Hum 101 blog #4 Pictures worth 1000 words

Why a picture is worth more than 1,000 words

I know you have all heard the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words, turns out, it’s true! Now that is a generalized way of saying it, it can be worth more or less, but the point is the same. Whether it’s to express comic relief, proof, to capture a moment in time, etc, I believe a picture can usually capture more details than words alone. For example, it is easier to argue your innocence in a court room if your not caught red handed by a camera. At least that picture would be worth more than words to the prosecutor, maybe not the defendant. Now I also have found a picture of Jack Nicholson looking like a gorilla at Totallylookslike.com sounds funny, but until you see the picture will you truly understand how funny it is. Now I know that things like our constitution are better left to words than a picture. There’s always going to be a few exceptions. Movies have become more popular than books for a reason. Now you can describe a situation, and convey your feelings and thoughts through words, but a picture picks up far more detail. If you had to buy a home using your life’s savings without ever physically setting foot there, what would you rather have pictures, or a written description? I’m sure you would choose pictures. Where would we be if cameras had never been invented. We would have to get by with drawings. Which also brings up the point that we have learned ample about prehistoric man from cave paintings alone.
Thus I have come to the conclusion that there are many situations where pictures are far better than words. Yes, I do admit that isn’t the case for every situation. For the most part pictures can be used as a tool, and I think it’s great that most people have a cell phone that can take a picture.

calvin hum 101 animoto

http://animoto.com/play/sthnAniOmfD8Iqk8t11NbA?utm_source=project_complete_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=project_complete_email&utm_content=challenger

Why Do People Believe In Things That Can't Be Proven

Why Do Humans Believe In Things That Can’t Be Proven

From the dawn of time man has believed in mystical creatures, different religions, and supernatural powers, without absolute proof of their existence. Often times people can’t figure out how or why something is, so they jump to an illogical conclusion such as aliens built the pyramids. Many times people explain an unexplained phenomenon with an outlandish conclusion that makes sense, however has no proof that it is the solution. Other times people want to believe in something so bad that it becomes a reality in their world. Certain people will combat with logic of, “There may be no proof that this does exist, but there’s no proof that it doesn’t as well.“ I do admit that many times there is evidence supporting these theories, however I myself am a skeptic who needs proof. I’m sure I will usually be right in not believing in such things without absolute proof. That is, with the exception of certain conspiracy theories, and religion. I would expect our government to be dam good at hiding proof that would solve conspiracy theories, and as far as religion goes, what have you got to lose?

Now, I do know that this is a very mysterious and very complex world we live in. There are many things that I myself cannot explain, and lots of evidence toward the unexplainable. That being said, it is most logical to claim that you don’t know rather than claiming you do. Thus I’ve come to conclude that there is a very wide array of reason’s people believe in things that cannot be proven. Whether it’s because they have been told to, have had a strange experience, or just want to, there will always be a large groop of people who do.

When a problem has a single solution, you don’t have to do much thinking to figure out which solution is best. Your also less likely to choose the wrong solution, and can usually predict what other people will choose. However, when there are many solutions, you are more likely to question if the solution you’ve chosen is the right one. For instance, when choosing a career to pursue there are tons of solutions, but which one works best for you? This can be a daunting task. Also, when you have to leave it up to someone else to solve a problem, how well will they be able to? Say for instance, you hire an electrician to install a new receptacle. He may be faced with putting holes in your wall to run wire, or going through the ceiling, or underground, etc. Will he be able to do the job as well as the next guy? What if he puts a big nasty hole in the wall, and another electrician would have found a less destructive route. However, if you hire someone to bug spray your house, you know what he will do, and can rest assured that it will be done the same every time. People also are uncomfortable when new technologies present new solutions. There are lots of people who refuse to learn how to use a computer. I guess you cant teach an old dog new tricks. My great grandma was afraid of microwaves. Today that seems absurd, but if you think about it, that is such an unnatural way of heating food that one can understand why some people were initially uncomfortable with it.

When it comes to some of the bigger issues like punishing someone for murder, there are many reasons why people are uncomfortable with choosing the right solution. Do you kill someone who kills people to show people that killing is wrong? Do you lock them up and cost society more money to keep them in a cage, or do you try to rehabilitate them? Well, all of these answers may be right, but it depends on the circumstances. The 8 year old boy who shot his father probably shouldn’t be sentenced to death, and Osama Bin Laden shouldn’t be rehabilitated.

I’ve com to the conclusion that one must address the circumstances of a problem very carefully, and logically when faced with a complex problem. Think of every angle you are capable, and reason the pros and cons of different solutions. Then decide what is the best answer.

Why Electricity is Beneficial

Electricity, the backbone of our modern society may have changed the way we live in a more profound way than any other technology. Ever since Alessandro Volta invented the battery in the 1800's, harnessing electricity has given rise to an incredible amount of inventions, contraptions, and discoveries. Almost every aspect of everyday life for most Americans is affected by the use of electricity. There will always be the critics who believe technological advancements will lead to mankind's downfall (Like Ted Kaczynski). Some communities like Quakers, Amish, or Buddhist Monks choose to stray from technology. However, I think that it is quite obvious that our advancements have, and will continue to help our society for the better. Transportation, long distance communications, entertainment, lights, medical treatment, to name a few have all been drastically affected by the use of electricity. Countless lives have been saved, jobs created, and diseases cured from electricity in one way or another. Our civilization advances faster and faster everyday, because of electricity.
Yes, one can argue that technology opens up certain doors that create new problems like the teenager who is addicted to sending text messages, or the high school student who is addicted to internet gaming. Yes, interacting constantly with a computer can alienate our social skills. There is even the possibility that we may invent artificial intelligence that decides to wage war on humans. However, each of these arguments is weak considering the amount we benefit from technology. The fact of the matter is, if your sitting in front of a computer reading this, you probably are already in agreement with me that electricity and new technologies are for the better of mankind, or else you wouldn‘t be fiddling with the computer in the first place.
Just the amount electricity has raised our comfort level satisfies me. The fact is, whether we like it or not, electricity is here to stay. Thus I have concluded that we are better off with electricity, and the new technologies associated with it.