Assignment: Cognitive Surplus 10/21/10

Certain platforms that have currently been developed, such as Edmodo and Khan Academy, I believe are good examples of a culture of generosity. Khan Academy is a free educational service geared toward helping students. Not wealthy Americans, not elite individuals that have the ability to afford yet another advantage in life, but anybody who can get to an internet accessible situation. Clay Shirkey explained it best when he was discussing the website initially dedicated to reporting violence in Kenya. One woman did an amazing job by trafficking information from people of a region to the entire world. Through her blog, the generosity of strangers helped her create a forum that anybody could use to map the violence in Kenya. Good work people! 

"Free cultures get what they celebrate" is a great quote and looking at America, especially San Diego, it is quite obvious that America gets what it celebrate. We do not celebrate equality, although we like to say we do. We do not celebrate education, again, we like to think that we do. Instead we celebrate beauty, popularity, and material items. A prime example is "Can you give me a logically founded reason as to why Kim Kardashian is famous, that is not based on her beauty and wealth?" This point resonates further and is the catalyst to the cliche "Nice guys finish last." We pathetically value shiny cars, and fancy shoes, sunglasses with names on them, iAnything, and purses/bags...gag me! Other cultures that actually value family bonding and society, such as Norway, prove it by celebrating it. Norway gives expectant mothers 5 years off of work (at varying pay) with their position frozen for them until they return. It's no shock that this helps the family structure, as you have a parent home raising their own children, as opposed to many American families that often feature a double-income house hold during their child's youth, yet a major portion (depending on your income) of the family salary goes to child care.