Friday, December 27, 2019

College Education For The United States - 873 Words

College Education for Inmates A contentious issue in the criminal justice field is whether or not free college education should be provided to inmates while they are incarcerated. While some might argue that taxpayers should not be forced to fund these types of programs, others agree that it is extremely beneficial to not only the inmates but also the taxpayers as well. Not only are the inmates the kind of people in society who need education the most, but studies have shown a significant decrease in the recidivism rate of prisoners who participated in educational programs while incarcerated. I agree that California prisons should provide college educational programs to inmates because inmates need education more than ever, it is more financially efficient to provide educational programs, and it significantly reduces the recidivism rate. It is evident that education is the key to successful re-entry into society that most inmates are lacking. In California, entry-level jobs require more education than ever before in where jobs are extremely hard for anyone to find, and it is now more important than ever to incorporate educational programs into prisons. Inmates clearly understand the importance of education in their success once they are released, and it is time to provide them with the skills they need while they are incarcerated. Many inmates grew up in a family and a neighborhood that did not teach them right from wrong but rather reinforced a life of crime.Show MoreRelatedTuition Free Public College Education1677 Words   |  7 PagesAnd Education for All: Tuition-Free Public College Education Everyone has the right to an education and education should be as accessible as possible to fulfill this need. Without an education, people are rendered powerless. Education gives people the power to go wherever and do whatever they want in life. This is especially true for higher education and a college degree is needed now more than ever. In the United States, in order to get ahead in a career or go up the social ladder, one needs aRead MoreTuition Free Public Colleges And Universities1619 Words   |  7 PagesTuition-Free Public Colleges and Universities: The Way to Go At the dawn of the twentieth-century, the movement that made a high school diploma widely available for every child in the United States, regardless of the income of their family, solidified America’s place as the home of the most educated workforce in the world, and helped to drive decades of economic prosperity. Now, nearly one-hundred years have passed, and other countries around the globe are catching up. In some cases, foreign nationsRead MoreFree Tuition And The United States Essay1486 Words   |  6 Pages Free tuition for colleges is a topic that has come up a lot lately in the United States. Especially in the beginning of this year, when the democratic race was in place, Bernie Sanders started making tuition-free colleges one of his campaign points. While there are some that seem to neglect the idea of free tuition, the majority will agree that if not free at least it should be affordable. This topic is a very interesting one because it provides fascinating facts on both sides of the spectrum. OneRead MoreU.s. Government Should Not Pay For The College Education943 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"No† to Free College Have you ever thought what would change if the United States Government were to pay for the first two years of college education? Many Americans believe the U.S. Government should not pay for the college education of students. The U.S. Government should not pay for the first two years of college education because of the possibility of higher tax rates, missed opportunity for students to learn the definition of discipline, and not to overlook the opportunities the governmentRead MoreEducation Is An Important Foundation For People All Around The World1525 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Education has become such an important foundation for people all around the world. Education differs from country to country. Education is very unique, education in the United States is not the same as it is in China. How can one explore their differences? Well, one can explore the importance of education, the education systems, higher education and the financial costs of education in both the United States and China. Importance of Education People all around the world attend schoolRead MoreCollege Education : Should Be Free1749 Words   |  7 PagesA College Education: Should be free In the United States of America, College education should be universal and free for all students. According to the department of education, the statics show that at least $60,000 graduate college student will be in debt after coming out of college, and if these college graduate attended an Ivy League even more will increase up to up ward of $100,000 in more debt even before these students get their first job. For these young college graduates,Read MoreComparison Between American And Chinese Higher Education1624 Words   |  7 PagesA Comparison between American and Chinese Higher Education in the 21th Century Abstract: Higher education plays an important role in the development of a country.However,different countries have different system of higher education.We will research the commons and differences of higher education between China and America.It not only puts forward the differences of the higher education system between China and America,but also analyze the social environment,schools and teachers resources and attitudeRead MoreThe Increase College Tuition Rates936 Words   |  4 PagesCollege is an institution or establishment that provides higher education or specialized professional and vocational training. College students in the United States are blest with several opportunities to help further their college carrier at least beyond as associate degree, alas children in developing countries such as Cameroon faces an uphill battle to earn a college degree due to high tuition, poor transportation low technology and inflexible college schedules. The increase college tuition ratesRead MoreThe Rise And Fall Of College Tuition1575 Words   |  7 PagesHowell English 102 21 October 2015 The Rise and Fall of College Tuition in the United States In the recent debate regarding the implementation of free college tuition across the United States, Jon Wiener, a Los Angeles journalist for The Nation, and Kelly Field, chief Washington reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education who covers different federal education policies, discuss why college tuition should be abolished in the United States of America and the role of both Democratic and RepublicanRead MoreShould Free State College Education?1491 Words   |  6 Pagesconcerning the possibility of free state college tuition. Since Barack Obama first mentioned the idea in 2015, conflicts of interest have arisen surrounding the debate. Many people think that free state college education would enable more Americans to receive and then use an education at a higher level than in years past. Other argue that there will be many disadvantages to free state college education that would far outweigh the benefits. Providing free state college education to all American citizens would

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Why The Business Will Be Successful Or Not - 921 Words

2) If one is looking specifically at the market, there are a lot of factors to consider to determine whether the business will be successful or not. One of these factors is competition which is important because it will impact the amount of customers and could also pose a barrier to entry. For instance, if there is an established pho restaurant in Charlottesville one has to consider their market power and ability to outprice your restaurant or if they’ve been in the market for a while they may possess a competitive advantage over your future restaurant. Slightly related to competition is demand for pho which determines the price and number of customers willing to purchase pho at that price. One has to ask in relation to demand how many people in Charlottesville are willing to purchase pho at $4, is that price optimal? Demand also has sub-factors which must be considered such as are there substitutes for pho and what is the demand for those products (i.e. ramen restaurants). F urthermore, in the context of markets, it is important to consider supply costs. Are the supply markets for inputs volatile? Would I be able to handle a sharp increase in input prices and for how long? While market factors are important there are also more general factors to consider. The most important one to consider is the opportunity cost of this venture. Would time spent on this venture earn more in another venture? Earn more in a salary job working for someone else as opposed to running aShow MoreRelatedWhy Business Management Is Becoming A Successful Business4224 Words   |  17 PagesAbstract Owning a business is often a dream of many people but the reality of entrepreneurship can be an amazing experience. It takes a lot of planning and dedication for a business to be successful. Small business management is becoming very popular in the society in which we live. More and more people are looking to going into business for themselves. This paper will discuss how to start a business and it will also focus on the importance of family helping to run a successful business. Read MoreTransferring the Successful Business Model of Short-Haul Low-Cost Airlines to the Long-Haul Market ‚Äà ¬ Why Does It Not Work?3428 Words   |  14 PagesTransferring the successful business model of short-haul low-cost airlines to the long-haul market – why does it not work? Universidad del Pacifico Globalization, Multinational Corporations Foreign Direct Investment Research Paper 3.12.2012 1 1. Introduction In terms of financial achievements the airline industry has not performed well over the past decades. It has even been stated as ‘an example of how not to run business in the 21st Century, when looking at hard numericalRead MoreGreen Case Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pagescontributed to Andrew Keller starting the biodiesel business? Were you surprised at the reasons he gave for starting the business? Do you think the decision to start the business was wise? Why or why not? There were a number of factors that contributed to Andrew Keller starting the biodiesel business. Keller had always been concerned with the environment. He was interested in coming up with a greener alternative to home heating and fueling. This was a business venture that not many had taken on so KellerRead MoreUnit Four: Principles of Supporting Change in a Business Environment1587 Words   |  7 PagesSection 1 – Understand why change happens in a business environment 1. Explain why change happens in a business environment. You should include at least three reasons in your answer. Change happens in a business environment for a variety of reasons. Those reasons depend on both internal and external factors. For example as internal reasons for change would be the launch of a new product or service that a company is working on . As for external factors one of the external factors would beRead MoreBusiness Opening811 Words   |  4 PagesOpening up a business may be one of the hardest things one can do. There is a great amount of effort that goes into creating a business and even greater effort to make it successful. Before opening a business, owners are obligated to keep fresh, open ideas, have good management, and being able to financially sustain their business. Even this may not be enough to create a striving, successful business. There are many factors that go into whether a business is successful or a failure. One of theRead MoreTraits of Successful Women Entrepreneurs.1259 Words   |  6 Pagesachieving economic independence individually or in collaboration generates employment opportunities for others through initiating establishing and running an enterprise by keeping pace with her personal, family and social life. List of some of the successful women entrepreneurs Ekta Kapoor , Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Indra Nooyi- 4th position- Chief Executive—designate, PepsiRead More The Keys to Entrepreneurship Essay710 Words   |  3 Pagesto Entrepreneurship What makes a successful entrepreneur? What can one do to put oneself in a position to succeed on their own? Jay Goltz, for example, is an extremely successful entrepreneur who started his business from the ground up. In the summer of 1978, Jay Goltz founded the Artist’s Frame Service. His business started by using his father’s basement as his office, but eventually moved to an old factory district in Chicago. Today, Goltz’s business in the largest retail, custom pictureRead MoreBusiness Analysis : Business Manager846 Words   |  4 PagesMost small business owners would benefit by electing to hire a business consultant, particularly if they are just starting up or if their business is not doing as well they hoped it would. Consultants can help you in many ways, offering the breadth of their experience in business start-ups and management to enable you to get off to the best possible start or to rescue a failing business that nevertheless has good potential. Business Consultant Services When you hire a business consultant you areRead MoreThe Small Business Market Of America Essay1176 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract By reviewing the small business market in America, the question of â€Å"Why?† can be asked. Why are more and more people leaving established careers to start small businesses and what is driving the success of these businesses. Steven Jones analyzes this question and looks into one particular small party planning business and breaks down the vital components of this successful business. Jones also dissects the scholarly articles of Professors John Seedon and Brendan O’Donovan, regarding commandRead MoreWhat Makes a Business Successful?1072 Words   |  5 Pagescorporate office. My major is Business Management, in which I am fascinated. I feel this research will help me understand my chosen career path better. I am familiar with the structure, policies and procedures within the corporate world, but I know there is more to a successful business than just what is seen on the surface. There are many aspects of a business that make it profitable and successful. If you hav e one person with a great idea you can make it successful. With our ever changing technology

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Reflective Strategy and Reflective Practice †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Reflective Strategy and Reflective Practice. Answer: Reflection through learning is one of the most important approaches which a student can undertake to develop skills and enhance knowledge in his field of expertise. Reflective practice helps an individual to dissect different his own experiences into a number of aspects and evaluative the positive and negative outcomes associated with it. Gaining knowledge from experiences helps in growth of the individual in the fields of the external abilities as well as the internal traits as a human being (Roseman and vom Brocke 2015). It mainly helps the students to develop a habit of liking linking their knowledge with the experiences and thereby constructing the meaning form their own experiences. In the field of business and commerce, reflective practice has been found to be helpful in providing the brain with an opportunity to take a break amidst the different chaotic situations that occur while maintaining teamwork. It also helps in developing ethical relationship with team members and also with consumers. It also helps to untangle different adverse events and thereby sort through observation and experiences (Jones and Reckers 2014). In the intense competitive world of business, considering the multiple possible interpretations in effective teamwork, creating the correct meaning out of it and applying newly enhanced skill in similar future situations help to get success in work. For effective leadership, this learning from meaning making helps in ongoing growth and development and thereby helps in reaching the peak of success. In this assignment, similar reflective strategy would be used where I would try to link the knowledge gained in my university class lectures to my present experiences in the various teamwork I had been a part of. In this way, I would be able to understand the negative aspects of the experiences I had and would also get scopes to enhance my skills in the future. The reflection would mainly be written in the framework provided by Gibbs. The first step of the reflective cycle is called the description step where the events and experiences are noted down in details. While I was engaged in teamwork, I noticed several flaws in me which was affecting my teamwork and also hampering the outcomes of the team performance. I often had mood swings which affected my teammates as they were unable to communicate with me effectively. On a condition I engaged in an argument with a team member where I shouted on him with high voice. Later I got emotional about the situation and was feeling guilty about it. However, the incident resulted in development of negative feelings in team members which affected relationship building. Besides, I also have inefficient communication skills which included my inpatient listening skills and also my feedback giving and receiving skills. One day, when my team members were describing how things can be modified for better outco mes to me, I cut them down stating that I already knew them. This act of cutting them in between made them feel humiliated which affected their feelings for me. Moreover I am also introvert and do not have proper social skills with empathy, conflict management skill, relationship building and others which resulted in improper work output as a team. I was thinking of my own benefits rather than the teams benefits. The next stage is called the feelings stage. In this stage, an individual needs to open up about the feelings he had when the events took place. After the experiences, I noticed that all my team members were trying to avoid any communication with me. I felt they were being apprehensive about how would I behave as they were not sure about how I would react. Such feelings which they developed about me saddened me as I felt that I was not being able to make them understand my real self. They perceived me to be a bossy and negative, their perception about me affected me and I was gradually losing confidence from work. At a point of time, I was feeling so low that I decided to withdraw myself form the teamwork as I had nothing to look forward to. My self esteem was affected and I could not gather courage to carry forward with these situations. The next stage is called the evaluation stage. For evaluation of my experiences, I tried to go through the work of Zimmerman who had helped students like us by giving an idea about how self learning is extremely useful in academic courses. Without taking extensive help from professors, guides, teachers and others, every individual should try to initiate and direct their own efforts personally for enhancing their skills and knowledge and then utilizing them for re-correcting their attitudes. Zimmerman is of the opinion that a student who undertakes self regulated learning is more successful than others. This is because they get the scope to fight out their own flaws and disabilities and develop strategies which help them to handle any adverse situations. Knowledge which is spoon fed do not have long lasting effect as they tend to erase away from the mind. Rather gaining knowledge by self research and then applying them in reality stays with an individual for long. Zimmerman (2002) has stated three important steps which should be considered by an individual to develop the practice of self regulated learning. The first step is the self regulated learning strategies which include incorporating specific actions and processes which involve proper purposes, agency as well as instrumentality actions and processes (Zimmerman 2002). For these, the information collected form classes should be first organized and then arranged. This should be then transformed followed by self-consequating them and then seeking information. Then the students should use memory aid and rehearse them to get acclimatized with them. Another aspect which Zimmerman has paid importance is the concept of self efficacy. This can be defined as the capability of an individual which when developed properly will help him to organize and implement actions independently which are important to attain designated skills. The last aspect is the achieving of academic goals which include social esteem, trying fo r better grades, proper post graduation employment opportunities which need to be attended on time. I decided to follow the Zimmermans procedure of self regulated learning so that the issues which I have faced in my teamwork can be resolved by me. I will do this by effectively linking the theory studied in class with my practical experiences and developing skills and knowledge. The next stage is called the analysis stage. In this stage, I applied the principles of Zimmerman and tried to reflect upon the courses which I have studied in the class and link the learning in my present workplace. As I had been poor in team communication, the lectures I attended in class on communication topics helped me develop my communication skills. My self-regulated learning and researches helped me to go through the importance of following the five important steps of teamwork which was proposed by Tuckman and Jensen in 1977. I believe the steps like forming, storming, norming, and performing, adjourning and next steps, if followed properly by me will help me maintain proper teamwork skills. Moreover, I was also able to connect my classes on ethical working in business with the experiences I had. I realized that I was engaged in ethical egoism which was actually preventing me to care for the entire team work and making me more concentrated on the individual result. Moreover, the emotional intelligence classes also made me understand that I did not have proper self control over my activities. I also had no proper social skills like empathy, relationship building and others and proper strategies to overcome them were also understood by me form the classes. The class also taught how Johari window is helpful in making individual realizes about the various skills which he posses, which he is unknown about, which others know or do not know. This acts a as communication diagnostic tool for self evaluation and betterment of skill (Gul and Mehmood 2016). The next stage is called the conclusion phase. The above steps have helped me to understand Zimmermans self regulated learning approach and how to use the approach in connecting experiences with the learning developed in class. The knowledge which is provided in the class is very specific and is immensely helpful in understanding the mistakes made by me in the teamwork (Delaney et al. 2017). Not only that, it had also provided me with strategies about how I can link the theories and develop proper teamwork skills. The information about different business attributes like teamwork, interpersonal communication skills, ethical working styles and others provided in class have can be used by me to overcome the barriers that I am facing now. This would help me to empower myself and develop confidence again. This would ultimately make me a smart business professional providing me with a bright career in future (Hodges et al. 2015). The next stage is the action step. Form the various experiences, I understood I have negative aspects in my communication skills, emotional intelligence skill, as well as also issues in self control and management. Therefore, I would be using Zimmermans self regulated learning approach from now on. I would try to connect the theories and learning of the university and link them with the present experiences. I would take up initiatives that would help me overcome my negative aspects and emerge out as a positive minded business professional. References: Delaney, Y., Pattinson, B., McCarthy, J. and Beecham, S., 2017. Transitioning from traditional to problem-based learning inmanagement education: the case of a frontline manager skills development programme.Innovations in Education and Teaching International,54(3), pp.214-222. Gul, F. and Mehmood, N., 2016. A Study to Assess Relevance between Content of Business Courses and Development of Entrepreneurial Skills in Technology Education Institutes.Journal of Social Sciences Humanities (1994-7046),24(2). Hodges, N., Watchravesringkan, K., Yurchisin, J., Hegland, J., Karpova, E., Marcketti, S. and Yan, R.N.T., 2015. Assessing curriculum designed to foster students entrepreneurial knowledge and small business skills from a global perspective.Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal,43(4), pp.313-327. Jones-Rikkers, C.G., 2014. Using Social Media and Professional Development Programs to Enhance Student Acquisition of Soft Skills.M-PBEA Journal, p.9. Rosemann, M. and vom Brocke, J., 2015. The six core elements of business process management. InHandbook onbusiness process management 1(pp. 105-122). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Watson, G. and Reissner, S. eds., 2014.Developing skills for business leadership. Kogan Page Publishers. Zimmerman, B.J. 2002 Achieving Academic Excellence: A Self-Regulatory Perspective in Ferrari, M. (ed) The Pursuit of Excellence Through Education. Lawrence, Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah NJ. Pp.85-110.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Music Analysis free essay sample

â€Å"Bitch Bad† is popular hip-hop song performed by Chicago native rapper, Lupe Fiasco. The song depicts the word bitch in the many forms that it is used in today’s urban society. The song starts with a dark weary synthesizer and a heavy deep 808 drum pattern that reflects the sound that is used in many of today’s popular club/party songs. The words to the song shine a stereotypical light on â€Å"bad bitches,† but there is a twist. Fiasco highlights 3 significant points which is the basis of the song, â€Å"Bitch bad, woman good, lady better† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). By producing this song, Lupe Fiasco points out the relevance and impact that the term has on modern day youth. Fiasco also wanted to make an attempt to steer people in the opposite direction from the normal stereotype of the well-known and overrated term ‘bad bitch. ’ As the first verse starts, Fiasco brings listeners into the world of a young male, around the age of 4 or 5 that picks up on the music his mother listens to that has references of women as being bad bitches. We will write a custom essay sample on Music Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fiasco describes how the mother sings to the song playing and her son is listening to her sing along to the lyrics. Fiasco states the more the son hears his mother play this type of music, he develops a certain complex on how he views women that use the â€Å"bad bitch† phrase. By the son being such a tender age, he receives the song based on what he sees in his mother instead of the derogatory way the song is describing women. The young boy forms his own opinion of the bad bitch theory. His own mother, whom he looks up to and admires, calls herself a bad bitch, so he depicts the term â€Å"bad bitch† to be positive. To him it resembles a strong, independent, respectful woman because this is how he sees his mother, as opposed to a woman that is weak, dependent and unstable. The hook to the song â€Å"Bitch Bad† illuminates the 3 categories of women: bitch, woman, and lady. â€Å"Bitch bad, woman good/ Lady better, they misunderstood/ (Im killin these bitches)† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). These lyrics are self-explanatory. This hook is saying that being called a bitch is a bad thing, being called a woman is better, but being called a lady is phenomenal. Lupe Fiasco is trying to tell young girls, or young women, what they should be trying to aspire to be instead of trying to be what they see on the television screens or hear on the radio. More recently in urban society being a woman or a lady has lost its value. The message that Lupe Fiasco is trying to send out to the audience of this song is that being a bad bitch is not a positive look. In verse two of the song â€Å"Bad Bitch,† Fiasco breaks down how a young group of girls in their pre-teen stage listen to songs and watch music videos on the internet. The videos are uncensored and because they know more about the internet than their parents, they don’t get parental consent. Children tend to know a lot more about modern day technology than their parents. This is how children such as the ones described in this verse, are able to watch uncensored items online. The young girls are at an age where they need a positive female role model, but instead they are influenced by the women they see in music videos. These young girls receive a different persona of a bad bitch than the young boy in the first verse. Bad bitches to them are women that have sex appeal, skinny with big butts, and wear sexy and revealing clothing. As the song states â€Å"High heels, long hair, fat booty, slim They don’t see a paid actress, just what makes a bad bitch† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). The girls have this image in their heads, and without proper guidance, this is what they want to grow up to be. The third verse begins by Fiasco stating that he is not trying to teach children to use the term â€Å"bitch† but as a psychological way to let listeners know that he is against the use of the word. This verse combines the first two and it continues with the observation of how small the world really is and the young boy from the first verse and one of the young girls from the second verse meet. Fiasco continues on to illustrate how the boy is viewing the girl in an insolent way based on how she is dressed, but she is saying it in a sexual way. His viewing of a bad bitch is not what the girl is showcasing. Sure enough, in this little world/The little boy meets one of those little girls/And he thinks she a bad bitch/And she thinks she a bad bitch/He thinks disrespectfully/She thinks of that sexually/She got the wrong idea/He don’t wanna fuck her/He thinks she’s bad at being a bitch/Like his mother† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). She is flaunting her half-dressed body i n front of him, yet he is telling her that his mother didn’t do things like that, and that is what he knows to be a bad bitch. The young man fostered his view on the term from what he saw in his mother, a respectful woman. They young lady obtained her view from the flashy video girls she saw in music videos. The term ‘bad’ back in earlier years portrayed a woman who had her life together and was sexy in a respectful way. She was the woman that didn’t need assistance from the male counterpart. Black moguls in the rap/hip hop community, such as Dame Dash, Russell Simmons, Nicki Minaj, and Jay-Z have taken the word ‘bad’ and made the ‘bitch’ addition and spread it through the black culture. Now a female who has lower standards perceives that she’s a bad bitch because she is being uplifted by the black urban community. Society today can take the term â€Å"bad bitch’ as being either good or bad. Marc Hogan, writer for Spin Magazine, stated â€Å"Clearly, something has changed in hop hop’s relationship with anti-woman slurs†¦and that’s ostensibly what Lupe Fiasco tries to address†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hogan). The perception of women slurs all depend on individual perceptions and how much impact social media has on an individual. This song released in August 2012. Upon its music video release, MTV did an interview with Lupe Fiasco. During this interview, Fiasco stated that he â€Å"just wanted to have a conversation,† (Fiasco, Interview). Lupe also suggested that because there is no solidification to the term bad bitch, â€Å"†¦it’s definitely something that I think we should talk about because it’s so prevalent in our culture right now† (Fiasco, Interview). Lupe is trying to get the world to understand that a bad bitch is a double standard as stated in the lyrics â€Å"Bad mean good to her/She really nice and smart/ But bad mean bad to him/Bitch don’t play your part/ But bitch still bad to her if you say it the wrong way/ But she think she a bitch/What a double entendre† (Fiasco, Bitch Bad). Rob Markman stated that â€Å"Lupe Fiasco knows all too well the power of words. † This is very true. Fiasco’s music is well known in the hip hop industry for relaying some kind of message. Lupe Fiasco did precisely what he set out to do, spark a conversation and produce different point of views. â€Å"Depending on where you stand, the term â€Å"bad bitch† may have positive or negative connotations†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Markman). Fiasco let the world know that is was more to being a ‘bad bitch’. What viewers see in music videos is only one perception. Needless to say, â€Å"†¦whether you consider â€Å"bitch† empowering or degrading, there is always something to ponder on† (Viera), and Lupe Fiasco definitely gave his listeners, and non-listeners, something to think about.