or what I had done with it.

After about a week, it turns out I had filed this one piece of paper incorrectly. This huge client shared the last name “Anderson” with a few other clients as well. I had placed the piece of paper for “Anderson, John” into the “Anderson, James” file. The mistake was fixed, thankfully, and the whole office returned to work, but that one mistake could have been detrimental to the case and the future of my job.

Even menial and idiot proof tasks such as filing, faxing, photocopying, and organizing must be handled with as much attention to detail and intensity as open-heart surgery when it comes to a law office setting.

Conducting Legal Research

Legal research is a very daunting task to young legal assistants such as myself. In my case, my boss or whatever head attorney I am assisting will give me specific cases or a general topic to look up and research. He then will ask me to read through all the information that comes up and find any legal terms or situations that have any relevance to the case he is representing and then report back to him with my findings. Sometimes this can take days and weeks and sometimes this can be done in a very fast manner. However, it takes a lot of skimming and reading through tons of legal information, cases, and court hearings and looking up a lot of words, terms, and legal lingo that you are not familiar with.

For me personally, it sometimes is a very irritating and frustrating task especially when it’s been days of reading, skimming, and sifting through heavy information only to find you have made no progress and must report back to your boss empty-handed. This, however, is precisely why the head attorneys delegate these kinds of tasks to legal assistants. It does take a long time to do research and can be very time consuming, but for someone like me hoping to pursue a career in law it can be very informative and helpful reading through all the information and learning more about the legal world.

Preparation of Legal Documents

Preparing legal documents can include anything from client correspondence (letters, summons, etc.) to filing court documents or legal billing. This also is not too hard of a task when, like most offices, there is an already set template to use and unlimited examples of previous letters, filings, templates, etc. to go off of. Such a perceived simple task sometimes does not always go accordingly as I once learned.

Lawyers are very anal about their templates and about the formatting of all correspondence that leaves the office and I learned this the hard way. Even the smallest alignment or out of place heading, paragraph, or date really gets under their skin. And don’t even start me on how big of grammar snobs lawyers really are.

To say the least, there have been a few instances where my bosses have not been pleased with me when they have noticed one of the above errors. But, for the most part it has definitely taught me to really pay attention to what is sent is written and sent out of the office since it represents the lawyers and their practice. Most of the tasks I do as a legal assistant are not challenging, per say, but they do require a lot of attention and thought.