Final Feature Broadcast

In My Humble Opinion #2

More homeowners than ever are falling behind on their mortgage payments according to an article, “U.S. Mortgage Delinquencies Reach a Record High,” by David Streitfeld, on the New York Times website.

In a survey conducted by the Mortgage Bankers Association, ten percent of homeowners were at least one payment behind on their mortgage, or approximately five million households. Though these bad results were expected, analysts predict many more foreclosures are coming.

“The combined percentage of those in foreclosure as well as delinquent homeowners is 14.41 percent, or about one in seven mortgage holders,” according to Streitfeld.

Although subprime loans drove the collapse of the housing market initially, it seems that now unemployment is what is holding homeowners back from catching up with their mortgage payments, and consequently turning around the housing market. In the past, when employment opportunities were bad, homeowners could sell their home and relocate. In the current recession, homes are worth less than what homeowners owe, leaving them trapped in financial difficulty.

Unfortunately, the government’s efforts to financially support the “big banks,” in hopes that they will become liquid and start lending again, has fallen very short of making any significant impact on the housing situation, in my opinion. In this trickle down theory, they have failed to put safeguards in place to ensure proper use of the funds made available and have put too much of an emphasis on new home purchases. While one family loses their home due to the declined value, another person is buying that home at record low rates for the same price that the original family could have sold the house for in the first place. The only difference is that when the original homeowner needed the assistance, the bank chose to turn away from them in favor of turning the property over to a new buyer. Banks are still ultimately lending on the decreased value of the home, not what it originally sold for but now at the expense of a family’s security and happiness.

If the government ensured that the bail-out funds went to stopping foreclosures specifically I think we would already be experiencing more positive changes. Even more directly, if funds went to other efforts to stimulate the economy and creating a better job market, I think we’d see positive results even faster. In a trickle up theory, if the working class and homeowners received more substantial support than what was already issued, they would be happy to pay their bills and put food on the table, which would immediately stimulate the economy. Those monetary activities would trickle up to the banks and give them the lending power they need, but through the traditional ways of supply and demand.

I think the government’s efforts are much appreciated but far from effective. It’s time to trust the tax payers that financially back this country and offer them the tools to make changes.

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In My Humble Opinion #1

The unemployment rate has risen to 10.2 percent according to an article, “In the Holidays, Hope for the Jobless,” on the New York Times website on November 11th. Fortunately, the fast approaching holiday season is opening some new doors to job seekers, even if just temporarily. As those out of work become so discouraged that they stop looking for jobs all together, maybe putting food on the table and taking advantage of an employee discount will motivate them to get out there and give it another try.

According to John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger Gray and Christmas, “holiday hiring is more robust this year than it was in 2008.” He suggests checking with local stores, restaurants, caterers and even e-commerce companies for seasonal jobs, adding that it is important to hand your application in to a manger personally when applying for a position at a store. Challenger also points out that it is more likely to be offered a job that you are overqualified for when the work is temporary, which will likely still allow you to acquire new skills and may lead to a higher-level position in the future.

This year’s holiday season just might be what our economy and job market needs to stir the pot and rejuvenate spending and job search efforts. In comparison with last year’s holiday season, job seekers are much more aware now that finding an “ideal” job is not as obtainable as one might hope. Last year the nation was not quite ready to acknowledge that we were in fact slipping into a recession. Many people were holding their breath, and their wallets, hoping that the situation would pass quickly. A year later, I think we all realize now that having a job at all is what matters and that being an active participant in the economy is the only way to dig out of the predicament that we’re in.

I think that the shear act of going to work and collecting a paycheck does a great deal for one’s self-esteem and drive. Regardless of your abilities or how well you “fit” with an organization, the wrong attitude will disqualify you from a job that you are perfect for. Although many may feel embarrassed to accept a job that is “beneath them,” I think taking a step in the right direction will do wonders for their attitude and job search success going forward.

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Japanese Internment Memorial Essay

The Japanese Internment Memorial in San Jose, Calif. embodies not only the history of the events that occurred during this difficult time of war and prejudice, but also illustrates the harsh realities of sadness, loss and separation of the Japanese-Americans impacted, through its powerful imagery. The double-sided panel, a bas-relief, illustrating the history of Japanese immigration and internment in America during World War II, was created by Japanese-American artist Ruth Asawa and dedicated March 5, 1994.

The panels of text include the details of military orders for internment and historical background of Japanese-American life. The intricately sculpted scenes begin on one side of the panel and show the optimism of the Japanese on their way to their new life in America. Not long after they began to develop a real sense of home and community, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Executive Order 9066 was issued that allowed the military to bypass constitutional safeguards for the sake of national defense. Those of Japanese ancestry were excluded from living and working in certain locations on the West Coast. In a mass evacuation, most of the Japanese-American population was forced to live in remote camps run by the military.

One detail on the panel that circles the entire memorial, very effectively puts the viewer in an appropriate mind set to understand the circumstances of the Japanese-American incarceration. The three-row barbed wire image running along the top, in a sort of enclosing manner, reminds us of the harsh conditions. Although the Japanese-Americans remained a tight community and continued to live as much as their limitations would allow, they were still not free, with serious consequences apparent for non compliance. In a particular section of this detail there is an image of a paper airplane flying through the wire, clearly headed outside the confines. I think this image specifically, juxtaposed against the terrible conditions of the camp, illustrates the essence of freedom that the Japanese-Americans sought but was then taken away. Their hopes and dreams, all they had worked so hard for as lawful contributing members of society, was taken and placed out of their reach.

In another powerful image, there is a very emotional moment captured that illustrates the sense of loss and separation that occurred for the Japanese-Americans. As members of families were torn apart and sent to different internment camps, family said “good bye” and reached out to their loved ones through the barrier of train windows. I think one of the more sobering aspects of this vignette is the fact that there is a mixture of emotions among the faces. It was a time of uncertainty. While some understood the severity of the situation, many were dressed in their “Sunday best” as they waived to the crowd, unable to predict the harsh reality that they were headed towards.

The memorial symbolizes the struggle for American citizen rights granted in the Constitution. Its powerful imagery and location are a constant reminder of our history and that of our neighbors here in the Bay Area. Along with an apology from the U.S. government that came much too late, for all that they put the Japanese-Americans through, hopefully the memorial stands for more than just a marker in our history. It is a piece of our past that should never be forgotten or repeated.

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Word of the Week #10

Word:
prefecture (pree-fek-cher)

Original Sentence:
“However, this also caused people to form clubs based upon prefectures from which the people immigrated.”

http://www.japantownsanjose.org/history.html

Definitions:
–noun

1. The district administered or governed by a prefect.

2. The office or authority of a prefect.

3. The residence or housing of a prefect.

(Prefect: a superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation.)

New Sentence:

Around the same time that Japanese-Americans were being incarcerated in internment camps on the west coast of the United States, prefectures established for the Jewish population in Europe were housing the millions bound for death during World War II.

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Word of the Week #9

Word:
unfetter (uhn-fet-er)

Original Sentence:
“The First Amendment affords the broadest protection to such political expression in order ‘to assure [the] unfettered inter change of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people’.”

Zelezney, John D. Cases in Communications Law. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Definitions:
–verb
1. to release from fetters.
2. to free from restraint; liberate.

New Sentence:
Those that choose to travel to Las Vegas are often seeking a vacation complete with unfettered fun and excitement, free of responsibility and consequence.

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Word of the Week #8

Word:
pernicious (per-nish-uhs)/ˌsɜrʃiəˈrɛəraɪ, -ˈrɛəri/

Original Sentence:
“However pernicious an opinion may seem, we depend for its correction not on the conscience of judges and juries but on the competition of other ideas.”

Zelezney, John D. Cases in Communications Law. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Definitions:
–adjective

1. causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings; a pernicious lie.

2. deadly; fatal: a pernicious disease.

3. Obsolete. evil; wicked.

New Sentence:

The pernicious banter of an adolescent bully often has a life-long impact on children.

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Drinking Coffee Elsewhere

In the chapter entitled “Brownies” in ZZ Packer’s book: Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, I was brought back to a place of adolescence, but with a bit of a twist from the childhood that I remember of course because I didn’t grow up in what I am presuming was the early ‘60s. The work is heavy with dialogue, in the first person, among the young girls away at brownie camp which aids in bringing my train of thought and understanding back to the way I processed information when I was in elementary school. This effort to include anecdotes that show more than tell, if very effective in putting me right in the middle of the action and emotion of the story.

Packer did a great job of setting the scene with choice details that allowed me to really “see” where this story occurred, but from a child’s perspective. There wasn’t too much elaboration which helped avoid painting an overly mature setting, suitable for a story about young girls. Some of the most vivid descriptions that caught my attention were “The sun was setting behind the trees, and their leafy tops formed a canopy of black lace for the flame of the sun to pass through.” I also found a few of the metaphors used very effective in injecting humor and a greater depth of scene understanding. I thought the passage comparing some of Troop 909’s girls to Stevie Wonder to be hilarious and painted a clear picture of their movements.

Towards the end of the story I began to see that the comparatively trivial conflicts between the children were really a part of what lead to and allowed them to understand the realities of prejudice and oppression of their time. I think this technique, juxtaposing an innocent childhood conflict next to such a large societal conflict, really creates strong emotional connection with readers.

Overall, I think Packer’s story telling style is very approachable and applicable. It can bring its readers into the story without making them feel out of place and without connection.

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Word of the Week #7

Word:
pecuniary (pi-kyoo-nee-er-ee)/ˌsɜrʃiəˈrɛəraɪ, -ˈrɛəri/

Original Sentence:
“Unless he can discharge the burden of proving truth, general damages are presumed, and may be awarded without proof of pecuniary injury…”

Zelezney, John D. Cases in Communications Law. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Definitions:
–adjective

1. of or pertaining to money: pecuniary difficulties.

2. consisting of or given or exacted in money or monetary payments: pecuniary tributes.

3. (of a crime, violation, etc.) involving a money penalty or fine.

New Sentence:

The speeding ticket itself didn’t bother me as much as the pecuniary burden associated with it.

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NPR Radio Interview Analysis

Meet ‘Glee’ Star Jane Lynch, TV’s New Queen of Mean
10-7-09 with Melissa Block, All Things Considered

Melissa Block, interviewer, began her show on All Things Considered with a great deal of information about the career of the star of ‘Glee’, Jane Lynch. With numerous television and movie appearances to draw from, Block painted a picture of the vivacious and dynamic character actor through a number of quotes, alongside sound bites, from the various well known works of her career.

Block asked questions that were far from serious, really very open ended, leaving plenty of room for much of the humor interjected by Lynch. As the interview went on, Block seemed to play into the character side of the discussion that Lynch was presenting by asking questions that prompted the interviewee to mirror her TV role from time to time with her responses. In contrast to the humor, Block also followed up with questions that framed the actor as professionally trained, illustrating the credibility of her talent. This attempt appeared to be a transition into the “meat” of the interview, leading the topic of discussion towards the path that brought Lynch to become such a successful actor. Even with this approach, there was room for laughter and elaboration from Lynch. Block’s efforts to follow up after questions consisted really of just reiterating her original question posed and then to tie it into the next question.

I think, if a strategy was in play, that Block was hoping to coax out some of the humor of the character; she succeeded. I don’t think that Lynch gave any inadequate answers; she worked very creatively with the questions asked of her. This made for a very comfortable relationship between the two women; they seemed to have at least been acquainted prior to the radio interview. I think this element, the relationship established, as well as the way in which the interviewer loosely corralled the discussion, allowing it to take its own, natural shape is what I found most useful for application in the interviewing process.

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