The internet sure has grown! The fact that there were only 200 or so websites back in 1993, a mere year after my birth, is mind boggling. Especially as it increases by almost 100 fold by 1996 (with 200,000 websites). The progress of technology is insanely fast! And to think, mouses were made with wood back in 1968!

To learn that the first “truly American” music was the eponymous “black face” musicals kind of stings, in a way. Knowing that our identity as a country back then was based on racism brings about a lot of annoyance and shame. Sure, it was the Bad Old Days, and they didn’t know any better, but to have Black Face as the public face of original US entertainment is disheartening.

Thought for the day:

Laughter is the best medicine, but tears are the best cleaning solution.

Learning about Montgomery Meigs and his designs and developments for the US Pension Bureau was fascinating. His ideas for a “train” delivery system were hilariously ingenious, and maybe he was trying to use those hollow brass pillars as an early pneumatic tube.

The origins on the idea of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) was also something new to me, and it, along with other facts presented about the United States from the 1880’s to the 1970’s it illustrated a grime picture to me that the US was almost as bad as Nazi Germany. Absolutely terrible and insane that mass sterilization was not just allowed, but a legal right for doctors!

World War Two was a very turbulent time, and a hypocritical one as well, all things considered. Still, it did give us computers and the internet, so one good thing came out of it.

I also disagree with your statement about why America backed up France in their re-colonization of Vietnam, at least in part. America was a big proponent of Imperialism and colonization in its own rights, as American Samoa, the Philippines, and even Hawaii were sovereign nations that America took by force. Therefore, they agreed that France had a right to retake their old colonies, and felt that if they didn’t, the Western powers would force them to give up their own territories.

Thought of the Day: Learn of the past, but do not dwell on it. Look to the future, but do not shed blood for it. History is always in the making, so make it the best one you can for everyone.

The ideas Carr talked about were, for the most part, very interesting. The thought that our brains, through constant exposure to digital media platforms, have been rewired to reject conventional ways of reading makes a lot of sense. I sometimes feel that when I try to read paper-and-ink books, it takes a bit more effort to engross myself than when reading an e-book. Perhaps the screen factors in somewhere?

I did not like the tone Carr took, however. It was too smug, too “media is bad blarbl warrble!” He made his point and brought supporting evidence, but then he never goes beyond that, content to sit on those facts and use them to justify dozens more pages without saying anything new.

Carr makes a compelling argument, one I find has lots of merit for further study. Are our brains being reworked? I’d say “yes.” His evidence of research is backed by my own feelings and experiences on the subject. But he does not try any harder to offer suggestions on how to go around this problem, just that it is a problem. All in all, the book is decent. Good, intriguing ideas and hypothesis, yet marred by Carr’s repetitive attempts to pound it into our heads.

Thought for the day:

That which is made by mankind must serve mankind. Just because it is dangerous does not mean it does not have a purpose.

I’d known a bit about audible sounds before hand, though not much more than “humans hearing diminishes with age” and “dogs can hear frequencies human’s can’t.” It was fascinating to discover more about hertzs. I was especially impressed with the fact that bass guitars, which are at 41 hz, aren’t actually audible, but rather what we hear is the “echo” of their oscillation.

I think I want to know more about sound waves and oscillation. I never really learned about it above some basic knowledge back in high school that by now has been supplanted by other lessons.

Out of the topics touched on in class, I’m not sure I fully understood how vinyls were recorded. Was the wax disc that the needle carved then used as a mold, or is vinyl actually a hardened wax-like substance? interesting either way.

I think the thesis I stated may be something I’ll explore on my own time. “Overabundance in choices creates simplicity in desire.” An interesting hypothesis, if I may toot my own horn.

Until next Wednesday, stay dry and have a good Labor Day!

Thought of the day: If it is interesting, it’s worth pursuing. if it is helpful, it is worth doing.

Who am I? I am Ian Rodgers, a Junior with a Major in History and a Minor in Creative Writing. I enjoy writing short stories and poetry, and plan on joining the George Mason Poetry Club.

My goals for employment post-graduation are to work as a curator in a museum, hopefully the Smithsonian or one of its branches.

To introduce myself to my peers in this class, I think showing them what sort of music I like would be an important first step. I have an eclectic taste in music, there is no one genre I prefer above another. I like Linkin Park as well as Lindsey Sterling. Show Tunes and TV show theme songs feature on my MP3 player along with orchestral and metal. Some bands have entire albums I adore. Others have only a single song that I appreciate.

However, out of all the songs and music I enjoy, there is one I can say is my favorite, one which I would chose over any other, and hope to have played at my funeral (in many years time, of course).

Billy Joel’s Piano Man strikes a chord with me. It is sweet yet sad, and remains upbeat despite the somber tone of the instruments, voice, and lyrics. This song is what I consider to be a great, if not perfect, song. Some of his other works are decent. But this one surpasses them all, and immortalizes Billy Joel as a musician for me.

Looking forward to an enjoyable class this semester.

-Thought of the Day:

To experiment is to experience something you don’t understand. After all, fear of the unknown is Mankind’s greatest enemy and weakness.

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