Tidbits Tackles: Socioeconomic Tension and Income Inequality, Pt. 1

Hi everybody, you might be wondering (of course y'all have!): why hasn't Euni posted anything more about the upcoming presidential election? Why hasn't she ranted about the economy and the U.S. political structure?

Fear not, my friends, I've been thinking about all the stuff that's been going on for the past year. I just don't want to fight or come off as belligerent in my argument. I've been reading a lot of Paul Krugman and Jared Bernstein in particular, as well as paying attention to the news, reading articles and posts that seem interesting and relate to all this...STUFF.

It's all very overwhelming, to be honest. Sure, I care about the economy and anything that happens to it (duh, I'm an economics student), but I seriously can't remember when I became so "involved" in political discussions. Take it with a grain of salt, I am not super-involved (though I wouldn't mind it): I'm not a part of some grassroots organization that tries to spread the word about any politician or whatever. However, I believe it is my civic duty and responsibility to educate those around me with the facts. One of my strengths, I will admit to this one strength alone, is that I can teach. I strive to learn the material/subject first, and then I find a way to explain it in simple and easy-to-understand terms to those who care to listen. I'm proud to say that I've been able to keep my mother informed about current events because of this strength, and I've even ventured in discussing economics with my little cousins (6 and 7 years old)...

ANYWAY, I've gone out on a tangent long enough, let me get to the point of this post. I posit this question (or maybe a few questions actually):

Fifty years from now, when our grandchildren(?) learn about this "Great Recession" and the 2008 & 2012 elections, how will they look at us?

Will they argue that there were some racial undertones related to the tension and disdainful outrage against President Obama?

Will they argue that income inequality was at the root of the clash between political parties? Of social classes? Of age gaps?

Will they even care about these times we are now living, or will our history books try to gloss over this turbulent time period?

I intend to do some research and share my answers and conclusion to the questions I've asked. Frankly, I do believe income inequality has a lot to do with today's tension, and the idea and (dare I say it?) disillusion that our chosen leaders (e.g. Congress, state, local governments, etc.) are indifferent to our needs and would rather help themselves first.

I may sound cynical or depressed when it comes to our government, but I am full of hope that while we are living during a socioeconomic revolution of sorts, there will emerge a number of people who are bright, passionate, and who care about their nation, not just themselves.

If this type of posting/writing is not "your cup of tea," it's quite alright. You don't have to agree with me, but if you want to bring your arguments forward, please be advised that I expect facts and evidence to back up your claims.

Another Teeny Tiny Update

Wow it's Monday night (well, in less than half an hour it'll be Tuesday in good old Texas), and guess what? I had the funniest thing happen to me.

Well, it's not funny, and I don't like bringing this up too much because it makes me feel like I'm craving attention or whatever, when I just wanna share this story because it's strange and rare...So basically, I have class on Mondays and Wednesdays, in the evening, so my usual schedule for those days is: work, yoga, school, cereal (for dinner). Well, Monday went by alright and good, then Wednesday came around. Work, yoga, bug bite?, school, cereal. Yes, bug bite. Bug bite? Whatever, bug bites are no big deal, right? WRONG. On my short walking route to school, I felt a slight pinch on my right ankle. It must be a small piece of tree/wood or a rock that just hit my ankle, I thought, I'll check it out once I'm inside the building.

I make it inside, and guess what? It was neither woodpiece nor rock. A small circular black bulge was stuck to my right ankle. As I looked more closely at it, I realized it was a bug (an unknown type of bug at that!), and I compulsorily flicked the little monster away. No second thoughts on it whatsoever...until I got to class and realized that the bug had left a very red and puffy mark. That's when I thought of the possibility of a tick. Could a tick have attached itself to my poor ankle and stolen some of my blood?? I couldn't focus in class because I kept thinking about ticks and Lyme disease and that bullseye mark that shows up when a tick bites you.

I calmed myself down and decided the bug bite would die down and disappear by morning. ONLY NOT. In fact, not only had the bug bite become redder and puffier, but the reaction had spread throughout the top of my right foot and above my ankle too! It was a horrid sight. My right leg looked bigger than my left leg, and I was NOT cool with it.

But still, I convinced myself that it was probably nothing, and that if my foot wasn't better by Friday morning, I would go to a doctor. Hahaha, right. When I got home, my mother noticed the mutant foot, and by the time we picked up my younger sister from school, we headed straight for the emergency room.

I've visited the ER lots of times before, but never as a patient haha. I was terrified. And of course, it was busy at that time of night, so my mutant foot was last on the list of important patients (I guess strokes and broken bones are more important?). While waiting, and when finally taken to one of the exam rooms, I had the pleasure of being some sort of morbid entertainment for a couple of nurses, who marveled at the sight of my mutant foot. After another hour of waiting, the assigned doctor came in, prodded the mutant foot, and said blood would have to be drawn, to make sure there wasn't infection. One of the nurses from the earlier entertainment session came in to take my blood, five test tubes in all, all while calling me "pumpkin" and "sweetie."

Long story short (sort of), we waited another hour, doctor came back in and said the tests came back normal, but to be on the safe side he would prescribe some antibiotics. I assumed that since there was no mention of Lyme disease, there was no risk of it happening at all. We got the prescription and left by 2 in the morning.

Later during that Friday morning, I decided to do research on the antibiotics I had been prescribed, and GUESS WHAT? That antibiotic is used to fight LYME DISEASE! It was a flabbergasted moment for me: of all the people in the world, of all the things that can happen to us, I was at risk of Lyme disease! I started laughing; I felt like those people on those Mystery Diagnosis shows.

Anyway, I know I can't say with 100% certainty that it was a tick that bit me last Wednesday, or that I do in fact have Lyme disease, but like the doctor said, just to be on the safe side, I'm taking those antibiotics. I do however wish that he could've mentioned it, you know? He could've been like, "So, uhhh, the blood tests came back normal, which is good, but your description of the bug and your mutant foot's reaction leads us to believe that you could contract Lyme disease. It's a very minimal chance, but just to be on the safe side, I'm gonna prescribe these antibiotics." See how much calmer I would have been?

Oh well, my foot's better now and I can't wait to use it in all its capabilities once more! Hello yoga and hello social life! :)

This Is Only a Test, Right?

It is a test, a test to see if I've become a better person...at least, that's how I choose to interpret it.

My last post might have seemed a little down and melancholy, but fear not, I am in the process of getting back in the flow of things. I had to take a step back and really think about the goings-on. (I guess I should say what happened, I really don't care if certain people directly concerned with this event read this: what of it? I have the liberty to write what I want.) Long story short, the former-love-of-my-life just announced his engagement on Sunday. You might recall, if you've gone through my posts from last Fall, (particularly this post), he found a new love and I was left with a broken heart but a new vision of sorts. A few things about this new girl irked me: she has one eye smaller than the other, and among other things, she's an accountant. (Don't even get me started on why I don't like accountants...)

Anyway, I scolded myself for hating on this girl, I mean, come on Euni, you don't even know her! She might be the nicest and coolest girl ever, if I didn't know the former-love-of-my-life, we might have even been the bestest of friends! (Yeah, I don't think so.)

ANYWAY, I had to really think about what was going on in my life. This bit of engagement news was not really about my still being in love with him, but rather a wound to my ego, my pride. I mean, really?? I'm not the prettiest girl in the world (far from it!), but I'm (superficial I know) definitely easier on the eyes than her. Also, I'm sarcastic and enjoy very dry humor. And I'm an economist, I don't dwell on just nominal subjects (in the field and in life). And we did have some pretty great and memorable conversations (about all kinds of things). But whatever, I remembered how he sometimes underestimated me, my intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities. Ultimately, I do not want to live life with someone who constantly underestimates me.

And you know what? I have had the pleasure of meeting a pretty amazing guy, and while we are busy with our own things and we don't always agree about what music is better and why, he always succeeds in making me smile (if not laugh). I don't know and don't care what happens to us, but I'm just enjoying everything that comes our way.

So yes, this engagement is a test. Just a little blip and distraction from what I really care about in life. I think I pass this test, don't you agree?

Broken

All I have to say about the news I recently received regarding the former-love-of-my-life is that I feel temporarily broken.

Surely I'll feel fine by the end of the week. But it's kind of crazy that just this Friday, when I was talking about my current love philosophy I summarized my efforts (or lack thereof) in the following way:

If I had truly fought for my love and gave it my all but still lost the love-of-my-life, why should I even try or bother in keeping this new love (if that's what it is) alive and growing?

I'm gonna need to run a lot to feel better. And avoid sad songs. And avoid remembering the things we did.

I'll revisit teenytinytidbits later on this Monday, though most likely Tuesday due to my yoga/school schedule. 

Dreamin' Dancin'

It's been what...like two or so weeks...?...since I last wrote. Do I feel terrible about it? Just a little, but I've been transitioning to Fall-mode, and that means lots and lots of daydreams, singing, humming, driving, and apparently, also dancing.

Ha, not in real life in public...yet. But dancing has begun to creep into my dreams as of late. Allow me to share the weirdest dream I've had this year:

So I'm walking around with some family, headed to a public library (which as far as I know, does not exist), and blah blah blah---this part's not too important---the POINT is, leaving the library, we're walking towards our car (which is not a car we have), when I see a ruffian in a hooded robe coming closer and closer to us. My first thoughts: hmm, is it Halloween already? Let's pretend we're not scared by his hooded attire and walk away. But then...I see this miscreant pull out a crowbar and start trying to break into our car! I became upset and started running at him, ready to attack. It's at this moment that I realize I'm wearing heels but I try to ignore this little detail. The miscreant looks intimidated, drops the crowbar, and starts running away. I yell out "Yeah bastard, you better run away!" but this is a bad choice on my part, because he heads back our way. The miscreant booms "YOU WANNA FIGHT?" To which I say, "Yeah let's fight!...DANCE FIGHT!"

It's at this moment that I break out in some awkward and probably really dumb (even for dream standards) dance. And I'm humming my own beat to get some rhythm flowing. I finish my dance and then it's the miscreant's turn. He breaks out his own routine. Meanwhile, my mind is concocting a way to distract him from hurting us, and when he finishes, I say, "See? You are good at something!" And then I wake up.

This is how I felt in my dream...(source via)

But that's not all. Right before I woke up this morning, I recall the following:

I'm in my childhood home, in the kitchen, and I tell my younger sister to video record me while I twirl around in the air like some sort of ballerina. She obeys and when I'm done twirling, I see the recording. I'm like a magical twirler, because I seriously propel myself in the air and stay afloat twirling for what seems a really long time. Then my grandmother (who is a very small woman) does it too!! And all I can say to myself is "Wow, must be genetic!"

Yup, now I feel like dancing. Anything really, even though I'm a terrible dancer...though I will admit, when I consciously fully decide to dance ridiculously, that's when everyone else think I'm doing a good job. Whatever, it still feels weird to me!