After work I tend to stick around the bookstore, order a glass of Sprite and a cup of pretzels, and read magazines.  Today I read an article out of last month's issue of the <a href="http://wwics.si.edu/OUTREACH/WQ/QUARTERL.HTM">Wilson Quarterly</a> on German academic <a href="http://socio.ch/sim/bio.htm">George Simmel</a>.  In 1900 he published <span class="book">The Philosophy of Money</span> on money's effect on culture and human beings, touching on themes of individuality and community.   Dr. Jeff Webb of the National University of Singapore teaches a class called <span class="title">USWP11: Selves and Cities</span>, which sources <a href="http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/writing/uswp11/metropolis.html">Simmel's work</a> and has some <a href="http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/writing/uswp11/simmelquestions.html">written excercises</a> to do on the reading.

One part of the article I remember is how the capitalist society provides people with so many interests, projects and activities to participate in that people learn to excercise discretion and critical thinking in choosing what they do.  It's a sad but necessary fact that I can't read every book, travel to every destination and meet every person I want to.  And my harmonica lies gathering dust.

--On a separate note, this morning on NPR there was a short segment on the origin of the term <em>spin doctor</em>, and what this term means.  William Safire defines it as "deliberate shading of news perception; attempted control of political reaction."  The golden nugget in the segment was near the end, when the concept was introduced that spin doctors existed to give an instant opinion:

<quote> Jack Rosenthal says spin started to thrive under the conditions created by CNN and news radio, whose 24-hour updates rendered weekly commentary obsolete. With the news cycle shrinking, he says, "You needed to get effects into play instantly.  You couldn't wait to go to your favorite columnist. It had to be instant, so you created your own columnist. Create your own wave of opinion -- your own spin." </quote>

I was watching TV tonight, some  news on Channel 11.  After each story, the reporters make some light comments among themselves about their personal reactions to the story.  Supposedly this makes them more warm, human and trustworthy.  In light of the radio segment this morning, I have a new interpretation.  It's spin!  Instead of reporting the facts and leaving commentary to the better-informed editorial staff, the anchor-people provide instant spin for viewers to absorb.  Perhaps this generation has grown up accustomed to having their opinions spoon-fed to them.  Easier than forging their own, I suppose.  [&nbsp;<a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/spin/index.html">Link</a>&nbsp;]