Should we all make $70000? 10

                Should we? By now most of have heard of the company owner who raised all of the employee’s salaries to seventy grand a year. There are some interesting effects that happened because of it, some were mad, some were happy. I understand how someone could be upset by this if they’re already higher end of the pay scale. It took years for them to acquire that salary, and now just because his boss has a change of heart everyone makes the same wage. That would be frustrating. Yet at the same time for the person who went from thirty thousand to seventy, it’s like winning the lottery. A conundrum for sure and I don’t think there is an answer for everybody. That being said there is a movement to raise the minimum wage that is way late in coming. Just like companies give out yearly raises like 10% or 3% that should be the case for minimum wage. Yearly there should be a cost of living increase doesn’t have to be much just enough to offset the cost for inflation. I don’t understand why this isn’t the case right now. If we as a country can afford to raise our senator’s pay we can afford to raise the pay of our poorest.

"Happy"

The documentary "Happy" is fascinating, in particular in the beginning they interview a gentleman who pulls a rickshaw for a living. This is wondrous, from the stand point that he is happy. My mind has difficulty with this, because he is poor to the point that sometimes he, “eats just rice with salt”. How is it possible that a person who can barely afford to pay for food let alone provide for his family be happy? If I get off of my ivory tower for a minute I can just see maybe, how it’s possible. So I live with a tremendous amount at my fingertips endless amounts of food, the internet, T.V., clothing and shelter. So my basic needs are met, strange as it might seem that is hard to remember sometimes. But if I remove my ego for a second and I am capable of realizing the truth, that I am richer than a majority of the world because I have shoes. I find it hard to want for anything, the instant that happens I am happier. I find I am more grateful for what I do have and not what I don’t. The challenge now is to carry this thought through my waking life constantly, and perhaps I might be as happy as the gentleman in the documentary. J

Crazy Apps

Check this out.
 
 Crazy right, there is an app that exists right now that you can create different babies with a picture of your pet. The best part it's only .99 cents! Is it right is wrong I don't know even if I did I couldn't say. This is an example of some people's sense of humor, some find this funny others may find it horrific. Personally I don't see why someone would want this, let alone pay for it, funny sure it could be. Yet I would rather spend my time with other people talking, joking, or even debating than making a crazy picture. I may be a little older than the target audience though, perhaps this perfect for your average preteen or teenager. The real question is should it be allowed to be sold? Why not? Does it cause any real harm, no. Does it project images that are violent or sexually explicit, no. At most it contains mildly inappropriate concepts, I mean we all know stories of a werewolf  haunting people. Are you going to ban all Halloween apps? It is a silly, sun app that some will enjoy others won't, but you can't please everybody all the time.

Positives and negitives with tech

Ok so I honestly believe that the way we are going to survive in this universe is to continually come up with new and different ideas for life. What do I mean? Technology, finding new energy sources, new ways of farming, basically reducing our impact on our home, Earth. There are some inherent problems with this concept mainly cost, but also challenging the idea that the old days were the best and that we need to go back instead of forward. The idea that backwards is better has got to be smashed! I understand we feel nostalgic about it and it’s good that we do, but the fact is as we progress in time things get better.  Crime has gone down compared to the past, more people have rights now, and there is less starvation than thirty years ago yeah really look it up. I’m not saying things are perfect now either, we still have lots of room for growth. I’m saying the more we push to improve the more we do improve; unfortunately it all will cost lots of money. That is a fact, isn’t it worth it? Saving people from starving, polluting less, saving the world for our children. Isn’t that better? Yeah it is.  

Social Media Can Not Tell You Who You Are

Does your online presences define who you are? It shouldn’t we see it all the time actor aren’t who we think they are when the camera gets turned off, why would this be different? It is easy to see why it’s attractive to be famous, to have money and all the things you want. There is a problem with that the money and things will not make you happy or tell you who you are. Only you can no other person or multi-millions of fans will ever be able to tell you what to be when you grow up. If you happen to try it you most likely find yourself sad, and lonely. Unfortunately it can be one of the most difficult things to do in life, really it’s what we are all doing trying to, figure life out. Social Media can give you ideas of what to strive for, it can help you connect with people with the same goals, but it will never tell you what you want to be or do. That is something we all have to find for ourselves, some may take longer than others, but we all will at some time find our calling. 

we need new sources for energy

Could we have roadway that lights up? Personally I think it not only possible, but likely. Okay I understand this tech is in its infancy, but the idea is an amazing one. In “Would Solar Roadways Work? A Government Engineer Discusses the Controversial Technology” by Stephen Lacey it discusses the viability of the project, and it isn’t really for an interstate road, but as we develop the technology it could be. The point is we should be investing all of our resources into ideas like this one for one basic reason, this is how we will survive and thrive in the future. Radical ideas, concepts that seem crazy, but with the proper investment and study they can work. Check out the video it has implications for our city’s infrastructure, walkways to start with and as it builds revenue it could be implicated in our intersections. The road can warn you about pedestrians or obstructions in the road, and it’s producing power for us. Cheap renewable energy that solves any crises for energy that we have it just needs for us to take the time and money to invest.    

Environment

We are raping our environment every day not just cutting down trees, but putting more and more toxins into the air every second. We need to spend every spare penny on investing in fuels other than fossil fuels, if not we will slowly choke and kill ourselves. The more cars produced the more pollution the more we drain Mother Nature of her vital resources. So you say we are producing more electric cars now than ever. That’s only part of the problem we are mining the earth for those batteries used in electric cars. Let’s not forget about the coal that powers our everyday life most of the power plants in the US are coal powered. Why aren’t we investing more time and energy in solar panels, or wind? Hydrogen powered cars are available now we just don’t have the infrastructure to fuel them, why? What is the hold up? Companies are currently have the technology, and the tech is getting better every day improving the output of solar panels improving the durability of hydrogen based cars wouldn’t it speed up the process the more we try to introduce them in our lives?

The question is did Sherry Turkle, "Connected, but Alone," TED talk succeed in the goal of; informing, persuading and did she entertain? Her TED talk about technology specifically should we text as much as we do? Substituting texting for real conversation, real human contact? One thing that people more and more are doing all over the globe, Turkle’s argument is that it isn’t enough to just text or email. We need to set aside time to spend with each other, in all of our imperfections. Her talk was indeed entertaining and informative, she made logical arguments to the negative effect it of texting on our ability to covey to each other. Even going so far as trying to evoke emotion about our children with a lack of knowledge on just how to have a connection with another human being. It is very persuasive, enough to consider calling instead of texting, even for a short little conversation.

                Does Turkle’s message have a valid point? In short yes, anyone taken out of their environment for a little bit would realize just how much time is spent with our mobile devices. Just look around at any social awkward moment in life a party, an elevator, anywhere, what are we doing looking at our phones. Not taking the time to talk to each other having a simple chat about the weather or anything else for that matter. Just put down the phone talk to someone, ask them how they’re doing and listen, we can do it.

Summary of "Connected but Not Alone"

"Connected but not Alone", Sherry Turkle basically proposes that our use of mobile devices and social media may in fact be getting out of hand. In her study of numerous individuals she found we are feeling alone and, perhaps we need to unplug from the web of connectivity and texts and have a conversation. She says that even though we think that we are having a conversation, in reality all of those little tweets and texts don't add up to an emotional connection. That time editing the thoughts posted on the web or in our phone is not portraying the real and actual you. She calls it the "Goldilocks effect"' we want to talk to each other, yet still retain the ability to edit, delete, or completely change what we have said. To keep anyone at a length we are comfortable with. The stumbles and ums. or I don't knows are a vital part of human interaction we need. We are searching for connection in life and our electronic connection isn't the healthy one, and we are losing the ability to connect to people. Our children are being taught this cycle and they don’t know how to break it. As a result they are feeling more and more alone. We need to take the time to put down the devices and talk to each other regardless of how uncomfortable we are.

Research is finding the most information on a particular subject you can , either by the internet or books. Google defines: it as the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. Basically find as much information to support your ideas as possible.

I have little to no experience researching anything in the past, the most I have done was in Eng. 151. Honestly the only research paper I can think of is a paper I did on Steve Jobs in second grade, that my father did most of the work.

I am looking forward to and dreading the same thing the challenge of not just completing this course but hopefully doing well in this class. By challenge I mean taking on task I currently feel are very daunting. Like writing 6-8 page paper, that is crazy compared to where I started the semester.