What is Power?

I think power can be defined as the control over someone or even something (by someone). Rulers are what come to mind when we think of this and that is mainly who the power is controlled by. There are many examples in the world in the past and the present and from even the books we read that could support what I think the definition of power is and how power can be shown in different ways.

First of all, back to the Russian Revolution an example would be of Stalin. Stalin had power and control over his people in Russia. He had Trotsky exiled and he took over control of Russia’s government. The great purge was an event that happened under his rule, a night of fighting and a lot of arrests being taken place. “Animal Farm” is an analogy of the Russian Revolution so the reasons are still the same. Napoleon had control over all the other farm animals and gave them orders of what they could do and had the power to kill others when he thought he would be threatened. Julius Ceaser is another book we read and there were many people that had some power with them, but with that power things did get out of hand most people ended up being killed, Ceaser being the first. Another example could be from “The Hunger Games”. All the 12 districts are ruled and under the control over the Capitol, and after the rebellion the rulers had the power to punish them all, but making the annual hunger games, just to show that they had control over everything. On page 6 it says “When I was younger I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country from the far-off city called the Capitol. I understood that this would lead to only more trouble.” This quote from the book shows that the rulers could punish the people of Panem for saying rude remarks about them.

I think power can also be showed off by the wealth of one region/country. For example, during the cold war the two “Super Powers” at that time was the U.S and the USSR. They both suffered the least after the world war and had ‘wealth and prosperity’. The U.S and the USSR were both two of the most powerful countries at that time because they were both full of weapons as they were trying to get ahead of each other in the arms race. The other countries such as Germany were in bad shape and even after the treaty of Versailles they were restricted to building weaponry, as Germany had been a leader in world war one and had been responsible for causing it.

I think these examples from the books we have read and topics that we have covered give us a basic idea of what power is, such as leaders that control the power like Stalin and even Hitler. From these examples we can see how power can be defined as “Someone or something under the control of someone.” Because in all of these examples, there is always a group of people under the control of someone. However, there could be even more factors that we have not considered yet with what exactly power might be.

PoP Reflection

The three most valuable things i have probably learned during population project is

• Managing my time for effectively
• Keeping ahead of due dates
• DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.

For the research paper, I could have used my time more effectively, because later i had to find all the information and not all of my points were strong. I managed to get my work in before due dates, but if I had been more aware then I may have been able to use my time more effectively. Overall, for the project, I wasn't exactly up till 3 in the morning finishing it, but i still feel my work could have been better if i didn't delay my work. For the whole of March i didnt research much, and i had left it all till the last minute.

These are all things that will help me in the future because throughout high school and college i will have some big projects to do similar to this one, so managing my time, keeping ahead and aware of due dates and not procrastinating will help me have more thorough and well written pieces. If i manage my time more effectively and stay on top of things, then the rest will follow because then there wont be any extra work for me to do and I'll be well ahead of things.

Net Effect of Globalization

Globalization can be defined as "The growing integration of economies and societies around the world" according to the World Bank. There are both pros and cons to globalization as in some countries its helped the economy and people, whereas in other places it been a real struggle to deal with.

Globalization has hit all countries and in developing countries such as India its opened up many more job opportunities to people. In the video '30 days' the man who had lost his job because of outsourcing said that for the job he had lost hiring one person, 16 people are hired for that same job in India. Also keeping in mind that India has a much bigger populations, the more people that can work, the better. Getting these jobs also helps these people stay out of poverty. Its also cheaper for businesses to hire people in India and have them do the same job with the same skill, but for a lit cheaper. Second, 'open sourcing' allows almost anyone with a computer and Internet access to publish anything on the web, and then allow others to get ideas or even make changes, which helps bring people closer as they can share it through the Internet.

However there are also negative effects of globalization. First, the negative side of globalization hits America with out sourcing. Many americans are losing their jobs for cheaper labor elsewhere. Second, even though the working class in India are all getting job opportunities, it still doesnt change their living standards, which was described as '16 people living in a cave'. Third, people with limited skills cant find jobs, and there are still millions that are homeless. And as the developed countries get more and more fancy gadgets it leaves a huge gap of the poorer people who cant afford it, further anf further behind.

Picture Reflection.

The main visual elements in this picture is the little kid eating dinner with his parents, and the caption at the bottom "Well, yes, we could read your blog...or you could just tell us about your day." I think the issue is that since the kid returned home from school and his parents were asking how his day was, he just told them to read his blog of what he did, instead of telling them there face to face. I think his opinion is that most kids nowadays are caught up in technology that its become a bigger part of their life, and so they rely on in more. Like, in this picture, the kid isn't in the mood to talk to his parents about his day, and he just tells them to look it up, like hes too lazy to tell them. Some evidence the cartoonist shows is the little kid isn't smiling, so it doesn't look like hes too interested in telling his parents about his day. I know when most parents ask kids about how their day was, we're not too interested in telling them. This is ironic because now, as we're talking about a little kids having a blog and criticizing, we're all 'blogging' right now.

This cartoon relates to our study of technology because it in Vonnegut's writing he stated that technology would take us over, and in the cartoon its starting with a little kid, who's already got his own blog. I think the cartoon is good enough, because its nice, simple and believable, and the fact that he uses a little kid makes it more effective.

Reflection

Monday:
Finish up any research for information and topics in my paper that are not strong. Then write down the facts and information on note cards.
Tuesday:
Start the research paper outline, filling in the main points and key ideas.
Wednesday:
Start to add in more detail to the topic; Pros, Cons and my opinion. Also try to finish up the data analysis.
Thursday:
Finish up the outline; have the sources written out on the note cards.
Friday:
If the research paper outline are done, then work on the data analysis or EO option. Or start changing and editing for the actual research paper.

Technology

I think technology is usually something that helps make our lives easier, usually, electronically. Technology can also be from non electrical sources too.

I think some of the most important technology:

• Computers/Laptops
• Cell Phones
• Radios
• Computer software
• Security Devices
  

However, there's not just the five most important because in our lives, we use different technology for different things. And so there are not always going to be most or least because different uses require different things.

Least important, probably the things we either don't use too much, or don't necessarily need.

• Hairdryers and such

I think AES has enough technology. computers, laptops, digital cameras, smart boards, video recorders, projectors, and so on. We also get to use them whenever we need them, so i think the amount and use of technology here is good.

Vonnegut and Technology

I do agree with Vonnegut. Even though I use the computer all the time, and love it, Vonnegut is still right. In Harrison Bergeron they had used technology to make everyone equal. With their handicaps and headphones. The technology was controlling everybody.
In the Euphio Question they had used technology to make everyone happy, with a 'hiss' sound they would broadcast. Lew wanted to use this hiss for his real estate. Con people into buying bad land plots by making them too 'happy' to care. In the middle they tried that experiment they were all overwhelmed by the sound to realise anything, until the power cut. After that, things were a mess when they were all free from the hissing sound that kept them busy. I think Vonnegut may be saying that sometimes technology can get the best of us, and we miss out on important things.
Technology is important to our lives, because, right now, we're using the computer for this, but it can make you miss out on some things in life.

"But it’s you who should be doing the becoming. What you can become is the miracle you were born to work—not the damn fool computer."
I think hes trying to say that the computer shouldnt be doing everything for us, but what we can do ourselves will make us better.