Boy becomes a man
- rite of passage
-individual responsibility
-realization of the harshness of the world, that some things happen that will knock you out of your dream world.
- “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
-let go of toys, get to work
-first job
-pride in first “romance”
-first big accomplishment to be proud of, perhaps high school graduation
-accountability
main thought/thesis: While there is often a moment when a boy realizes he is no longer just that but a man, it is not that moment that makes the transition from childhood to adulthood; it is that moment that completes it. It is a culmination of a long and unique series of events.
My intro:
Every man has a different story. Every boy passed into manhood in a unique way. If you were to ask me when I realized that I had grown up, I would say February 14th, 2006. Yes, I was only sixteen. I did not think of myself as a “man” that day, but I realized “I am no longer a boy.” On that day, one of my dearest and most perfect friends died from such an ordinary thing as a car wreck. There was no reason or rhyme to her death, there was no human logic explaining why God should claim the best of us that Valentine’s Day. This event was the first that ever caused me to ask that ever-repeated question, “Why?” I would not say I became a man on that day; instead, that was the day I realized that I was in the process of growing up whether I liked it not; I could not live in Neverland anymore.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Inventions, final
Andrew Baggott
English 101
Mr. Segars
22 October 2008
Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds, as discoveries and breakthroughs are made all over the world on an everyday basis. Some of these are true boons to the world: they do things such as help cure diseases, create new forms of communication, or even speed up transportation. While some inventions were completely functional after the first production attempt and have not changed since, some breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, durable, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, technologically evolving world. The problem with rapid development lies in that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already a widespread household item before society can make a true assessment as to whether or not the item is worthwhile. Some inventions that appear useful at first soon prove to be detrimental for the individual as well as for society as a whole. Consumers must be able to discern between inventions that lead to improvement and those that simply satisfy America’s materialistic hunger while doing little to better the world. Considering inventions’ roles in everyday life can provide some insight into deciding which inventions are productive and which are not.
A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged ever since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before the final product ever arrived in your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.
Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché, example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880; since its invention, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also come in a variety of colors and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours; they are also hard to damage, as they have no filament. One can most definitely say that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.
The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight 105 years ago, today's airliner voyages appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).
Hearing about such mechanical accomplishments is refreshing, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.
Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the globe? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there were a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.
Cell phones, like televisions, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: teens often interrupt conversations with friends standing right next to them to answer a text message. Even though they are surrounded by a crowd of schoolmates, there is apparently always one person that is not present with whom they wish to speak. To have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you with whom you could be speaking instead is impolite and quite frankly demeaning. Cell phones also cut into free time throughout the day: ownership of a cell phone often signals to coworkers and friends a perpetual accessibility that may at any time be abused. Gone are the days of peaceful weekend getaways or even simple strolls in the park.
Consumers must consider what they are sponsoring before committing to purchasing a product. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to the individual, the family, or society in general? Could people do without it and not really notice its absence? These are all great questions that can help predict whether or not a product will have a lasting, positive presence on the market. Buyers must invest in things that improve the world, not in items that simply entertain. Buyers must be smart.
English 101
Mr. Segars
22 October 2008
To Update Or Not To Update
Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds, as discoveries and breakthroughs are made all over the world on an everyday basis. Some of these are true boons to the world: they do things such as help cure diseases, create new forms of communication, or even speed up transportation. While some inventions were completely functional after the first production attempt and have not changed since, some breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, durable, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, technologically evolving world. The problem with rapid development lies in that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already a widespread household item before society can make a true assessment as to whether or not the item is worthwhile. Some inventions that appear useful at first soon prove to be detrimental for the individual as well as for society as a whole. Consumers must be able to discern between inventions that lead to improvement and those that simply satisfy America’s materialistic hunger while doing little to better the world. Considering inventions’ roles in everyday life can provide some insight into deciding which inventions are productive and which are not.
A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged ever since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before the final product ever arrived in your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.
Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché, example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880; since its invention, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also come in a variety of colors and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours; they are also hard to damage, as they have no filament. One can most definitely say that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.
The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight 105 years ago, today's airliner voyages appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).
Hearing about such mechanical accomplishments is refreshing, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.
Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the globe? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there were a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.
Cell phones, like televisions, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: teens often interrupt conversations with friends standing right next to them to answer a text message. Even though they are surrounded by a crowd of schoolmates, there is apparently always one person that is not present with whom they wish to speak. To have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you with whom you could be speaking instead is impolite and quite frankly demeaning. Cell phones also cut into free time throughout the day: ownership of a cell phone often signals to coworkers and friends a perpetual accessibility that may at any time be abused. Gone are the days of peaceful weekend getaways or even simple strolls in the park.
Consumers must consider what they are sponsoring before committing to purchasing a product. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to the individual, the family, or society in general? Could people do without it and not really notice its absence? These are all great questions that can help predict whether or not a product will have a lasting, positive presence on the market. Buyers must invest in things that improve the world, not in items that simply entertain. Buyers must be smart.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Inventions, 2nd draft
Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds, as discoveries and breakthroughs are made all over the world on an everyday basis. Some of these are true boons to the world: they do things such as help cure diseases, create new forms of communication, or even speed up transportation, to name a few. While some inventions were completely functional after the first production attempt and have not changed since, some breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, durable, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, technologically evolving world. The problem with rapid development lies in that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already a widespread household item before society can make a true assessment as to whether or not the item is worthwhile. Some inventions that appear useful at first soon prove to be detrimental for the individual as well as for society as a whole. Consumers must be able to discern between inventions that lead to improvement and those that simply satisfy America’s materialistic hunger while doing little to better the world. Considering inventions’ roles in everyday life can provide some insight into deciding which inventions are productive and which are not.
A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged ever since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before the final product ever arrived in your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.
Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché, example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880; since its invention, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also come in a variety of colors and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours and are hard to damage, as they have no filament. One can most definitely say that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.
The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight, today's airliner voyages appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).
Hearing about such mechanical accomplishments is refreshing, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.
Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the globe? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there were a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.
Cell phones, like television, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves, but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: teens often interrupt conversations with friends standing right next to them to answer a text message. Even though they are surrounded by a crowd of schoolmates, it’s always the one person that isn’t present with whom they wish to speak. It is impolite and quite frankly demeaning to have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you that you could be speaking with instead.
Consumers must consider what they are sponsoring before committing to purchasing a product. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to the individual, the family, or society in general? Could people do without it and not really notice it’s absence? These are all great questions that can help predict whether or not a product will have a lasting, positive presence on the market. Invest in things that improve the world, not in items that simply entertain. Be smart.
A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged ever since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before the final product ever arrived in your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.
Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché, example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880; since its invention, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also come in a variety of colors and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours and are hard to damage, as they have no filament. One can most definitely say that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.
The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight, today's airliner voyages appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).
Hearing about such mechanical accomplishments is refreshing, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.
Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the globe? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there were a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.
Cell phones, like television, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves, but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: teens often interrupt conversations with friends standing right next to them to answer a text message. Even though they are surrounded by a crowd of schoolmates, it’s always the one person that isn’t present with whom they wish to speak. It is impolite and quite frankly demeaning to have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you that you could be speaking with instead.
Consumers must consider what they are sponsoring before committing to purchasing a product. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to the individual, the family, or society in general? Could people do without it and not really notice it’s absence? These are all great questions that can help predict whether or not a product will have a lasting, positive presence on the market. Invest in things that improve the world, not in items that simply entertain. Be smart.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
1st draft, Inventions
Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds, as discoveries and breakthroughs are made all over the world on an everyday day basis. Some of these are true boons to the world: they cure diseases, create new forms of communication, and speed up transportation to name a few. While some inventions were completely functional after the first production attempt, some breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, durable, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, technologically evolving world. The problem with rapid development lies in the fact that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already a widespread household item before society figures out that it might not really be a good thing after all. We must be able to discern between invention that leads to improvement and invention simply for the sake of invention.
The last category consists of a few, rare products really haven’t undergone or ever required modifications ever since the first batch made the ever-important transition from workbench to store shelves.
A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before it ever made it to your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.
Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880. Since then, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy. They also come in a variety of colors, and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours and are hard to damage, as they have no filament. It can most definitely be said that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.
The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight, today's airliners appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).
It is refreshing to hear about such mechanical accomplishments, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.
Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could do be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the world? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there was a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.
Cell phones, like television, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves, but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: people interrupt conversations with people standing right next to them to answer a text message. They might be surrounded by a crowd of friends, but it’s always the one person that isn’t present with whom they wish to speak. It is impolite and quite frankly demeaning to have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you that you could be speaking with instead.
As a consumer, consider what you help sponsor before you buy a new item. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to you, your family, or society in general? Could you do without it and not really notice it’s absence? These are all great questions to consider. Invest in things that improve the world around you, not in items that simply keep you entertained. Be smart.
The last category consists of a few, rare products really haven’t undergone or ever required modifications ever since the first batch made the ever-important transition from workbench to store shelves.
A good example of an invention that was designed properly from the very beginning is the aerosol spray can. Developed in 1926 by the Norwegian engineer, Erik Rotheim, the aerosol spray can has remained unchanged since. The concept was fully thought out and engineered before it ever made it to your local supermarket. Admittedly, the contents are now regulated in such a way as to protect the environment, but the container itself is original and, however simple, truly needs no modifications. The can we use today for anything from deodorant, to air freshener, to whipped cream, to insecticides is the same as it has been for over 80 years.
Most inventions, however, have been improved time and time again. A very common, somewhat cliché example is the light bulb. The first practical, long-lasting light bulb was an incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison and his team of scientists in 1880. Since then, many improvements have been made. Even Edison himself found ways to make his bulb shine brighter and longer. The 20th century’s contributions to the world of lighting came in the form of fluorescent lamps and LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode). All the technology to create practical fluorescent lamps was in existence by the 1920s, but it was not until 1938 that the “fluorescent lumiline lamps” were produced and marketed. LEDs have numerous advantages. They are highly energy efficient, sometimes using up to 82% to 93% percent less energy. They also come in a variety of colors, and are often used to spice up outdoor architectural lighting. They have a very long life, lasting up to 100,000 hours and are hard to damage, as they have no filament. It can most definitely be said that the world of lighting has evolved very well, raising the bar with each new concept.
The jet airliner is another great result of years of mechanical improvement. Since the years of Orville and Wilbur Wright, airplanes have undeniably come a long way; they are in fact barely recognizable as the evolution of the Wrights’ first biplane in 1903. Compared to that momentous 12-second flight, today's airliners appear unimaginable. One of the newest jet airliners, the Airbus A380, can seat 850 people. It can travel 8000 nautical miles with one 81,890-gallon fuel-up, which works out to 95 miles-per-gallon per person. In the end, it is more fuel-efficient than almost any car, including the Toyota Prius (if it is only occupied by the driver).
It is refreshing to hear about such mechanical accomplishments, but what about those inventions that we could very well do without? Some products have what one might call “side effects.” The product will fulfill its purpose, but it also has some drawbacks. Two examples come quickly to mind: television and cell phones.
Televisions are wonderful pieces of technology. Who would imagine that one day a person could do be in one part of the world and be seen in real time on millions of screens all across the world? The potential for spreading news and offering entertainment in a compelling, visual format is unimaginably vast. Sadly, smut now saturates the airwaves, with shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” or “The Howard Stern Show” polluting the minds of viewers. Mind-numbingly dull and repetitive shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “90210” fill dead space, luring unsuspecting viewers onto a couch where they will stay sprawled for hours, accumulating body fat by the minute. If there was a single factor in the American lifestyle that were to be chosen as the most significant cause of being overweight, there is virtually no doubt that it would be television. TV will be the final coup de grâce for American fitness, intellect, and morality; the evils of television cannot be counted.
Cell phones, like television, are a great concept. People can talk to anyone from (almost) anywhere; they can even send text, picture, or video messages. If someone is in an emergency and he or she has a cell phone, help is just a call away. The problem lies not in the devices themselves, but in the manner in which people use them. Cell phones are a social curse: people interrupt conversations with people standing right next to them to answer a text message. They might be surrounded by a crowd of friends, but it’s always the one person that isn’t present with whom they wish to speak. It is impolite and quite frankly demeaning to have a leisurely, social conversation on a cell phone when you have someone waiting right beside you that you could be speaking with instead.
As a consumer, consider what you help sponsor before you buy a new item. Does it have potential “side-effects?” Is it truly beneficial to you, your family, or society in general? Could you do without it and not really notice it’s absence? These are all great questions to consider. Invest in things that improve the world around you, not in items that simply keep you entertained. Be smart.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Essay Ideas
Classification Essay
Topic: Significant 20th Century Inventions
Principle: Have these new inventions proved truly beneficial in the long run?
Purpose: To determine whether certain modern inventions which at first appeared beneficial are turning out to be detrimental to society.
Classes:
While many modern inventions have drastically improved the consumer's general quality of life, some have backfired, creating unexpected "side-effects."
Paragraph:
Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds. Discoveries and breakthroughs are made all of a sudden. Some of these are true boons to the world: they cure diseases, create new forms of communication, and speed up transportation to name a few. Some of these breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, longer-lasting, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, evolving world. The first example that comes to mind is the light bulb: from incandescent to fluorescent to LED, light bulbs have evolved to emit more light while saving energy. The problem with such development lies in the fact that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already widespread before society figures out that it might not really be a good thing after all. A good example of this would be the television. At first, it seems to be a great, captivating means of mass communication: bringing news from around the world, live, in vivid color to you in your living room armchair. Yet therein lies the problem, very few people stay active and watch TV at the same time. Television is one of the greatest contributors to sedentary living. We must be able to discern between invention that leads to improvement and invention simply for the sake of invention. There lies the challenge.
Compare and Contrast Essay
Subjects: Soccer and swimming
Basis of comparison: Which sport offers better health benefits over a lifetime?
Purpose: To compare and contrast soccer and swimming and determine which offers better health benefits over a lifetime.
Points:
Soccer and swimming both provide excellent cardiovascular fitness and each one develops a useful set of muscle groups, but swimming is a better sport because even senior citizens can enjoy it.
Paragraph:
Soccer and swimming are both competitive high school sports. They both produce great endurance. I played outside midfielder on my high school soccer team for two years: that is the position that requires the most running of all, since the zone that the player must cover spans the entire length of the field. It's like playing defense and offense all at once. Just a few games into the season, I could run at least 10 miles without doing anything outside of soccer to practice. This summer I decided on a whim to become certified as a lifeguard. I got a job at the sixth largest YMCA in the nation, where I took full advantage of the pool and swam almost every single day, four to five times a day. I have never in my life experienced such exhaustion as I did those first few days of serious swimming. It was tiring at first just to swim 8 laps; by the end of the summer, however, I had built up enough endurance to the point that 20 laps really didn't bother me. Both sports provide excellent cardiovascular fitness: my breathing and heart rates were down, by blood pressure was a perfect 120/80, and I never felt out of breath. During the soccer season, I never really worked out my upper body. My legs were obviously in great shape, though I did have to deal with the occasional injury or sprain. Shin splints were also a frequent plague, but overall my lower body was in the best shape of my life. As a swimmer however, I experienced no injuries whatsoever. My legs were not as defined, as they are not used in swimming to same degree as in soccer. My upper body, however, was well-toned. An interesting property of water is that is has a variable resistance: the faster I pushed and pulled, the harder it seemed to move my limbs through the water. I would often swim sprints, moving as fast as I possibly could: it worked better than any free weights ever did. My upper body became very developed, just as my legs had in soccer. The most important thing I realized when comparing these two sports, is that soccer will be temporary. The last time I play it with any commitment or regularity will probably be before I'm 25. Swimming, on the other hand, can be a lifelong sport. There is no impact on the joints, thus I would often see 80 year-old men and women cozily, steadily swimming away in the pools I guarded. That is a tie-breaker: fitness should not only last until one's twenties; fitness should be a lifetime goal.
Topic: Significant 20th Century Inventions
Principle: Have these new inventions proved truly beneficial in the long run?
Purpose: To determine whether certain modern inventions which at first appeared beneficial are turning out to be detrimental to society.
Classes:
- Have been beneficial since the beginning and remain relatively unaltered.
- Were beneficial at first but are now harming the average consumer's lifestyle due to so-called "improvements."
- Were not at first very efficient, but have experienced improvements.
While many modern inventions have drastically improved the consumer's general quality of life, some have backfired, creating unexpected "side-effects."
Paragraph:
Technology seems to progress in leaps and bounds. Discoveries and breakthroughs are made all of a sudden. Some of these are true boons to the world: they cure diseases, create new forms of communication, and speed up transportation to name a few. Some of these breakthroughs build on previous work, making older product models more efficient, effective, longer-lasting, or perhaps more compatible with a modern, evolving world. The first example that comes to mind is the light bulb: from incandescent to fluorescent to LED, light bulbs have evolved to emit more light while saving energy. The problem with such development lies in the fact that products are often being generated so fast that a certain machine, medicine, or gadget is already widespread before society figures out that it might not really be a good thing after all. A good example of this would be the television. At first, it seems to be a great, captivating means of mass communication: bringing news from around the world, live, in vivid color to you in your living room armchair. Yet therein lies the problem, very few people stay active and watch TV at the same time. Television is one of the greatest contributors to sedentary living. We must be able to discern between invention that leads to improvement and invention simply for the sake of invention. There lies the challenge.
Compare and Contrast Essay
Subjects: Soccer and swimming
Basis of comparison: Which sport offers better health benefits over a lifetime?
Purpose: To compare and contrast soccer and swimming and determine which offers better health benefits over a lifetime.
Points:
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Muscle groups developed
- Trauma to joints
- Years the sport can be practiced
Soccer and swimming both provide excellent cardiovascular fitness and each one develops a useful set of muscle groups, but swimming is a better sport because even senior citizens can enjoy it.
Paragraph:
Soccer and swimming are both competitive high school sports. They both produce great endurance. I played outside midfielder on my high school soccer team for two years: that is the position that requires the most running of all, since the zone that the player must cover spans the entire length of the field. It's like playing defense and offense all at once. Just a few games into the season, I could run at least 10 miles without doing anything outside of soccer to practice. This summer I decided on a whim to become certified as a lifeguard. I got a job at the sixth largest YMCA in the nation, where I took full advantage of the pool and swam almost every single day, four to five times a day. I have never in my life experienced such exhaustion as I did those first few days of serious swimming. It was tiring at first just to swim 8 laps; by the end of the summer, however, I had built up enough endurance to the point that 20 laps really didn't bother me. Both sports provide excellent cardiovascular fitness: my breathing and heart rates were down, by blood pressure was a perfect 120/80, and I never felt out of breath. During the soccer season, I never really worked out my upper body. My legs were obviously in great shape, though I did have to deal with the occasional injury or sprain. Shin splints were also a frequent plague, but overall my lower body was in the best shape of my life. As a swimmer however, I experienced no injuries whatsoever. My legs were not as defined, as they are not used in swimming to same degree as in soccer. My upper body, however, was well-toned. An interesting property of water is that is has a variable resistance: the faster I pushed and pulled, the harder it seemed to move my limbs through the water. I would often swim sprints, moving as fast as I possibly could: it worked better than any free weights ever did. My upper body became very developed, just as my legs had in soccer. The most important thing I realized when comparing these two sports, is that soccer will be temporary. The last time I play it with any commitment or regularity will probably be before I'm 25. Swimming, on the other hand, can be a lifelong sport. There is no impact on the joints, thus I would often see 80 year-old men and women cozily, steadily swimming away in the pools I guarded. That is a tie-breaker: fitness should not only last until one's twenties; fitness should be a lifetime goal.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Social Clubs
The good aspects of social clubs at Freed far outweigh the negative. As an incoming freshman, I’m very grateful for the sense of family that is found within my social club. For some people, being away from home is a big deal; they struggle with homesickness. I haven’t had that problem at all. Freed is like a second home to me, largely thanks to my club. As newcomers into the strange collegiate world, freshmen look for something to cling to, something to act as an anchor and provide stability. Social clubs do exactly that: they establish an initial comfort zone from which to build a social life. Friends should never be limited to one club, but it is always easy start out making friends in your own club and then branch when you feel comfortable. Being a naturally outgoing person, this aspect of being in a club was not as important to me. I have however heard several people with shy personalities describing how clubs facilitated meeting new people. Social clubs also host many fun activities: intramural games, club meetings, and Makin’ Music are all great ways to become active in the Freed-Hardeman community. Playing on intramural teams is a great way to get to know people and simultaneously stay in shape.
The downside to social clubs is that they have the potential to create unnecessary division between fellow Christians. Some people take club rivalries much to seriously and turn everything in to a competition that must be won at all cost. This can produce rudeness and general tension. Some people feel they can only sit with their club members at lunch, or they act much nicer to their club members than to others. The solution is to simply remember that our ultimate loyalty should be to Christ and any Christians around us, and to act accordingly. There is nothing wrong with social clubs, so long as the members do not become elitists or snobs. If people were as devoted to their faith as they often are to their social clubs, imagine what good could be accomplished!
The downside to social clubs is that they have the potential to create unnecessary division between fellow Christians. Some people take club rivalries much to seriously and turn everything in to a competition that must be won at all cost. This can produce rudeness and general tension. Some people feel they can only sit with their club members at lunch, or they act much nicer to their club members than to others. The solution is to simply remember that our ultimate loyalty should be to Christ and any Christians around us, and to act accordingly. There is nothing wrong with social clubs, so long as the members do not become elitists or snobs. If people were as devoted to their faith as they often are to their social clubs, imagine what good could be accomplished!
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