You, the loyal ones, have been wondering where the updates are, I am sorry I did not post something sooner.

I will be writing the GMAT soon. As such, I’ve been busy studying.

I had this secret hope that I would have enough time to keep updating, but I don’t right now.

I will keep you posted from now on with the status of things.

Yours always,
Joshua

So my real life is getting in the way of my virtual life. If you are curious, I am applying to some MBA schools, and its proving more time-consuming than I thought. Sorry to say, this means, I will have to cancel the update for this week.

I’ve been having a lot of existential thoughts recently. Not to go too much into my personal life, but like many of my young viewers out there, it seem like I need to make a career choice.

Though not helpful in choosing a career directly, it’s important to investigate our lives’ purposes.

What better place to start than the Father of Existentialism, Soren Kierkegaard?

What were Kierkegaard’s ideas? How can he believe in God?

Keep reading this article to see the video, transcript and further sources.

Interesting tidbits in the post include: How can Abraham justify (almost) killing his son, according to Kierkegaard? The story of Kierkegaard’s broken engagement and more.

Actually, this will come tomorrow. This video has taken a little too long to make.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kZy-RCH04

Bonus questions will come tomorrow

Seriously.

Transcript

In the biggest and smallest ways, we are all trying to find meaning and purpose in our lives. And often this quest, drives us insane.

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard is considered the Father of Existentialism, and he thought a lot about this as well.

Of central importance to Kierkegaard was how we should act in our lives. No matter how much noble philosophizing you did, if you still passed wind the faces of small children, that act still counted.

Increasingly important was this question because Kierkegaard believed in God. But he was quite unlike most Christians. On the note of purpose, even in believing in God one asks, but what is God’s purpose?

And here’s where people’s heads explode.

Kierkegaard responds to this by saying there is no human-comprehensible purpose of God, making faith in God absurd. In this case, absurd means ungraspable to human understanding.

Belief can only come about by virtue of the absurd, by suspending pure reason and having faith.

He believed that this faith should be passionate and subjective, because those were the real truths of this world. This emotionality could not come about through church dogma and rites, but through the self.

Arguably, one popular existential idea is Kierkegaard’s knight of faith. This person is described as one who defines the nature of his/her own existence. This means social rules are not the most important or powerful. For Kierkegaard, the ultimate distinction for good and evil come from God. For athesists, generally this comes from within.

Boom! That’s Kierkegaard.

How did Kierkegaard justify Abraham nearly killing his son?
How did Kierkegaard’s broken engagement affect his life and works?
How is Kierkegaard’s name pronounced in his native Danish?

Find out the answers to these questions and get further readings on existentialism at 90Secondstoculture.com just look for the Kierkegaard post.

Sources / Further Reading:
Wikipedia: Soren Kierkegaard
Wikipedia: Existentialism
Wikipedia:
Wikipedia: Christian Existentialism
Stanford Philosophy Encyclopedia: Kierkegaard

(image by alist)

Now the video cast updates will be on Wednesday.

My sister asked me a question, and this was the first time in a while that I couldn’t answer it.

The G20 Leader’s Summit just took place last week. She asked me why so many people were protesting it and what the G20 was all about.

I was tempted to just fluff my way through an answer, but it didn’t seem fair.

What is the G20? Who is represented? Why do people always protest their summits?

Keep reading this article to see the video, transcript and further sources.

Interesting tidbits in the post include: What are the other G-## organizations? One country named in the video is actually richer than some G20 nations. There is one more country richer than the poorest G20 nation. Can you name it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFaKvW-TAXo

What are the other G-## organizations?

A short list includes: the G7, G8, G8+5, G77. There are also the now superseded G22 and G33. To learn more about these check out this Wikipedia link, then scroll to the end of the page.

Oh! Don’t forget about the G20 developing nations.

Which country is richer than the poorest G20 nation?

As of 2007, Thailand is richer than South Africa, according to World Bank statistics by Purchasing Power Parity (like the GDP).

Transcript

Hello CultureCats, this is Joshua Hwang keeping it all about the Benjamins with another 90 Seconds to Culture videocast.

G-20: Way richer than G-Unit

What is the G-20? And why do so many people protest every G20 conference?

The G20 is a group representing 20 of the largest economies in the world. The group consists of those who control the money: finance ministers and central bank governors.

The G20 is technically NOT the 20 richest countries, but instead 19 very rich countries, including, the USA, China, Canada, and many more, PLUS the European Union. For political reasons, Iran is not represented, while having a comparable economy to other G20 nations. Also, the members of the G20 do not change and have never changed.

But what is this group doing?

Generally, because they represent so much of the world’s economy, they discuss the international finance system, working together and between countries to bring financial growth. These days, their focus is on the current global financial instability, and fixing the world banking system.

With such noble goals, why do so many people protest the G20 and G8 summits.

Although there are a variety of groups and many more protesters, the main misgivings are as follows:

Firstly, war; people know those who control money, control power and defense (or offense). Many are protesting the continued Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

Secondly, climate change. Protesters wish to see new policies that promote environmentally-sustainable/-friendly economies.

Thirdly, global poverty and inequality. Many want governments to address the needs of the poor and those who do not have equal rights in the work place.

Boom that’s G-20.

There’s a G8 and a G20 what are some other G numbered groups?
There’s another country richer than the poorest of the g20 economies, which is it?

To find out check out 90 seconds to culture.com for this and more videos.

Sources / Further Reading:
Wikipedia: G-20 Major Economies
Wikipedia: 2009 G-20 London Summit - An important note, though the G20 consists of finance ministers and central bank governors, this London meeting was a gathering of world leaders (presidents, prime ministers, etc.)
Wikipedia: List of countries by GDP (PPP)
G-20: FAQ

(image by Rusty Stewart)

How can you give people the freedom to use your work? At the same time how can you keep some rights for yourself?

If you sing, write, blog, or even make videos with little bunnies in them, this is something you will end up thinking about.

What is copyleft? How can it help you?

Keep reading this article to see the video, transcript and further sources.

Interesting tidbits later in the post include: According to US Law, when does a work become copyrighted? (The answer surprised me.) And one controversy with a little Asian girl, Virgin, and the Creative Commons.

When does a work become copyrighted?

Interestingly, according to US Law, a work becomes copyrighted the instant it is created. Be it a little napkin doodle, a picture being snapped or what have you.

There are other rules that apply, like if the work is original enough.

Little Girl, Virgin Mobile, Creative Commons, and Controversy

Article from The Register

Long story short: Young girl finds her face on the side of a bus shelter advertisement. She is being depicted as the girl you can break up with, with your new cool text plan from Virgin Mobile.

How did this come about?

Virgin used Creative Commons licensed photographs from Flickr.com. Hers was one such photograph taken by someone at a charity car wash.

She sues Virgin and the Creative Commons.

Transcript

Hello CultureCats this is Joshua Hwang, distributing freely another 90 Seconds to Culture videocast.

Copyleft and Copyright Alternatives

So I’m about to release an e-book (basically a PDF guide). I want it to be for free, I want it to be shared, but I still want to be attributed.

In the past, I would have had only two options: 1) release the book into the public domain or 2) copyright it.

Under the first option, people would be free to share my work, but would also be able to change it, charge money for it and not attribute me.

None of which sound appealing. If I were to copyright it however, people would have to ask permission even to share the work in its original form.

Then what am I to do? Is there no middle ground?

Enter Copyleft.

Under copyright people are allowed to use your works, but must acquire permission first. Copyleft licenses are agreements that tell the world: “Hey, you can use my work as long as you follow certain conditions: for example, telling people the original work is by me (attribution) and using the same copyleft licensing agreement.” Other restrictions may also apply depending on the license.

Copyleft does not replace copyright. Copyleft simply modifies it. By helping to eliminate the need for middlemen, this simplifies sharing.

Two popular copyleft licenses are the GNU General Public License, which is exclusively for software and the Creative Commons License, which covers all works protected by copyright law.

The ebook, which will eventually be released, is licensed under the Creative Commons license and is totally worth checking out.

Boom, that’s Copyleft!

How has one girl suffered because of Creative Commons licensing?
According to us law when do works become copyrighted?

To find out, check out 90 Seconds to Culture.com for this and more resources.

Sources / Further Reading:
Wikipedia: Copyleft
Wikipedia: Creative Commons licenses
Wikipedia: GNU General Public License
What is Creative Commons? - Cute video at the top.
Gratis vs. Libre - The word free in English can be confusing.

(image by Magitisa)

Madonna has Kabbalah, a book called the Zen of Motorcycle Maintenance becomes a best-seller. Either really obviously or quite subtly mysticism is growing in popularity.

What’s the big deal?

What is mysticism? What does it involve?

The answer to these questions are contained in the video with some very hilarious bunny-related images.

Keep reading this article to see the video, the transcript and further sources.

Transcript

Hello CultureCats, this is Joshua Hwang connecting you to the divine with another 90 Seconds to Culture videocast.

Mysticism: Touching God

Many have a desire to connect with God or higher knowledge, but away from the rigid formality of texts and “old-fashioned” rituals.

Mysticism aims to help people experience God or spiritual truth directly, rather than in an academic way. This is accomplished by certain practices like deep meditation, prayer, ascetic living, and more.

This is a little clearer with more specific examples.

To attain awakening, which is being freed from greed, hate and delusion, Zen Buddism de-emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the study of religious texts in favor of direct, experienced realization through meditation and practicing the teachings of Buddha.

Famous riddles like “what is the sound of one hand clapping?” come from Zen Buddhism and are called koans.

In Judiaism there is the infinite, unknowable creator and the finite, tangible universe of his creation. Kabbalah sets out to explain this relationship thereby realizing the the nature of God and the universe, and why and how we shoud live.

One example of the practice of the Kabbalah comes from Hasdic Judaism. It moves away from the “academic” and re-emphasizes spirituality and joy, for example through song and dance. Also of note is the distinctive attire of the men.

While mystical religions may often be off-branches of larger religions, mystical practices don’t have to branch from another religion and these aren’t the only type of mystical branches.

BOOM, that’s mysticism!

If you liked this video, please check out 90 Seconds to Culture.com and share this video with your friends.

Sources / Further Reading:
Wikipedia: Mysticism
Wikipedia: Mystical experience
Wikipedia: Zen
Wikipedia: Kabbalah

(image by shioshvili)

I promise the video will be up tomorrow come hell or high water.

It will be about Mysticism, and it will be awesome.

After last week’s post on coffee, I’ve been thinking about the cost of coffee, and how much of it goes to the growers.

Although I talk a lot about coffee, fair trade also encorporates tea, cocoa, clothing, crafts and flowers.

How does fair trade help farmers? What is fair trade? What are some pitfalls of fair trade?

The answer to these questions are in the video and later in this post.

Keep reading this article to see the video, interesting facts, transcript and further sources.

How to you know a product is fair trade?

In Canada and USA, most fair trade products are certified with this symbol.
Source: WP

Which Canadian grocer has fair trade coffee?

According to my research, Loblaws is the only national grocer that sells fair trade coffee.

How much does Starbucks pay for its coffee

Interestingly, in the video (above), I describe how most coffee is purchased for 54 cents a pound. Fairtrade coffee is purchased for an average of $1.26 (USD) a pound. Starbucks purchases its coffee for $1.42 a pound (because it is a “premium” product).

Transcript

Hello CultureCats, this is Joshua Hwang dropping another 90 Seconds to Culture VideoCast.

Fair Trade

Though coffee can be so expensive, most of the coffee we buy comes from producers who are paid 54 cents for a pound of beans (that’s 11 cents for every dollar spent by the public).

That’s pretty little.

As a result of this low price, many coffee growers are either very poor, or have to switch to more illicit crops. *sniff*

The fair trade movement, at its most basic, aims to provide fair prices paid to the producer.

Other key elements include:

1) Socially just and environmentally sound production
2) Safe and healthy working environments
3) Properly rewarding women’s work
4) And helping producers stay independent

Because the consumer, you, knows your product has been created with fair trade policies, you are willing to pay a higher cost and that is passed along to the growers.

Some criticize fair trade because it encourages market inefficiency: For example, there are too many people growing coffee beans, therefore the price is low. By capping the price at a higher amount, you will encourage more people to enter the market, thus increasing the supply and compounding the problem for other growers.

The response to this is that the Fair Trade coffee would compete in its own market: People wouldn’t just compare fair trade coffee to all coffees, but buy within only fair trade coffees.

Boom, that’s fair trade.

How much does Starbucks pay for its coffee?
Which Canadian grocer has Fair trade coffee?
To find out visit 90 Seconds to Culture dot com to learn more and let your voice be heard.

Sources / Further Reading:
Wikipedia: Fair Trade
TransFair - A Canadian fair trade organization.
CBC: Background Fair Trade - A primer from the CBC about fair trade.
Unfair Trade - An article from the Adam Smith Institute describing how fair trade does not help farmers in an efficient way.

(image by flydown)