So much to say, and when I get here I draw a blank....
Life is as busy as ever. I wish my days were 36 hours long in order to accomplish all my obligations and still have time to rest.
I hope that's not why I keep getting sick. After 2 bouts of strep throat back-to-back, I hope my illness quota has been filled for the year...
Showing posts with label misc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label misc. Show all posts
Friday, June 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Consumerism
In lieu of the release and record-breaking sales of the iPad2...
This is totally worth watching til the end. Thanks to my friend Simone for finding this.
The iPad2 has been selling like crazy, which means everyone has $600+ laying around the house to blow on it. I'm so happy the US economic crisis is over!
Or is it?
Shell out $600 for a tablet just because it's *cool*. ...Just certainly not my priority.
The iPad is just an illustration here. Consumerism is rampant, and only tends to get worse. There are trillions of products offered to us in the stores and we dash to buy it, just because...
Having a baby? No problem? We have diaper pails with refills, machines that will prepare a bottle for you (just like you'd prepare an espresso!), swings, wiper warmers, etc. What will you actually use? Is it worth it to spend $$$$ on a $150 designer diaper bag that you will carry around for a couple of years? Our diaper bag was a roomy, navy blue Eddie Bauer I got as a baby shower gift, unisex, and can still be used for other purposes (price tag $30). Don't get me started on the $900 strollers. There's certainly quality strollers out there that cost 4 times less.
A few years ago, we invested in an expensive KitchenAid mixer for the kitchen. I had an old hand-held mixer that just wasn't powerful enough to whip all the different frostings I decorate cakes with. I did my research. I found out that while the investment was a bit steep (more or less $200), the appliance would last a lifetime.
The same thing when I had to replace our vacuum cleaner and ended up investing on a Dyson. The price tag on that baby was $400, but I managed to pay $320 with a coupon. And I'll likely never have to spend money on a vacuum cleaner ever again.
*I swear I am not being paid for merchandising here.*
The bottom line is I'm certainly not perfect, but I learned to only buy what I need, and I do my homework before I spend my hard-earned cash. I don't need to replace the car every 2 years. I don't replace my computer every 2 years. Ultimately, everyone spends their money to buy whatever they want. A $600 tablet, a $700 Christian Loboutin pump, a $1,200 Coach handbag. Take your pick. Whatever makes you happy :)
This is totally worth watching til the end. Thanks to my friend Simone for finding this.
The iPad2 has been selling like crazy, which means everyone has $600+ laying around the house to blow on it. I'm so happy the US economic crisis is over!
Or is it?
Shell out $600 for a tablet just because it's *cool*. ...Just certainly not my priority.
The iPad is just an illustration here. Consumerism is rampant, and only tends to get worse. There are trillions of products offered to us in the stores and we dash to buy it, just because...
Having a baby? No problem? We have diaper pails with refills, machines that will prepare a bottle for you (just like you'd prepare an espresso!), swings, wiper warmers, etc. What will you actually use? Is it worth it to spend $$$$ on a $150 designer diaper bag that you will carry around for a couple of years? Our diaper bag was a roomy, navy blue Eddie Bauer I got as a baby shower gift, unisex, and can still be used for other purposes (price tag $30). Don't get me started on the $900 strollers. There's certainly quality strollers out there that cost 4 times less.
A few years ago, we invested in an expensive KitchenAid mixer for the kitchen. I had an old hand-held mixer that just wasn't powerful enough to whip all the different frostings I decorate cakes with. I did my research. I found out that while the investment was a bit steep (more or less $200), the appliance would last a lifetime.
The same thing when I had to replace our vacuum cleaner and ended up investing on a Dyson. The price tag on that baby was $400, but I managed to pay $320 with a coupon. And I'll likely never have to spend money on a vacuum cleaner ever again.
*I swear I am not being paid for merchandising here.*
The bottom line is I'm certainly not perfect, but I learned to only buy what I need, and I do my homework before I spend my hard-earned cash. I don't need to replace the car every 2 years. I don't replace my computer every 2 years. Ultimately, everyone spends their money to buy whatever they want. A $600 tablet, a $700 Christian Loboutin pump, a $1,200 Coach handbag. Take your pick. Whatever makes you happy :)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Socrates' Triple Filter Test
I know I haven't been here in a while. Don't worry, I'm still coming back.
A friend sent me this, and it's so true (even if it didn't happen). I wish A LOT of people would use it.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test".
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say.
The first Filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the Filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the Filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.
This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
A friend sent me this, and it's so true (even if it didn't happen). I wish A LOT of people would use it.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test".
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say.
The first Filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the Filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the Filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.
This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
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