Tuesday, January 31, 2017

"The Russian Revolution Changed the World Forever"

http://www.workers.org/2013/11/06/russian-revolution-changed-world-forever/#.WJFhtrYrJo4

I find it pretty incredible how there are so many parallels between Russia in the early 20th century, and America now...it makes you think about whether or not history is doomed to repeat itself, regardless of the damage we've seen done by it. Artists often try to foreshadow the consequences of such political patterns (in this case, Animal Farm by George Orwell hits the revolutionary nail in the Russian head), but it seems to be inevitable. I pose two questions to you all: 1. How do you think the Russian Revolution has affected the United States? 2. Do you believe a revolution like this one in Russia is bound to happen in the United States, and if so, why or why not?

-Julie

Friday, January 27, 2017

“Has Technology Made us Lazy and Dependent?”


“Has Technology Made us Lazy and Dependent?”
To some extent I would agree with the writer and state that technology has made us lazy and dependent.  In my opinion, it is without doubt that we are completely dependent on technology in so many facets of our daily lives.  One can’t argue with the fact that we, as a society, cannot function without the use of technology, thereby making technology one of the most, if not the most, important part of our lives. 

However, inasmuch as we are dependent on technology, it is up to each and every individual to apply themselves in order to be a functioning member of society.  Opportunities for those that can capture the market as a consumers’ needs evolve present an ideal circumstance.

As the writer of this article pointed out, there are now many options available for someone to run your own personal errands for you.  Technological Apps (short for software application) available to download on your mobile device can offer an array of services that weren’t readily available several years ago.  Daily tasks; such as grocery shopping, household purchases, or shopping for clothes are now available online or on your mobile device.  Likewise, to put these new services into perspective, as we see a drastic rise in income inequality in our economy[1], so has our individual need for these services.  On average the number of children living in single-parent homes has doubled per the Census data in 2010[2].  If the average home only has one working parent residing in the home, then it is quite possible that they alone cannot take on average routine tasks without any assistance, making the demand for these services increase to meet the individual’s needs.  It is also important to note, that in meeting these needs, job growth in these specific fields that offer these services also increase thereby employing more individuals that can meet those needs.  



Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Social Media is Dumbing Down our Communicative Skills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HffWFd_6bJ0

Hey friends! This is a YouTube video by asapscience, which delves into the science behind virtual social media and how it affects our brains. This is only one branch of a very big topic about our smarts being disengaged thanks to the Internet, but I believe this is super relevant to us because (I'm assuming) all four of us engage, to some extent, in social media.

My thoughts:
Social media is stripping us of our ability to communicate face-to-face, and I believe this is more true for those who were given access to social media during early childhood years. I think it's an amazing opportunity to be able to speak to anyone, anywhere, all of the time via the Internet...but it is changing our ability to speak in real time with other humans. Social media allows us to edit ourselves, to take as much time as we need answering people, or to simply not answer them at all. Exhibiting such behaviors in person is not nearly as socially acceptable. It's complicated, and there are so many pros and cons to social media, but I personally feel that it is negatively affecting our ability to talk to people like we were once able to long before the Internet came around. What are your thoughts?

-Julie

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