Less, But Better: The Ten Commandments of Good Design

  These are the Ten Commandments of Good Design as outlined by Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer closely affiliated with the Functionalist school of thought and whom also held office at consumer products company Braun for 40-some years. Rams’ penchant for rationalist design has persisted through the svelte silhouettes of some of our most familiar domestic objects. As…

Capitalists are the new hunters

As humans we’ve developed over the span of centuries; from hunters and gatherers, to farmers, to capitalists. During the SOMA conference, I heard a professor of Anthropology speak on his wish for mankind to return to the era of hunting and gathering. However, I don’t necessarily find myself sharing this wish. Although hunting and gathering comes with…

My thoughts on Occupy Wall Street

If you have been following the news lately, you will probably have heard of a new phenomenon spreading across the globe by the name of Occupy Wall Street (OWS). Originally organized by a Canadian group known as Adbusters, the protests have spread from New York to various other cities in the US along with China,…

What is Capitalism?

Capitalism is the preferred system in wealthy, democratic nations. It is a word that used a lot in politics. Unfortunately, it is often misused which causes false ideas about the implications of capitalism and what defines a capitalist. Capitalism is the economic system based on private ownership of the means of production which leads to…

A tribute to Social Studies 30

Social Studies 30 was one of the best high school courses I could have ever taken!  Well, for a military and history buff like me, learning about the interesting topics of the Cold War, totalitarianism and the many methods employed by dictators and their regimes, political ideologies from autonomous Communism to lassiez- faire Capitalism, economics,…

Heard of Michael Moore?

Who is Michael Moore?  Other than one of the coolest film makers I know, he’s someone who voices his opinions on matters and raises awareness on issues that need our attention.  A couple of months ago, I watched one of his documentaries, Capitalism: A Love Story, and that is part of the reason why I’m…