Buying a Shirt

What do you think of when you buy a shirt? What should people think of or not think of when buying a shirt? Why?

Mostly I look at think of whether or not it looks nice, and if/how it fits, what it feels like. I also think about the purpose, for example running attire. However, I also think a lot about the price. If the price is too much, I won't buy it and if it's too cheap I also consider why the price is so low. Is the quality bad? Do they just want to get rid of it? If so, why? Are the people making it in really bad environment/working conditions? I also consider the company I'm buying from because some companies are known for having very poor working conditions. There are companies where the workers get minimum pay, have child labor. When people pay for something most of the money goes to everyone but the workers. This is something people should consider, do you really want to support this? When one pays for something with a company like this, you are just encouraging this behavior. Even if it might benefit you, cheap cost, you should think about what the people go through that make a 50 cent difference for yourself.

Giving a Historical Person Technology

Pick a historical person.

What technology would you go back in time to give to them? Why?

I wouldn't give any historical person an invention we have today that was not "meant" for/to them. Firstly, it would change our entire history but also, you're taking away their life's work, what they are known for. I don't like the idea of changing history. Yes, there is a chance that it could broaden their production but it could also minimize their personal things. If you think about art as an example. If you had given a past artist a computer. Their may have started amazing pieces digitally but then they may have never produced the famous work we can see in museum today.

Running Out of Steam

Heron of Greece invented steam power in 50 BC. But the leaders of the day thought that it would cause unemployment which may lead to unrest and the invention, well, ran out of steam. There were many such untimely inventions.

What inventions today cause unemployment? Should we get rid of technology?

There are so many inventions that cause unemployment nowadays, so many that it's hard to come up with even 5.

However, there are some obvious inventions that might have 'practicalized' our daily lives but they have taken away jobs at the same time.

In some airports, they are now beginning to have self check-in counters. This is quite a problem. Yes, it might go faster, but if you think about it, this takes away a lot of jobs! Also, is there a small possibility that this is decreasing security? Now that the passengers are in charge of this.

Also, at supermarkets, they have super speed self managing cashiers. This takes away the jobs of the cashier people.

Another inventions would be surveillance cameras. This takes away many security positions.

Online websites that allow you to free-stream any movies, shows, music, news reports etc. This takes away the jobs of the people that sell these CD's/DVD's for a living. But also consequences the actors, singers etc. as they don't get paid for their work this way.

Lastly, e-mail. This invention has decreased the demand for (snail)mail services tremendously. E-mail is faster, and allows you to stay at home - you don't have to get up and bring your mail to a mailbox. But this takes away they jobs of the people collecting the mail, then preparing it before it get's shipped off, then the people that are in charge of the transportation and again the delivery people! All in one simple and seemingly amazing invention.

All these inventions have pros yes, but they also have more cons that just this problem of unemployment. If we start to reply on machines this much it could become a huge problem in cases of failure, power cuts for example. However, this does not at all mean we should get rid of technology. I do think that we should start to be able to control our money situation. WE should stop cheating and start paying what the things are actually worth and make sure the money get's to the people that deserve it.

Everything is Amazing and Nobody is Happy

"We live in an amazing, amazing world, and it's wasted on the crappiest generations of spoiled idiots that don't care." - Louis C.K.


Do people complain about things they shouldn't? Do you? Louis C.K., a comedian, has a whole but about how often people complain about things like technology. He shares an anecdote about people complaining about the wireless internet not working on an airplane. He has a point, doesn't he? Our lives are pretty amazing compared to some other places and times. What are some things that people take for granted or complain about that are actually amazing? What do you think of his quote at the top? How is everything amazing yet nobody is happy?


I think definitely people complain about things they shouldn't. But I don't think it can be said that "everyone" does this. I definitely think I do this too. But I also think that I appreciate what I have due to  how and where I have grown up. Humans have developed in many ways, and in many different ways. There are different social classes that are exposed to more to more luxury. This creates this problem of complaining about things that they shouldn't complain about. There are people in some parts of the world, that just barely have enough to survive day by day and then there are people that complain about having too many options of desert. People strive for the better and improved, but the moment they don't have the newest, complains start to arose and people forget to appreciate how much they really have. There are families that have multiple cars and a private jet, and there are people that have been wearing the same shoes for 20 years. Oh, and did I mention, these shoes were found in the garbage and are 3 sizes too big. Some people like right, literally RIGHT next to school and still have a driver drop them off 15 meters down the road, and then they complain about the traffic jam. I think people take for granted everything that exceeds necessity. I'm not saying everyone is spoiled and rude, but sometimes, one can forget how much one really has and how to appreciate it and be thankful.

Inventions that Improve Quality of Life

For the last few years, Time Magazine has been doing features on the best inventions. Here are a few they have highlighted recently:

- a human organ printer
- an Iron Man suit
- a driverless car
- the AIDS vaccine

Out of these four inventions, which do you think will do the most to improve the quality of life for all humanity? Why?

I think both the human organ printer and the AIDS vaccine could be things that can really help quality of life in the health area. Many diseases that are "incurable" at this time can be "cured". The human organ printer could help majorly in areas such as cancer and major injuries like burns for example. And because a new organ can be printed, it will speed up the process of treatment tremendously but also protect the body from all the harmful drugs and chemicals used. This will then also make the body stronger, which will prevent other diseases from effecting the individual. And of course, an AIDS vaccine, is good for self-explanitory reasons. - It will stop the spreading of this wide spread disease. There are negative aspects to these, but hopefully we can find away to work around these and work on improving these so that these inventions can really be used to the maximum benefit.

Craftsmanship vs. Factory Life

How great was the change from craftsmanship to factory life?

JOURNAL: Do you knit, sew, build, draw, paint or cook? Do you make anything by hand, or do you know anyone that is particularly skilled at making something? What? Describe the process (i.e. How did you learn? What materials do you use? etc.) Why do you do this? What do you get out of it?


I know many people that have these kinds of skills. My parents both cook. My mom knows how to knit and sow. I like to paint and draw. I used to also make a lot of jewelry for myself, handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I just taught myself, or didn't really teach, I just did it and tried out different materials/ways of doing it and then found an easy and efficient way that still produced quality goods. I do it because I enjoy it a lot and you can make it exactly the way you want it to be. It's a hobby though, not something I do because it's necessary. I love just trying out new ways, and different designs, it does take quite a bit of patience and time though.

Explain the Light Bulb to Cavewomen and Cavemen

A light bulb is an object humans created to have constant sun. Even when it's dark, we can have light. Humans have created different words for these objects, but I will try to explain it to you in the easiest way. We have invented something that is like a shell, those ones that you can look through but it's closed, like a hollow shell. Then we have invented something which we call wires. Through these wires, electricity flows. Electricity is like sunday, but it's not hot. It works just like when you would burn a piece of grass, the fire goes from one end to the other, and then when it reaches the inside of the shell it is trapped inside and keeps burning. Electricity works like this, except it's not as hot, so it doesn't burn/melt the shell. We can even control when to turn it on and off, and it always works. There is a switch on the wall, a small button, like a lever and when you push it it goes on and when you push it again it goes off. It's as if you're lighting a match to start the fire that goes to the shell. And this electricity never goes out unless you push the button.