What is Power?

“Power is the ability to do or act; the capability of doing or accomplishing something” is the definition stated by Dictionary.com. The list of definitions goes on and on but I really think this first definition really says it all. Putting the definition in my own words I would say that power is the ability to choose and control the life of oneself and or the lives of other people through many different aspects such as politics, economy, and personal life. As I said before the three main topics I am going to explain are power in politics, economy, and personal life.

First off politics, politics can be great and it can be horrible. Politics and high government jobs can give so much power to people it can be very dangerous. One example is the Second World War and their outcomes. So much power was given to Hitler that he was able to take an entire nation under his one control and do with it as he saw fit. Second politics lets people decide if o their country is going to take over a neighboring country and steal or help that country. I really put this point in here to help my next point of the ability to change lifestyles. When the British marched into India and many other countries they enforced their own lifestyle, religion, and many other aspects of life upon that nation. They changed the way people lived and made a living which leads to my next topic Economy.

Economy is a major player in dishing out lots of the worlds power. It can place a massive amount of power on one person one day and then take it away and distribute it somewhere else. My first point is the Industrial Revolution; this one event created many millionaires, countries, and businesses that have had some of the most power in the history of the world. One example is Carnegie Steel; this one company was the leading producer and supplier for most of the world’s steel in that time. The industrial revolution also as stated earlier created many of the world’s millionaires/ billionaires and with money usually comes some power along with it. Capitalism is my second example that economy gives large amounts of power but capitalism spreads the power a bit more equally but not perfectly. It allows people to try and gain as much power as they can get. But they can also crash and have nothing left. My last example communism has a very different affect it spreads all power so equally that in the end no one really has any power. This can both be good and bad. It can be good because no one can do anything to downgrade anyone else but it can be bad because no one can do anything if something very horrible happens and someone with a lot of power is supposed to deal with it.

My last point of power is the power over personal lives. Power is the main factor for someone to be able to run their own life. If no one had any power over themselves than we would be able to wake up in the morning and do anything someone else would have to tell us to do it. My second example is the kind of job someone gets. If someone has no power over their life then they could end up doing something completely worthless to themselves and or to society. Power is an essential that is needed in everyone’s life to have a normal life and to live the life that they want to live.

So overall I believe that power is the ability to choose and control your own life and or the lives of others. I proved this through showing the power given and taken by politics, economies, and life. Where would we be without power?

Control or Power?- The Giver

I picked the theme of control because my book, The Giver, has many instances that relate to control. First the people don’t have memories and the community chooses and gives them everything that they need in their lives. The community has also been able to take all feelings that people have for other people even the family unit that they live with. The founders of the community even went as far as too control the landscape and weather. In the begging of the community there must have been some control but now it just seems to have slipped away. There are a group of elders that may decide the outcome on a couple of problems but for the most part not even they have any control over anything at all. In the novel it seems as though the whole idea of control or the concept has been taken away but control still lives on in the people’s lives. The only person in the entire novel that has any control what so ever is the giver and the receiver both of which at some times have memories and can choose to make decisions about their lives. Control is the main theme in this novel even though at times there doesn’t seem to be any control at all.

Population Project

The three most important things i learned during POP are that saving your work to the last day before the paper is due is very risky and bad. Second i learned that the earlier you get something done especially research the better. And lastly, plan before you start to actually work or write a paper or project. And the value that i think i will take away from this project and use later in my life is the value of planning before i start to work.

Net Affect of Globolization

"Globalization" is the growth integration of economies and societies around the world-The World Bank. Globalization is such a complex thing that you could look at so many aspects of it and still find something new to look at. So i am going to focus on the positives and negatives of globalization.

Their are quite a few positives to globalization and many of them have to do with the economy. First globalization creates new jobs in many newly formed and growing counties. It also helps with the production of goods at lower cost which then turns into lower costs for consumers in the world. It also helps by taking machines and ideas to new places to be used and improved upon by the people. But globalization doesn't just help the economy it also helps the over all world by bringing new ideas and ways of life to many countries and helps people to know more about the world as a whole.

Now even though globalization does many great things around the world that are almost too numerous to mention it can also cause great problems. Globalization has started to spread so rapidly that it would be very hard to control it. I said earlier that globalization helps the economy of countries and it does but the way it helps doesn’t always benefit the workers of the country. Many businesses will outsource and offshore many jobs that used to be in the country that the business was based in and many people of that country had jobs in that business. But as the businesses outsource and offshore many of those jobs start to disappear. The whole spread of ideas is great for the world but globalization has almost taken it too far. Some countries are starting to loss their own cultures because they try to hard to adapt to the western way of life. Globalization is starting to make it so you almost have to have a western way of life to fit in and that is not good.

Picture site:http://www.ykuusa.org/english/whycross/

Technology and School

The main visual elements of this cartoon are the mom and dad and the small kids faces and the writing at the bottom. This cartoon i think is trying to say that technology is becoming to depended on for kids and maybe even schools. I think the cartoonist feels that kids use to much technology and don't trouble to take the time to talk to especially their parents about their lives. Some evidence that supports my theory is the way the parents look at the kid and that the word "tell" in the writing is underlined. This cartoon ironic because the younger kid is the person that is using technology and the older parents don't seem to want to even though most people would think that the parents would use more technology and the young kid wouldn't. The cartoon relates to our study because its showing how technology is being used by the newer generation and it shows the conflict between the two generations. I think that if the cartoonist could have shown that the kid was using technology maybe even at the table it could have enhanced the affect.

picture source:www.sandiegohomeblog.com

PoP Worktime Plan

Monday 13- Talk to Mr.Coyle about my plan and where I am at and then do some more overall research for my project. Get more research at home and then start to put it all together.

Tuesday 14- Do a bit more research and then start to put my outline together. Finish my outline at home if not finished in class.

Wednesday 15- start to write my first draft of my research paper. Finish at home

Thursday 16- I will revise my first draft and start to make corrections for my second draft. Finish my second draft and revise at home.

Friday 17- Work on my data analysis

What is Technology?

I believe that technology is the objects that we create to help us accomplish things much quicker and with more ease . The top five most important technologies that are used most often these days are computers, cell phones, internet, televisions, and cars. The five least important technologies used these days are automatic dog food dispenser, instant coffee, small electric water heaters, hair dryers, and electric shavers. I feel that in AES we use a lot of technology and i feel that we use just thr right amount of technology. I also feel that we use all technology that we have in AES justly and right. Although at rare times someone is caught using technology wrongly i think AES is very good at controlling all technology use in the school.

Vonnegut and Technology

I agree and disagree with Vonnegut's statement about technology. First on the context of me agreeing with Vonnegut's i do agree that at times many people in this world rely to heavily on technology to get through every day life. But then I also think that lots of technology is very helpful in this day and time and i think that a lot of technology that has been created is very helpful as in the technology for health care. On the the exact quote said by Vonnegut about how the computer wont help you become but you are supposed to become by yourself, I think that the computer can help you become in some aspects of your life but not many. So overall i agree with Vonnegut's statement, but i don't feel so strongly against technology in general. I really like technology and feel that it is a good thing to have. So just recapping I feel that Vonnegut's statement about the computer is right but i disagree with the statement that technology is bad.

End of Quarter 3 Feedback

I believe that I greatly achieved all of my goals for quarter 3. First i have seen that my spelling has improved because I rarely have to use spell check anymore and i am more confident writing on my own. My second goal was to get better grades on big projects and i believe that i met that goal because I got A's-B's on almost all my projects and I really feel i put more work into them. And lastly i believe that i have really been able to practice for basketball and still keep my grades up. An example is my dad and I used to go to the gym every Tuesday and Thursday mornings to practice basketball and i was still able to keep my grades in the A to B range.

My first goal for quarter 4 is to get done with UBD before the due date for every piece that is due before my individual portfolio is due. My second goal is to get my data analysis and expansion option for UBD done and to get a good start on my research paper done before spring break. My last goal is too get all my UBD stuff done and get a good grade in all my classes while doing middle school basketball.

Oxymoron "Holy War"

"Holy War" I believe is an oxymoron because the word holy by many peoples beliefs means peaceful and calm and without stress or perfect. But war seems to be the complete opposite from that. War to me means pain, suffering, hardship, chaos, and many other bad things which have very different and sometimes opposite meanings then the words that describe holy. I also think the reason that there are so many conflicts around the world that have to do with religion is because the people that practice the religion find it to hard to accept that other people follow other religions. And so they go to very high lengths to try to convert or protect their religion. Another reason that religious wars are fought even though the religion tells against killing is people don't always take comments or actions as other people do so they may react in a way that triggers a war.

WWIII

I don't believe that there will be a WWIII in my life time because many countries are working hard against lots of threats in the world. I also believe that their will not be a WWIII because of the United Nations, they would be a major obstacle to get by before a world war ever started. I believe that the UN could stop a world war from stopping because so many countries have joined it and they are working together. Also many countries in the world are at peace with one another with treaties together. Their are a few countries who seem to be against the world like N.Korea, Russia, and a couple others but other than that I believe the world operates quit peacefully.

Another big reason I feel that their wont be another world war is many countries are not at all ready to go into a massive war and loss catastrophic amounts of people in a war. An example is India they are going through a economic boost right now and if they were forced into a war all that progress may very well be lost. Nuclear weapons is another problem with a world war because once someone starts using a weapon that deadly the rest of the world has to think about if they want to start using weapons that if all of them are used the world will be left in ruins. And so all in all i do not believe their will be a third world war in my life time.

Anne Frank Descusion Response

Question:In her diary Anne opined: “…if you’re wondering if it’s harder for the adults here than for the children, the answer is no…Older people have an opinion about everything and are sure of themselves and their actions. It’s twice as hard for us young people to hold on to our opinions at a time when ideals are being shattered…” (July 15, 1944.) Do you agree or disagree with this quote? When was the last time that you experienced the “shattering” of an ideal?

I agree strongly with Anne's thoughts and think that this is a very true point of view. I think that because many adults can easily make many decisions and stick to them without question because they are older and more mature. A kid may at times make up their mind but then go back upon that thought because of something that they saw or heard. I also believe that Anne was right because parents have the ability to make a decisions upon their strong beliefs that they have already made up in their minds. So overall i think Anne was very right and i strongly agree with her.

WWII Letter of War

Normandy US Army Camp Regiment 65
6/20/1944

Dear Family,
Hey everyone, how are you all doing? I miss you all so much and can’t wait to see you all again. Well you probably have all heard that we broke through the Nazi front about twenty days ago. I am currently still on the beach in my camp and is waiting for reinforcements before my regiment moves on. There is much celebration and joy, but rations are low and times are hard. The weather has been okay not great but not horrible. Rain is so often in this part of the world. I am currently staying in a tent with all of my regiment. It is a bit cramped but I'll survive.

I remember little Joshe's question in your last letter about what war is like and I'm going to try my best to answer it. War isn't a game as I thought it was so many years ago. People really do die. I remember when our landing craft opened its door the two front row of men just fell down dead almost immediately. Getting to the shore was even harder. The water splashed into our faces over and over again blinding our vision. When you got to land you had to find cover quickly or you where a dead man, Nazi machine guns torn through rank after rank of men before my eyes. In about thirty minutes the beach was covered in bodies. The Nazis also used heavy and light artillery to keep any big help from reaching shore. It took a while but we finally pulled through. Thank god for the 13,000 paratroopers who had landed before us behind enemy lines to weaken the Nazis. Also the planes that dropped bomb after bomb to knock out the reinforcements and supplies were a large help. I don’t really think we would have won without them.

Some good news is the Allies have broken almost all the way to Paris now and the Nazis are retreating quickly. The soviets have them cornered and are pressing hard on them so I hope I will be home soon. Also many little bands of freedom fighters have starting to fight back as well. It’s a big help. We took over a concentration camp last week and the sight was just horrible. There were humans who did not even look to be living. It felt so good to help a fellow American out of that camp. I hope to be home soon and to tell you even more but for right now I love you and wish you the best of luck.

Love,
Jonathan

Picture cite:http://www.rjgeib.com/heroes/draper/german-point-of-view.html

WWII Recipe

1 pound of failure of the treaty of Versailles
7 gallons of hatred
10 tablespoons of fascism and military
5 cups of Hitler
2 tablespoons of regret and appeasement
3 teaspoons of the failure of the league of nations
1 cup of treaties
3 quarts of backstabbing
4 tablespoons of ignorance
1 big heap of lust for power
Bake for 6 years and you've got your World War

Bowl 1.
First put the failure of the treaty of Versailles into a mixing bowl and let it thaw from its chunk of ice for five minuets. When you come back there will be seven cups of hatred in the bowl, mix thoroughly. Then sprinkle the five cups of Hitler evenly, as if you were putting the last sprinkles on a cake, and watch the reaction. Wait until the whole bowl has turned into the color of the Hitler then add the fascism and military as quick as a cheetah runs. Add half the treaties into this bowl and then add the backstabbing 5 minuets later. Lastly put int the lust quickly and let it sit for a while about five minuets then mix with second bowl.

Bowl 2.
In another bowl put in the regret and appeasement of the western nations and then add the failure of the league of nations without a second thought.Add the last half of the treaties into this bowl. Mix in the ignorance, like two paints combined to create a new color, and let it sit till you are ready with first bowl.

Final instructions:
Mix both bowls together and then place in a mixer and mix for 10 minuets or until the mixture starts to harden like a rock and then quickly place it in a cake tin and bake for six years. By the end the six years the cake will be done and finished.

AF Movie Critique

I thought the movie was pretty good but I didn't quite get the sense that i got when i read the book. The book seemed to have things happen in a more relaxed pace while i thought the movie moved to quickly. Also the movie change parts of the book to adapt to what the movie wanted. A big thing was Mollie, in the movie their wasn't even a character for Mollie but in the book Mollie played a major part. She pretty much started the animals on thinking the new government might not be as good as they think its is.
Also when Napoleons dogs chased Snowball out of the farm in the book he was able to get away but in the movie the dogs killed him. Old major dies earlier in the movie and Moses didn't really have any impression at all. Another major difference is at the very end of the movie the animals rebelled against Napoleon and took back the farm but in the book that never happens. So overall I thought that this movie gets a thumbs up but not two.

AF Character

I feel that I am like squealer for the most part but there is a part of Boxer in me. First for squealer i am like him because we are both cunning in the way we get people to do what we want. Also we are both social in the way that we both talk to people a lot, but why we talk to people is different. And last we are both smart. The part of me that is Boxer is the working part because we both work until we feel content and wont settle for anything less. Another part is we both work for the better of the people around us and try to make life better for the people we care for.

Tyranny, injustice, and self-determintation in Animal Farm

Tyranny- The way someone or something rules a society usually by force and or power
Injustice- the opposite of right or something that is wrong usually committed through a action
Self-determination- the ability to shape ones own future without influence

I think that these words contribute to animal farm greatly because first the animals feel they are being ruled in a tyranny because farmer Jones always locked them up and made them do chores. Second the animals felt like they were being treated unjustly and were being forced to do what farmer Jones wanted to make them do even if they didn't want to do it. And last the animals wanted to be able to live there own life's without having to be told what to do and to appoint their own leader.

The Trench

Life in the trenches was never easy,

Our first attack was hard

And the night after was even harder

We had guards up night and day

Waiting for that one moment when

All would turn to chaos like the sea when a hurricane hits

One day the captain told us to line up

We all knew it would come sooner or later

The over the top attack or as we called it “Running from the Devil”

My squad was lucky; we got to take a side trail,

It eventually leads up to no-man’s land, and was still dangerous

But hay it was better than having to hop up to hell

We fought and fought for what seemed like months,

I started to notice that the enemy was dropping back, yes what a relief

Then I turn around to witness what I had forgotten

We had lost men too, and were also moving back

“Would it always be like this, never ending like the sea of stars we look up at every night” I thought

And so with my last reserve of energy left I start the long walk back to the Trench

Cites:

www.firstaif.info/42/images-42/trench-warfare.jpg

http://personal.monm.edu/JDRENDEL/Trench%20Warfare.htm

http://www.harris-academy.com/departments/history/Trenches/Joanna/joanna1.htm

http://herstory07.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/more-like-a-monday/

http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-i/christmas-truce.htm

http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/Warfare-Trench.htm