Thanksgiving History

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I watched History Channel's documentary, "The Real Story of Thanksgiving." Though the story of the first Thanksgiving at Plymoth rock is not completely accurate; the idea of Thanksgiving as a day of gratitude is. Sarah Josepha Hale lobbied for the holliday as her lifes work. She believed that the fouth Thursday of the November month should be a national holiday. A day to show gratitude was encouraged by Abraham Lincoln. And many years later was made a official holiday by the White house. So, there is a bit of Thanksgiving history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kSacgBoQw

Anthem Summary

Overall three things stood out to me in the novel. One, the natural drive to know more. I love this emphasis because man does need to know more. A man should never be content with what he knowledge he currently knows. He should always pursue more knowledge. Two, the discovery of the word I. Knowing about the power of the individual is important. And three, how the Prometheus decides to take upon himself he responsibility to initiate change of the wrongs within his old society. What I still don't fully understand was pretty much the purpose of the authors novel. Ego, in my mind is a negative. In the context of, I have a ego. Pride can be good and bad. That is not eh context the author ment though. Society should not have citizens that reach the same standard. A great society embrasses the individual differences while noticing the similarities of its citizens.

Summary of Great Inventions

Lusted, Marcia Amidon. "(Some Of) The Greatest Inventions." Appleseeds 15.8 (2013): 18. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

    The article “(Some of ) the Greatest Inventions,” Marcia Lusted reviews some of the most prominent inventions in history. She begins by asking the reader to imagine the world without man made inventions. Some of these great inventions she discussed were: the light bulb, telephone, TV, cars, computers, ipod, and cell phone. Specific inventors creates some amazing products such as; Thomas Edison who is credited with the creation of the first working incandescent light bulb. Also, Alexander Graham Bell who in 1876 built a device to allow sound to travel over a wire. Many past inventions added up to create new ones, like the cell phone where the same technology used on a regular phone is transmitted by radio like towers.  Then there is Tony Fadell with modern day Apple who created the storage of music files onto an Ipod. Many inventions however were formed by the efforts of multiple people. Charles Babbage, and Konrad Zuse both created inventions with formed together as the first computer. One interesting fact was that the first laptop sold to consumers weighed 25 pounds. Some inventions are inspired by past ideas. Karl Friedrich Benz may have created the first gas engine car, but Leonardo da Vinci had drawn out designs for a horseless mode of transportation first. And of course everyone's favorite, the TV. Television works by transforming images into electrical signals, which can then be projected. First successful TV showing was in 1927. Through time man has become more and more innovative in order to progress.

Big Bang Theory: Article Summary #2

NADIS, STEVE. "What Made The Bang So Big?." Discover 36.1 (2015): 16-17. Vocational and Career Collection. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

In the research article “What Made the Bang so Big,” author Steve Nadis explains the background to the discovery of the Big Bang Theory. Referring to man’s hardest question, “How did it all begin?” Physicist Alan Guth created the theory in 1979, based on the idea that the universe is expanding at a slower rate than when it was created. In summary explanation of the Big Bang, imagine 10 seconds a spot where all of the matter in the universe is contained and they dramatically expands at an astounding rate. This is called inflation, the universe is still expanding only slower. Slow enough that everything cooled down and elements were created to build everything living. Now being able to prove this theory is a daunting task, almost impossible to prove. Until 1997 when a group of five physicists discovered a way to prove Guth’s theory. If light was able to be distorted by remaining inflation gravity then the Big Bang could be seen as plausible. In 2019-2012 the BICEP2 telescope was monitored the sky above Antarctica for inflation light patterns. The team led by John Kovac took a year studying results. They pronounced in 2014 that they had captured images that came from the first second in the histories universe. This momentous discovery is so grand that it is almost too big to accept. Much skepticism has followed the discovery, questioning the accuracy of the findings. However the theory still stands as one of the best explanations for the beginning of the universe.

Big Bang Theory: Article Summary

 So I am currently doing research for a argumentative essay on the Big Bang Theory. I am looking more around the lines of the incompleteness of the theory, rather the controversial beliefs surrounding it. Here is a summary of one of the first articles I read about the idea of how the universe was created.

    In “The Myth of the Beginning of Time,” Gabriele Veneziano explores many of the problems to the commonly accepted Big Bang Theory. Beginning with arguing whether the Big Bang was what triggered the beginning of the Universe? Stating the idea that the universe existed before it. The author is very careful on making her case; at no time does she state the Big Bang didn’t happen, she simply explains the flaws within the theory. After all  tackling the question of the beginning of time, universe, and life is so large and almost incomprehensible that ignoring these flaws can be fatal to human understanding. She asks many other questions about the past generations of life, and the where society is heading regarding science. Quoting Aristotle she expresses a philosophy that something can not come from nothing. This is logic which raises the question where did matter come from before the Big Bang, or has it always just been there. Acknowledging that scientist have confirmed that the universe is expanding, thus supporting the theory. The author discusses the issue of how that, “time cannot extend back indefinitely.” Singularities are created with this in mind, which points out the flaw of how matter was suppressed into the smallest space, before it was violently expanded. Ending the author discusses the release of microwave background radiation. This radiation relates to the distance between galaxies and if the Big Bang Theory is consistent with different galaxies. Overall, there are too many questions that have not been addressed by the Big Bang Theory. 

Veneziano, Gabriele. "The Myth Of The Beginning Of Time." Scientific American 311.(2014): 78-89. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

The Vision of the Conductor of the Philaharmonic

Zander, Benjamin. "The Transformative Power of Classical Music." TED. Feb. 2008. Ted Talk. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

    The Ted Talk “The Transformative Power of Classical Music,” Benjamin Zander expresses the potential he sees for everyone to love and connect to classical music. Explaining that classical is not a dying idea, rather it is a glorious opportunity to share music with people. He separates people into three sections; those who love classical music, another who don’t mind classical music, and those who don’t pursue classical music. However, he expresses that he can’t talk to three different kinds of people. In other words by the end of this talk he will have everyone falling in love with classical music. As a leader he exudes confidence that his vision will be accepted and internalized by the crowd. With joy and humor the conductor of the Philharmonic expresses in a short amount of time the magic of music. The effect music has on the soul, and how music can have an impactful effect on the lives of all people. He gave the audience  the opportunity to have the experience of feeling and visualizing emotions that connect to music. He expressed this to a crowd simply by playing a piece of music. Music truly does have power. 

 https://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion?language=en

Anthem Book Summary: Introduction

I found a great book with various new philosophical ideas in it. Called Anthem by Ayn Rand, I will throughout reading the book post chapter summaries each week. Showcasing the different perspectives and situations that occur within the book.

Introduction

      In Ayn Rand's "Anthem", the introduction discusses how and why she wrote this book. Over the years of when she wrote it in 1938, Anthem has become an American classic. Ego was to be the original title for the book; it would have been a simple title that would be used with its exact meaning. The author explains, " I did not mean a symbol of self-but specifically and actually Man's Self." She wanted the title to express man's values and instinctive attributes. It keeps with her characteristics with many of her characters.

      While she was writing Anthem she was working on her novel, Fountainhead. These two books share similar plots, and they share similar ethic points. She explained Anthem as "the preliminary sketches which artists draw for their future big canvases." Using an idea that she received from childhood; never assuming that she would use the idea as a novel.

      When asked to state her own philosophy for publicity she states, "To make my life a reason unto itself. I know what I want up to the age of two hundred. Know what you want in life and go after it. I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals, and I loathe humanity, for its failure to live up to these possibilities..." What I learned and took away from this introduction about the author was about her characteristic. Ayn Rand is not afraid to share her knowledge.  I respect how she always spoke very forward, "without purple adjectives", her honesty always came out throughout her writing.

Anthem (Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton,1946) Centennial ed., New York: Signet, 1961.

Power of Words

I would like to honor the great poets and writers throughout history. They understood, studied, and expressed the power of words. They have the talent to explain what they mean, feel, and need to say. The greatest events in time began with an idea, which was written on paper, and then shared. Some of the greats were revolutionaries, thinkers, and artists. William Shakespeare can be considered a man out of time. Phillis Wheatly was determined for her thoughts to be heard. Thomas Paine spread the word of Common Sense. Hemingway abstractly expressed his view on humanity. Great Powerful WORDS. Words create sentences, which shape stories, causing ideas to form, making people take action. Words formulate big idea.

Using words I wrote a poem with hidden meaning to me, allowing me to remember my past.

Times Hidden Meanings 

I was born in Colorado
At the end of May
My dads allergic to Avocados
I want to go and play

Country cows
Home to cats
What should I write now?
I really hate rats

In the Valley of snow
I really loved the flute
And to cook pie dough
I thought that guy was cute

Purple Hills full of money
I felt foreign to its halls
Band had a couple dumb bunnies
Camouflaged painted walls

Home of the tigers they proudly exclaimed
But who would know
My chef  coat often got stained
Oh and how it would blow

I feel my brain grow
Pursuing an American dream
I'm so grateful for what I now know
Unexpected friendly faces gleam

The day begins
Arise again
Buttons four
Greens a bit thin

Marveling at passing time
This poem seams unclear
Many memories I've climbed
These thoughts I hold quite dear