Martin Shkreli

Martin Shkreli

This morning, Turing Pharmaceuticals AG executive Martin Shkreli was arrested on charges of fraud.  For those who are unaware, Shkreli is best known for purchasing the patent to Daraprim and raising the price from $13.50 per pill to $750.  Daraprim is one of the only drugs that can be used to treat toxoplasmosis, a common parasitic disease that can be fatal to those with compromised immune systems.

He was charged with defrauding former employees of securities that he owed.  For years, he was running a pseudo-pyramid scheme where he would take out loans to pay workers from former companies.  He then fabricated reports for the SEC that made it look as if he was operating legally.

Despite his recent misfortune, Shkreli is actually quite well-off.  As of September 22, he had a net worth of $100 million.  This was shortly after he began price gouging on Daraprim.  Recently, he made the news for buying the sole rights to the Wu-Tang album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin for $2 million.  

His business decisions have led him to receive serious criticism over the past couple of months.  Despite these verbal attacks, Shkreli has remained steadfast in his drug pricing.  In fact, he often takes to Twitter to silence his haters.  He realizes how immoral his actions are, but he takes pride in how much success he has achieved.

Personally, I have a great deal of respect for Shkreli.  Yes, his business strategies are unethical, and yes, he is a psychopath.  Fortunately, ethics are not important in business.  What he is doing is morally wrong, but it is completely legal.  His personality also has no effect on his success.  People that need Daraprim are going to buy it regardless of whether or not he is a benevolent person.  He is taking advantage of people and making a fortune.  His past business decisions have not been the wisest, but he is still quite successful.  Martin Shkreli is living the American dream, and that is something worth envying.

The Reuben Sandwich

The Reuben Sandwich

The Reuben is a staple within American sandwich-culture.  The classic Reuben sandwich is a corned beef sandwich with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, all grilled between two slices of rye bread.  It is a staple sandwich of delicatessens across the United States, and it is the state sandwich of Nebraska.

It is amazing what a sandwich can do.  As the crusty exterior enters your mouth, you can't help but to savor the first bite with your tongue's warm, tender embrace.  The sweetness of the Russian dressing and sauerkraut contrasts with the tanginess of the rye bread to create a flavor explosion in your mouth.  You feel the need to keep it in your mouth for as long as possible, so as to save it from the perilous journey through the digestive canal.  You want to eat it so bad, but you know Reuben doesn't deserve it.

As you finish savoring the first bite and finally swallow, you look down at Reuben, only to see him in excruciating pain.  Tears of Russian dressing runs down its face and the corned beef presents a frowning pattern.  You want to stop, but you just can't resist.  You keep taking bite after bite until there is nothing left.  You hear screams coming from your midsection as your small intestines try to fight against indigestion from the sauerkraut.

You can't believe what you've done.  You just murdered the sandwich, and you begin to realize how many traits you share with Jeffrey Dahmer.  But you don't care.  You eat another one.  Another one.  Another one.  Sandwich after sandwich becomes victim to your endless hunger.  All you can do is laugh and eat more as DJ Khaled eggs you on.  There's no more excuses.  By the 30th sandwich, there is no explanation to why you did it.  The first one sated your hunger.  Every sandwich after that was meaningless to you.  Your blood-lust consumed you, and you consumed them in return.  You monster.

Tai Lopez

Tai Lopez

If you have watched a YouTube video without AdBlock recently, then you probably know who Tai Lopez is.  His video "Here In My Garage" is one of the most popular advertisements on the site, with over 66 million views.  This video is a promotion for his website, TaiLopez.com, where he offers his tips and tricks to getting rich in his book "67 Steps To The Good Life" and paid seminars.  Many people think that this is a huge scam and that he is just taking your money for bad advice.  In fact, some people have used video evidence and house rental websites to prove that he is a fraud.  These people are partially right.  Tai does not provide any revolutionary information.  His advice is not going to make anyone rich overnight.  This does not mean that his advice is not useful.

Tai Lopez's YouTube channel is full of videos on various topics related to being successful in business and in life.  Most of these videos share the same themes.  The only way to get rich is to take risks.  It only takes one good investment to get rich.  You need to be aggressive to make it in the world of business.  All of this advice is basic, and most people understand these concepts.  Despite all of the repeated garbage, there are still some great pieces of information to take from Tai's channel.

Tai is a success.  He is a conman, but he is a successful one.  He has hundreds of thousands of subscribers to his YouTube channel (including myself), and he brings in enough revenue to rent a mansion and Lamborghini in Beverly Hills.  There is a lot to learn from the way Tai acts.  Everything that he does promotes himself in some way.  Some of these tips he shares through his words, and some of these things he shares in his actions.  If you pay careful attention to the way that he speaks and acts, you can see that he is always directing the conversation in his videos towards self-promotion.  He constantly talks about his own financial successes and words of wisdom from his mentors.  He does not actually share these tips; instead, he tells people to pay for his book and seminars.  These mentors and investments probably are not real, but he is persuasive enough that thousands of people fall for it.  He is the perfect businessman.  He has learned to brand himself and promote himself in such a way that he has become successful without doing anything.  

Every businessman should look at what Tai Lopez does and try to emulate him, as he is great at what he does.  As a side note, he has an interesting interview with Mark Cuban.  The videos that I mentioned are shown below (Warning: The second video may contain inappropriate language and imagery).

25

25

Adele's new album will be released an hour after this blog post goes up.  25 is her junior album and will almost certainly be a multi-platinum hit.  Her two leading singles, "Hello" and "When We Were Young" are moving pieces that remind us why Adele is the greatest vocalist of our generation. Adele is only 25 years old, yet she has accomplished more than many people could hope to accomplish in their entire lifetimes.

At 19, she released her freshman album, 19.  By this point, Adele was known mostly for her Myspace posts.  In the mid-2000s, Myspace was one of the premier social networks.  She used this to her advantage by posting videos to her page.  These blew up, and she was soon recognized by XL Recordings, a United Kingdom-based label.  The most notable single off of 19 is "Chasing Pavements". It is a moving track that describes her inner conflict over a man that she is pursuing. "Should [she] give up, or should she just keep chasing pavements?"

At 21, she released her sophomore album, 21.  This is her critically-acclaimed album.  Every song on this album is a hit.  "Rolling in the Deep" shows her strength in forcing her cheating ex-boyfriend out of her life.  It makes you wonder why he would betray her.  "[They] could have had it all."  "Someone Like You" describes the opposite situation.  It is a reflection of a failed relationship with an ex-boyfriend.  She wants him back, but she must come to terms with the fact that he has settled down.  "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead."

Since 21, Adele has gone through throat surgery and recovered, recorded the theme for the James Bond film Skyfall, and gave birth to a son.  She is a true inspiration, and her album will only add to her list of great accomplishments.  

Socks

Socks

Socks.  Everyone wears them, but nobody seems to care about the quality.  Most people cheap out on socks, and it is typical for consumers to buy multiple packs of them each year.  Why must we buy so many socks?  People complain about the evil machine that is capitalism, yet they spend hundreds of dollars on socks that won't last long.  How can someone argue that socialism is a superior economic system when they spend so much on socks?  Can we really trust our country with people that overspend on stockings?  The answer is no, and here's why:

Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to clothes.  Cheap purchases are easier on your wallet in the short run; however, the costs add up over time.  A $10 shirt that lasts you six months is not as economically efficient as a $50 shirt that lasts you three years.  By purchasing a higher quality shirt, you save 20% over the course of its lifetime.

This same principle applies to socks.  Now I'm not saying that you should buy these $1188 vicuña socks from Falke, but I am saying that you should spend $1 more per sock for higher quality and greater economic efficiency.

Take these Gold Toe athletic socks, for example.  For $12.60, you get three pairs of socks that are 78% cotton, 19% nylon, 2% spandex, and 1% polyester.  The high cotton-to-polyester ratio makes these socks breathable.  You don't need to worry about sweaty feet, because these socks allow for heat to diffuse from your feet to the surrounding environment, keeping them dry and odorless.  The nylon and spandex gives the socks great elasticity, allowing them to fit a large range of shoe sizes.  These socks make the perfect gift for a child with growing feet.  These socks have the potential to last someone from elementary school until the end of high school.

These Hanes socks, on the other hand, are an awful purchase.  For $2.60 less, you can buy yourself ten pairs of socks that will ruin your feet.  With their 16% polyester and 3% rubber content, these socks are sure to trap the heat in, causing a swamp to form in your shoes.  They are also less elastic, resulting in a slightly smaller range of sizes.  These are socks that are viable for winter wear, but they will be obsolete during the rest of the year due to their lack of breath-ability.

The difference in quality between these two socks is insane.  The Gold Toe socks come out to $2.10 per sock vs the $1 per Hanes sock, yet the pros greatly outnumber this con.  Compared to the Hanes socks, they seem to last a lifetime.  The Hanes socks can be worn for three months out of the year, whereas the Gold Toe socks can be worn year-round.  They offer breath-ability and comfort, while the Hanes socks offer moistness and general unpleasantness.

The evidence is clear; quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to socks.  Why buy cheap socks once per year when you can buy reasonably-priced, high quality socks that will last for multiple years?  The right choice is clear.  Next time you go socks shopping, make sure to make the right choice.  Over the span of your lifetime, you can save thousands of dollars and increase your quality of life by making this simple switch.

Postmodernism in 90's Films

Modernism is cool, but postmodernism is cooler.  Modernism takes itself too seriously.  Modernists in art, literature, and film are pretentious.  They think that they're all that, but they're not.  Postmodernism is like modernism, but without all of the high-and-mighty malarkey.  Postmodernism is self-aware modernism.  While modernists relish in their inventiveness and mystique, postmodernists do the opposite.  They take an ironic approach to the modernist principles that defined the art, literature, and movies of the early-to-mid 1900's.  Postmodernism is edgy.  It refutes the ideas and principles defined by modernism.  It represents the new generation of art -- it criticizes the predecessors that gave birth to it.

Many popular films in the 1990's are considered part of the postmodernism movement, such as The Matrix, Fight Club, and Pulp Fiction.  These films are critically acclaimed, and were considered revolutionary at the time of their release.  In fact, most postmodernist films are now considered to be cinematic masterpieces.  

In contrast, many 1990's slasher films are also considered works of postmodernism.  This trend began with Wes Craven's New Nightmare.  This movie took a more ironic and sarcastic approach to comedic elements than previous films in the franchise, even criticizing how the series was declining.  Many more movies joined in this trend, such as Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, the critically-acclaimed Scream series, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.  These movies, despite being released after the peak of the slasher drama, were all smash box office hits and were well-received by audiences.  It goes to show that postmodernism is the best literary style.  Newer movies should adapt this style, because it is far superior to any other style.  

Goodbye Winesburg

Goodbye Winesburg

As the first quarter comes to an end, so does our reading of Winesburg, Ohio.  For some it was enjoyable.  For others it was stressful.  That doesn't matter, though, because it is all over now.  Unfortunately, we will never escape this first quarter, because what we have done over the course of this quarter is the first domino in a long chain of pieces that make up the rest of our lives.

Similarly, it is impossible for George Willard to escape Winesburg.  Despite physically leaving Winesburg, the events and people there shaped his manhood and life in a way that will always stay with him.  Winesburg will always be there in the background of his life.  He may be able to leave Winesburg, but Winesburg will never leave him.

I hope everyone had a good high school career, because how well they did will affect the rest of their lives.

Just kidding.

Or am I?

"There Are Times When A Cigar Is Only A Cigar"

"There Are Times When A Cigar Is Only A Cigar"

There have been numerous criticisms of Freud and his theories.  One of these criticisms is how Freud claims that any object that is phallic or yonic is symbolic in some way.  Freud loved smoking cigars, and many of his critics poked fun at him for this.  In response, Freud gave the famous quote: "Gentlemen, there are times when a cigar is only a cigar!"

This quote is comical, especially when you take into consideration how serious of a person Freud was.  Despite this, some people still choose to analyze the quote as a denial of the basis that Freud's theories stood on.  Freud's theories were controversial already, so his poking fun at them did not help to convince people of their authenticity.

As a follower of Freudian psychology, Sherwood Anderson was certainly aware of this quote.  In The Philosopher, Anderson makes his own subtle joke about this quote with the character of Doctor Percival.  He is a large man with numerous stogies protruding from his pockets.  Unlike every other mentioning of cigars in the novel, this has no symbolic meaning.  This just goes to show that sometimes, "a cigar is only a cigar."

George Willard and the Talking Cure

George Willard and the Talking Cure

According to Freudian psychology, there are only two ways to release repressed memories from the subconscious -- free association and dream analysis.  Free association is a psychoanalytic technique in which the patient is allowed to say whatever comes to mind in an effort to understand the problems that they are experiencing in their subconscious.  Dream analysis is another psychoanalytic technique where the patient talks about their dreams so that the psychologist can identify symbolic elements that represent problems within the subconscious.

Both of these methods require the patient to talk to the psychologist and reveal their personal thoughts and emotions.  Psychologists are able to draw out this information with their years of experience in dealing with people.  Much like psychologists, journalists also try to extract personal information from people.  In Winesburg, Ohio, George Willard acts as a psychologist by drawing out repressed feelings from people's subconsciouses. 

In Hands, Wing Biddlebaum is an outcast with something to hide.  He displays his inner conflict through dissociation.  His hands move uncontrollably, as if they have a mind of their own.  Nobody tries to get to know Wing until he meets George Willard.  George speaks to Wing in a way that forces him to recall his repressed thoughts.  He reveals his experience as a teacher in Pennsylvania and how he was accused of touching his students inappropriately.  By talking about these issues, he starts to become better.  He begins to regain control of his hands, but snaps out of it and begins to displace his trauma by hitting his hands against a fence post.

Despite his failure, George Willard helps Wing towards overcoming his problems.  In a seemingly simple interview, he is able to draw out the traumatic events that affect Wing and address them in a positive way.  George Willard acts as a psychologist and his interview is his way of using free association to treat Wing Biddlebaum.

Defense Mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms

This week in English class, we focused on various Freudian concepts, including defense mechanisms.  According to Freud, the body would completely shut down when faced with trauma and no way to deal with it.  To counteract this, the mind uses various defense mechanisms.  Freud came up with two mechanisms on his own, those being repression and sublimation.  These are considered to be the two most important defense mechanisms by Freudian psychologists, despite dozens of other mechanisms being discovered since then.

Repression is the when the mind pushes traumatic events into the subconscious.  An example of this is how children forget traumatic events, such as witnessing their parents creating their siblings.  This is considered to be an unhealthy way of dealing with traumatic events.  Repressed memories manifest themselves in different ways during daily life, yet can only be addressed through free association and analyzing dreams.

Sublimation is when negative emotions are channeled into positive outlets.  An example of this is how artists will use their emotions to dictate their creations.  This is the best way for people to deal with problems, as it acknowledges the source of stress and converts it into something meaningful with no emotional harm to the person.

The contrast of these two types of defense mechanisms is palpable.  It is obvious why Freudian psychology is considered to be outdated when you consider that he was only able to identify these two.  While they are important, they neglect an entire range of other mechanisms, both healthy and unhealthy.  It is amazing to think how a science as philosophical as psychology has completely changed over the course of a century.  Ideas from the 1900s are either built upon or refuted, which makes me wonder how it will change over the course of my own lifetime.

Modernist Principles in Inception

Modernist Principles in Inception

One shining example is the nonlinear structure.  Inception starts in medias res and so does this blog post.  The movie does this better.  The film opens where it ends.  Cobb lands on the shores of his imagination and is sat at the table with Saito.  The top spins and he snaps back to reality.

The same happens at the end, or does it?  Cobb snaps back to reality and is reunited with his family.  He finally sees his children after being away for what seems like years.  He spins the top; however, the screen fades to black before we see it topple.  This begs the question: is he still dreaming?  This sort of ambiguous ending is very common in modernist literature, as it reflects how nothing in life has a straightforward resolution.

The movie also features the repeated use of the quote: "I'll tell you a riddle.  You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away.  You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure.  But it doesn't matter."  At the end of the film, the significance of this quote is shown when Cobb gives Mal the kick to escape limbo by running her over with a train.  This is an example of how language is not always transparent, as a seemingly simple metaphor also represents an actual event.  

Perspectivism plays a great part in the film.  Each person's dream is a world of their own construction, filled by people that represent pieces of their subconscious.  This allows us to see the world from the points of view of various characters, despite the movie taking place in the third person.

The Bamboo Bead Curtain

The Bamboo Bead Curtain

In class, we discussed "Hills Like White Elephants" by Earnest Hemingway.  We discussed different elements of the story, including the symbolism of the hills and wording; however, we barely touched on the significance of the bamboo bead curtain.  As a class, we decided that it is merely used to show how exotic the area was to the American couple.  I agree with this, but I also believe that there is much more to Hemingway's use of the curtain.

The word "curtain" appears eight times throughout the short story.  The number of times that the curtain is significant, as it is used more than the word "elephant," for which the story receives it's namesake.  Hemingway could have left the doorway open, yet he specifically chose to use the bamboo bead curtain, as he refers to it repeatedly throughout the text.  

When the curtain is first mentioned, it merely appears to give background details as part of the exposition.  It's purpose is simply to "keep out flies."  Personally, I am unsure as to what this means, but I am sure professional literary analysts would have some idea of what this symbolizes.

During the curtain's second appearance, the man is ordering beers by talking "into the curtain."  This may represent the man's unwillingness to talk to the girl.  Throughout the conversation, he orders more drinks in order to avoid the conversation at hand.  She points this out when she says "That's all we do, isn't it -- look at things and try new drinks?"  The man does not seem to care about what the girl says, as he treats her as inferior and only pretends to care about her opinion of the operation.

The next time that the curtain is used is when the girl notices the Anis del Toro advertisement.  This gives the man a chance to segue into ordering more drinks.  It is almost as if the curtain is a wall trapping the girl with the man.  

The man then calls over the waitress by yelling "Listen" through the curtain.  Like when he first orders drinks, calling through the curtain allows him to avoid the topic at hand.  

The curtain is then shown to be blowing in the wind.  This is shortly before the man describes the abortion as simply "let[ting] the air in."  This once again emphasizes the problems that they have communicating, as the man resorts to using euphemisms in order to dance around the idea that the operation is serious.

Next, the girl takes a short departure from their conversation, as she "put her hand out and took hold of two of the strings of beads."  This shows she does not want to have anything to do with the man after he says that the pregnancy is the "only thing that's made [them] unhappy."

The next use of the curtains features the barmaid walking through them to serve the couple their drinks.  This seems insignificant and only acts to close the plot hole where the couple has not yet received their drinks. 

Finally, he the man returns through the curtains to see the girl smiling at him.  This parting of the curtains by one of the main characters shows how the barrier has finally been broken, and the girl smiling shows that she is finally ready to reach a conclusion; however, the story is cut off at that point.

Overall, the curtain acts as a barrier that represents the increasing divide in the couples' relationship.  Throughout the story, the couple is unable to overcome the barrier to discuss the elephant in the room.  By the end, they are finally ready to resolve the conflict, but the principles of Modernism state that resolution is impossible, so the reader is left to wonder who got their way: the man or the girl.