There's this book, see? A History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage goes through all the worlds history, all the way back to Mesopotamia and describes the world in the drink that was developed in that era. For example, for the great age of the Greeks and Romans it was wine. For the founding of New World it was spirits. For that age of Enlightenment, Coffee.

For Globalization? Coca-Cola. It's not surprising, even when it's not Coke, it's Coke. The Coke company has 450 brands in 200 countries. It was originally designed as a cure for the flu (interesting huh?), developed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886. In 1893 it got its trademark, within two years, it was sold in every state in the US. Now, a century later, Coca-Cola has become the largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages. That little red can has become the face of Globalization. Like just about everything about Globalization, it started in America and then spread to the world.

Back in April of '97 Robert Goizueta, the late CEO of Coca-Cola this about Coke "A billion hours ago, human life appeared on earth. A billion minutes ago, Christianity emerged. A billion seconds ago, the Beatles changed music. A billion Coca-Colas ago was yesterday morning." Of course, there backlash against this giant corporation. A lot of angry Atlantans (who are different from Georgians, they will get mad at you if you fail to recognize that) claim that Coke has forgotten it's roots, because they don't hold meetings in Atlanta...

But here's the kicker, Coca-Cola, this American based global stamp on the world, there practically no competition for it. But what about Terrorist groups who hate America and everything it stand for. The answer: Mecca-Cola, the refreshing drink to quench you never-ending hate for the capitalist society that has no soul! "Don't drink stupid. Drink Committed!"

Has anyone in America heard of this? America's insular and isolated nature and our wonderful oceanic buffers have cut us off from the rest of the world. Some people are blissfully unaware that anyone might actually hate us. Considering our problem with competing with the rest of the world we should concern with changing our image. Having a soda mark our footsteps in globalization, gives off the image of slothful and gluttonous. Especially since Coke is such a huge company. The same goes for MacDonald's .

With all that in mind, what will be the next drink for this era after Globalization? Water? The Latte? Should it change? Coke is a successful and long standing company. Its secret recipe is guarded better than Fort Knox. I find it interesting.

Pangaea Revised

In David Pollards blog, "How to Save the World," (about the 5th paragraph down) he basically asks the reader to imagine a world where we all grew up the same; we all spoke the same language, were taught the same things, dressed the same, played the same games, used the same toys, watched the same t.v. shows and so forth. Imagine a world where we all were raised to believe in the same religion, or one God. Imagine a world where it isn't one country against another. It is every individual competing with every other individual. There would be only one government and everyone had to obey the same laws. There would probably be fewer wars and less acts of terrorism on innocent people and more individual murders. Is that what we want? One big pot of people who are all the same? I suppose we could end up where the world begun...



Because walls have fallen and there are no longer many boundaries separating country from country, Americans aren't so different from Chinese anymore. In fact, anyone (or any country) who is keeping up with the advances in technology and trade, has to adapt to the "larger community." America is one of the larger communities, if not the largest. With 82.1% of the American population being English speakers, English has also become the "larger community." That being said, those who want to keep up with the advancements of the world will have to assimilate linguistically and culturally and adapt...or should we be adapting to the rest of the world who have learned two, three or even four languages?



Maybe because the word "global" implies one world, many think it's appropriate to have one common language in the time of globalization. Many also think that that one language should be English. Though we may be one of the leading powers, do we really want the rest of the world to adapt and assimilate to us and our language? Or would you rather adapt to the rest of the world? How important is cultural diversity to you? And how does the importance of cultural diversity compare to advancing, trading, and exploring with the rest of the world? Do we want the American nickname, "melting pot," to now be the world's?



Whoever thought that what was once pangaea, where there were no boundaries, could ever happen again after huge bodies of water separated the now seven continents?

McWorld

McWorld is a term used to describe the spreading of the McDonald's around the world as a result of globalization. An American born restaurant that has become the most world re noun fast-food joints, and has epitomized the term efficiency. McDonald's has restaurants in 119 different countries and all of them have adapted to the different cultures in which they are immersed. For example, I went to a McDonald's in Oahu, Hawaii and their menu was much different than mainland America. All of their combos came with pineapple, and some other alternatives to fries were spam, a whole mango, or well more pineapple. Their menu also excluded several items that the mainland McDonald's usually have such as the fish sandwich, the McGriddle, and apple pies. This is a great example of how McDonald's mold their products to the demands of their local consumer. Even within the same country! More exotic McDonald's drastically change their menus to unrecognizable degree, such as in India where they serve no beef, and more vegetarian cuisine (Wikipedia).

Although they have set the bar high for fast, efficient service, McDonald's is also associated with a not so great reputation. In the 2004 blockbuster hit Super size Me, McDonald's was exposed for being a corporation that has for decades supported American obesity rates and unhealthy nutrition. Could the spreading of the McDonald's culture also change the nutritional statistics of other countries?

Jihad vs. McWorld, a book written by political scientist Benjamin R. Barber, discusses the cultural effects of the globalization of McDonald's. Jihad is the symbol used to portray the cultural traditions and values of the countries in which McDonald's has planted it's roots. Although McDonald's does attempt to adapt to its surrounding, the corporation is an American born restaurant who still, at it's core, is defined by it's American business practices, culture, and values. This could pose a threat to a country's roots and ultimately cast a shadow over the diversity that that country adds to the global community. Thomas Friedman, the author of The World Is Flat, would describe this as America slowly driving it's Lexus over a McDonald's victims olive tree.

What are your feelings about McDonald's?

Which side would you take, the McWorld or the Jihad?

After reading about Super size Me, would you reconsider your food choice?

Wu-tang Clan(s)

Quoted from the wu-tang clan's wikipedia "The name "Wu-Tang" is derived from the name of the holy mountain Wu Dang (Wudang Shan) in northwest Hubei Province in central China with long history associated with Chinese culture, especially Taoism, martial arts and medicine; it was also the site of the Ming Dynasty Purple Imperial City built during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century." the best songs from the wu-tang clan and wu-tang clan affiliates. take for example (if its these videos are still on youtube) liquid swords, weak spots, 4th chamber, or campfire, have audio clips from movies which were definitely made overseas and/or dubbed films. wu-tang clan 's music and lifestyle revolves around a select few martial arts disciplines.

If it weren't for the flattening and shrinking of the world, the wu-tang clan would not exist. The members of the wu-tang clan who started the group were all educated in the ways of the shaolin through means only attainable in a flat world: digital content posted online, high quality videos which are also available online, and through interactions which would be impossible if it weren't for high speed internet around the globe. Not only would the clan not be around, but the clan's music wouldn't be possibly made without synthesizers from china and japan or sound clips of certain noises and beats which could not have been attained from within the NYC (where most the band members are from). Since the start of the clan, there have been over 300 credited wu-tang affiliate groups called the wu-tang killa bees. here's a short list of them.

The wu-tang clan's growth and spread of influence in the hip hop environment started and grew parallel to globalization.

Is the wu-tang clan a symbol of globalization?Yes/No

Are there other wu-tang clans (things which would not be available without globalization) that we take for granted?


Can any1 imagine life without your wu-tang clan?
vague answers are welcome

The Democracy of Blogging

Jessica Cutler, of Washingtonienne fame, thinks blogs are “the most democratic thing ever,” and she’s right. You don’t have to have a journalism degree to publish your own blog, and you don’t have to buy a newspaper or magazine to read them. You don’t even have to have your own computer and Internet connection. Just waltz in to your local library and read the blogs that interest you. Blogging gives everyone a chance to be an author, no matter who you are or where you live.

You don’t have to be a particularly gifted author, either. The very nature of blogging allows writers to suspend the rules of composition, and to attract attention, bloggers often put good manners aside, hurl insults, make accusations, and stir up controversy. If they happen to be wrong in what they say, it’s okay. It’s tough to get a libel charge leveled against a blogger, and besides, the offended party can simply set up his or her own blog and return the insults.

Is this a model of democracy that Americans should celebrate and export around the world? Or is this merely the yammerings of an unruly mob who have exploited the freedoms that democracy should protect?

J.