Free Write-Calligraphy Class

I believe the importance of a calligraphy class comes from the amount of time put into what you are writing. You probably learn to pick your words wisely because there is no messing up. Also, everything done in calligraphy was from centuries ago, it seems. I think that you learn to write in a style that is unlike no other. From looking at the past writings done in calligraphy, people can see just how their choice of words means everything the way they convey themselves in their writing.

Relating this to Steve Jobs, he probably learned how to pick and choice the reasons for his products. 

Video-Eric Berlow

• If you step back and look at the big picture, it is simple--> the more you step back the better chance you have at finding a simple answer
• Simple answers may emerge from a complex system-->Can zoom in on the simple details that matter most if you zoom out
• Complex doesn't always equal complicated
• Good visualization can encourage a simple look on a complex system

Video-George Whitesides

What is simplicity?

• Examples: coffee cups, glasses, scissors, and books
• More complex examples: Cellphone, birth control pill
• We recognize their simplicity
• Teapot problem: why is the liquid hot?
• There is trouble when asking a question that has only one answer
• Simplicity: almost non-existent

What is complexity?

• Complexity: highly developed
• Emergence

• Stacking: Simplicity (to complexity)
• Ex. Internet
• Binary
• Use simple systems to build complex systems

Simple Things

• Reliable
• Predictable
• Cheap-people will always find uses for them
• High performance or value/cost
• Potential to serve as "building blocks"

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler"

Free Write-Class Project

Making these fleece blankets will, be what I believe, the easiest part of this project. Once we have gathered our materials and found a time that works out for everyone to meet, making the blankets should be both fun and easy.

Getting donations will be the hardest part. It is hard to plan and takes a lot of time to make it happen. People are hesitant to donate money and I am the type of person who is hesitant to ask for the donation. With this combination, donations will be hard to come by.

Free Write-"In Doing My Class Project, I Learned..."

This project was fairly straight forward. The outline was good to follow to create a successful project. I learned through this project that you really have to plan ahead to be successful in social change, like my class is doing. Although this is not the only alternative, planning ahead is a really great tool. Another thing I learned is that everything we have done leading up to this project was needed to fulfill the requirements. We talked about our case study, the wings of the dragonfly and system diagrams. Putting this all together was how to be successful with this project.

Presentation-College Students Enacting Social Change

• Thesis-Students have the right to establish a Nonprofit Organization and a Non Governmental Organizations
• If you want to make a change, going about it the "right way" isn't always the best

Five Components that Allow College Students to Bring About Social Change

• Organizational skills
• Utilization of web intermediaries and social networks
• Interconnectedness
• Adaptability
• Utilization of resources

Why College is the Best Time to Start a Nonprofit

• Advice of college faculty and professors
• Provides an audience

Interconnectedness

• We have access to see and interact with people across the world
• Allows us to explore opportunities like never before
• Help other people
• Google Alerts

Facebook Effect

• Six months ago, 500 million people were actively using Facebook. Now there are 800 million users
• This is how we communicate with each other
• Expands a person's audience exponentially
• Share information

Dosomething.org

Global Giving

Youth Venture

Plan of Action

• Purpose or Mission Statement
• Ex. Invisible Children
• Ex. SHARE
• Ex. Teenagers Care 
• Deciding how the organization's programs will be paid for
• Projects the organization wishes to accomplish
• Timeline of events

Two Conclusions

• Social change is important for those who want to live a life of meaning
• Knowing you have made a difference to someone else in the world
• College students do have the power to enact social change through Nonprofit Organization
• Hard to do, but possible
• No reason to wait until you graduate

Season 1, Episode 3 Battlestar Galactica

There are prisoners on board a transport ship are given a chance to earn their freedom. Water was just found, but the actual liquid contains too much salt. The ice that floats on top is pure water though. They just need man power to get the ice melted into liquid water that everyone can drink. Admiral Adama and Captain Lee Adama have turned to the prisoners for the manpower they need to melt this ice.

Once Captain Lee Adama and the others get to the ship, the prisoners rise up against the team and take them hostage. Tom Zarek is the leader of this uprising and demands for President Roslin to step down from office. He wants elections and for everyone to be free.

Also during this episode, Doctor Gaius Baltar asks Admiral Adama for nuclear weapons to help him determine who on board is a cylon. A chemical inside the weapon will detect the radiation that the cylon needs.

In the end, the hostages are let go and Captain Lee Adama is told that President Roslin has cancer. She doesn't know if she will be around for the election in seven months. Captain Lee Adama and his father, Admiral Adama, are butting heads about how to lead the colonies. This is getting worse, as Captain Lee has finally chosen a side, and not his father's.

Free Write-Artificial Life, Yes or No?

I am very hesitant about artificial life. There are pros and cons to artificial life. What would happen the human population if there was artificial life? How would this impact me?

Artificial life would be a next step in technology and would open up a world of possibilities for the next generation. For the most part, I would say yes to artificial life, just so that we could reach this new world of technology.

Skylar Tibbits

• machines will be self repairing themselves, self assemble
• skyscrapers
• spaceshuttles
• DNA
• protein
• extremely efficient, can repair themselves
• Steps to Self Assembly
• decode into simple sequences
• programmable parts
• energy
• error correction
• is this scaleable?
• Systems with Self Assembly
• robots
• biased chains
• Future