The theory of relativity and modernism

I had never really thought of Einstein as a part of the modernist period before. but when i saw his name on the list of people i was really excited. His theory of relativity is something that i have always wanted to better understand and this was an excellent opportunity for me to gain an understanding of the basics of his theories. I will show three websites that i found useful in understanding Einstein's theory of relativity, and His place within the context of modernism.

Another band using the "free" model to spread their popularity: OK Go.

Here is story from CNN on the band OK Go. I thought the most applicable statement was the following: "They're working on a new audio album, too, but given their online success that almost seems like an afterthought." Go Check it out. 

"Politics isn't touch football. It is winner take all. It always has been and always will be"

Using technology to spread the gospel

Nie Nie Dialogues on Today Show:



I found the talk by Elder Ballard especially interesting. i really like that the lord is mindful of the way things change and He uses those to further his work. I contrasted the Church's response and use of technology with that of the Catholic church and the printing press. No one in our church will be tried for heresy for trying to use technology to spread the word of God. 

Thoughts on evolution

I attended a very liberal, private school where science was the only truth and most people's religion was academia. i learned evolution as an absolute truth there. however having also been raised in such a conservative LDS background i feel caught in the crossfire between evolution and creation.

Dr. Jake Frankenstein: "it's alive!!!"

The Monster of Dr. Jake:

So i have been reading Mary Shelley's famous work, "Frankenstein". we are all somewhat familiar with the story of Frankenstein wherein after going to university, Dr. Victor Frankenstein wants to bring a creature to life and does so using spare body parts. He successfully gives life to this monster only to realize that he has created, well, a monster. the monster, in a desperate plight to be accepted, wreaks havoc and as the story progresses we see more and more of the monster in Dr. Frankenstein himself. Now you are probably asking yourself what is this strange collage? Well let me connect the dots.

Book Suggestion: The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail

In high school my very favorite thing i studied in english was Transcendentalism. i still remember the excitement i my teacher instilled in me for the likes of Thoreau, emerson, and whitman. I frequently quote emerson and thoreau. one of the best books i ever read was "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail". it is actually a short play. It is the fictional story of the night Thoreau was incarcerated for not paying a poll-tax.

And the winner is...Frankenstein

Our group has chosen to read Frankenstein by mary shelley. we looked at a couple of other books. they were mostly historical overviews or economic books. but we decided that it would be more interesting to read a novel from the romantic period. i am excited about it because i have always wanted to read Frankenstein, and the cherry on top is it will knock out a honors program requirement. who knows, maybe our 'connect' portion will be to show "Young Frankenstein".

Possible book club books

Wordsworth tweets

I watched the comedy central show "Cobert Report" the other day on which Stephen Colbert interviewed the director of the movie "The Social Network". In the interview, (which i couldn't find on youtube but if you find it watch it because it is classic) Colbert says something like: "today, social networking is our existence; I tweet therefore I am". The director, David Fisher, defends his position to not have a facebook page personally by saying: "i feel socializing on the internet is to socializing as reality TV is to reality". now there are obvious connections to this class and the historical content thereof (queue Descartes). however, here i want to connect Twitter to the great poet William Wordsworth.

China's middle class follow-up: an unfortunate side effect

Here is a quick follow up to my last post. with the rise of a middle class in china come social problems. one such is obesity is rising at startling rates in china. this PBS article tells more about it. they really do seem to be following the pattern that america set forth.

China's industrial revolution and the growing middle class

As we learned about the industrial revolution in the 18th century one of the things that stood out to me the most was the shift in economic roles of the common person and the resulting emergence of a middle class. as i have reflected more upon it i can see numerous connections with the economic 'revolution' that is happening right now in china.

Open Forum at the World Bank. Rousseau would be proud?

The world bank opened up its doors. Will the world enter?



Here is a clip from the "private sector development blog" advertising the upcoming open forum at the world bank. we talked in class earlier about openness in government and this is an excellent example of such an idea. and it includes so many ideas of the changing digital world that we have been discussing so much in class. The world bank is trying to solve some world economic problems and they are going to use the general public to help solve these problems. remember with more eyes to see the bug it will be easier to find.