Describe yourself as a writer.
I would describe myself as a dynamic writer. When I say "dynamic writer", I mean that as I write, I sometimes change my idea or sometimes even my thesis after getting my thoughts down on paper. This can be sometimes only in the stages of conception I may change my idea. Or a paragraph in, sometimes after the paper is done! For example, my last project in high school was a four to seven page paper on a topic I had to debate. Three pages into the report, I realized that I disagreed with myself. So consequently I rewrote the whole paper and used examples that I brought up arguing against it, and used those points to argue for it. Although this kind of habit can be time consuming and what some might call, "inefficient", it seems to work the best for me. By creating a counter argument, and then starting over, and arguing against it, I know both more completely than someone who might being to Where one person may miss the loops in their paper, that otherwise would've been closed had they explored them. As well as being a dynamic writer I try to be a fair writer. Incorporating my method of writing two arguments, I sometimes find a middle ground to explore. Although this sometimes can ultimately harm the side I choose, as a human I have realize that not all things are black and white, and that not everyone is the same. So finding middle ground can help avoid further disagreement, and perhaps an opportunity to move forward.
I would describe myself as a dynamic writer. When I say "dynamic writer", I mean that as I write, I sometimes change my idea or sometimes even my thesis after getting my thoughts down on paper. This can be sometimes only in the stages of conception I may change my idea. Or a paragraph in, sometimes after the paper is done! For example, my last project in high school was a four to seven page paper on a topic I had to debate. Three pages into the report, I realized that I disagreed with myself. So consequently I rewrote the whole paper and used examples that I brought up arguing against it, and used those points to argue for it. Although this kind of habit can be time consuming and what some might call, "inefficient", it seems to work the best for me. By creating a counter argument, and then starting over, and arguing against it, I know both more completely than someone who might being to Where one person may miss the loops in their paper, that otherwise would've been closed had they explored them. As well as being a dynamic writer I try to be a fair writer. Incorporating my method of writing two arguments, I sometimes find a middle ground to explore. Although this sometimes can ultimately harm the side I choose, as a human I have realize that not all things are black and white, and that not everyone is the same. So finding middle ground can help avoid further disagreement, and perhaps an opportunity to move forward.
What habits of mind does one need for success?
Success can be defined in many ways, which makes this a difficult prompt to answer. Success I presume can be defined as is fulfillment of ones hopes and dreams. But even the smallest successes can take a great amount of mental discipline, or habits of mind. One crucial habit to have is self forgiveness. You will prevent yourself from achieving your goals if you allow yourself to live in your failures. Humans make mistakes, some more preventable than others, but with these mistakes comes the priceless knowledge of what doesn't work. Thomas Edison once said "I have not failed 700 times [at creating the lightbulb]. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work." Another habit to have is to keep an open mind to new opportunities and ideas. Sometimes opportunities for success present themselves but go by not taken advantage of because the audience to the opportunity is preoccupied, afraid, or simply close-minded to open doors around them.
Success can be defined in many ways, which makes this a difficult prompt to answer. Success I presume can be defined as is fulfillment of ones hopes and dreams. But even the smallest successes can take a great amount of mental discipline, or habits of mind. One crucial habit to have is self forgiveness. You will prevent yourself from achieving your goals if you allow yourself to live in your failures. Humans make mistakes, some more preventable than others, but with these mistakes comes the priceless knowledge of what doesn't work. Thomas Edison once said "I have not failed 700 times [at creating the lightbulb]. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work." Another habit to have is to keep an open mind to new opportunities and ideas. Sometimes opportunities for success present themselves but go by not taken advantage of because the audience to the opportunity is preoccupied, afraid, or simply close-minded to open doors around them.
Google: How do you use it?
I use google dozens of times a day. Even before I wake up, Google is already working in the background of my phone's alarm clock and weather service. Ninety five percent of everything I don't know I search in for in Google. But my Google usage isn't just limited to searches by any means. As I mentioned before, Google services extend as far as finances with google stocks, to google weather, and even google shopping. All of these services are free of charge, with most not even requiring a login. All of my personal data in regard to email, photos, and video is also stored on Google's drives. Google Music is a place where for free you can upload all of your personal music collection. The Picasa service allows you to store photos and videos which is just like Youtube , another google owned property where everyday millions of people come to create, watch, and take part in online videos. In my personal life, all of my video projects for school were done on google drive. Storing my video files on there allowed them to be accessible from any internet accessible device. Another use I have to Google is Google Translate. When I was learning German in the past summer, Google Translate assisted me my education when I second guessed myself or simply didn't understand the question being asked. Everyday I find myself utilizing more and more Google owned properties, and see no end in sight.
I use google dozens of times a day. Even before I wake up, Google is already working in the background of my phone's alarm clock and weather service. Ninety five percent of everything I don't know I search in for in Google. But my Google usage isn't just limited to searches by any means. As I mentioned before, Google services extend as far as finances with google stocks, to google weather, and even google shopping. All of these services are free of charge, with most not even requiring a login. All of my personal data in regard to email, photos, and video is also stored on Google's drives. Google Music is a place where for free you can upload all of your personal music collection. The Picasa service allows you to store photos and videos which is just like Youtube , another google owned property where everyday millions of people come to create, watch, and take part in online videos. In my personal life, all of my video projects for school were done on google drive. Storing my video files on there allowed them to be accessible from any internet accessible device. Another use I have to Google is Google Translate. When I was learning German in the past summer, Google Translate assisted me my education when I second guessed myself or simply didn't understand the question being asked. Everyday I find myself utilizing more and more Google owned properties, and see no end in sight.
The Issue in Peter's Essay
When non accredited news sources release news, the information is usually quickly squashed. But since the internet has been made more accessible, and publication websites easier to create accounts for, the "squashing"" of false claims has been much more difficult than in the past. In the example Peter uses in his essay, the politician was quickly overcome when twitter posts were made and retweeted by thousands of others before anyone had a chance to verify the information. Today, a lot of the news we read today is not verified by any one source or group of people, but simply by the flourish of other people who report the same news. As Peter's essay explained, the news reporters had turned into anonymous people on the internet. Any of whom could be intentionally supplying misinformation, or simply believing the information themselves, retweet or sharing it, and thereby adding to the fire. Today there is seemingly no particular news source which can be trusted completely with the information they supply. Some news stories have come out recently from large news sources such as CNN, when CNN's reporter Shira Lazar tweeted an unknowingly false claim that Steve Jobs had died in September of 2011. Steve Jobs had not died, but the tweet was already sent out under CNN's name. So not surprisingly this claim was taken as the truth, and pieces began to move. Apple stock prices plummeted and CNN was in the crosshairs. A false claim, made simply on a free twitter account, caused an actually monetary drop in the economy. What needs to happen is a centralization of news sources so that all people are clear on what everyone is saying. As the internet is now, there are too many publication websites to consolidate, and too many people publishing information.
When non accredited news sources release news, the information is usually quickly squashed. But since the internet has been made more accessible, and publication websites easier to create accounts for, the "squashing"" of false claims has been much more difficult than in the past. In the example Peter uses in his essay, the politician was quickly overcome when twitter posts were made and retweeted by thousands of others before anyone had a chance to verify the information. Today, a lot of the news we read today is not verified by any one source or group of people, but simply by the flourish of other people who report the same news. As Peter's essay explained, the news reporters had turned into anonymous people on the internet. Any of whom could be intentionally supplying misinformation, or simply believing the information themselves, retweet or sharing it, and thereby adding to the fire. Today there is seemingly no particular news source which can be trusted completely with the information they supply. Some news stories have come out recently from large news sources such as CNN, when CNN's reporter Shira Lazar tweeted an unknowingly false claim that Steve Jobs had died in September of 2011. Steve Jobs had not died, but the tweet was already sent out under CNN's name. So not surprisingly this claim was taken as the truth, and pieces began to move. Apple stock prices plummeted and CNN was in the crosshairs. A false claim, made simply on a free twitter account, caused an actually monetary drop in the economy. What needs to happen is a centralization of news sources so that all people are clear on what everyone is saying. As the internet is now, there are too many publication websites to consolidate, and too many people publishing information.
Search & Memory
Everyday, 5.1 billion searches are made on Google. In 2000, only thirteen years ago only sixty million searches were made a day. In thirteen years, we've made eighty five times more searches a day, a day! Before the invention of Google, or perhaps the internet in general, if someone did not know something, they would have to go through a laborious process to attain the information, but this process is important. In The Shallows, Carr explains how a human brain makes memories. The harder your brain works to attain information, the more important the brain will make that memory, and thereby the more likely it is you'll remember it in the future. So when Google takes over for your brain and makes information accessible from anywhere at any time, your brain has no need to remember the information. The neural pathways that learning creates is bypassed. Some say that this transition is beneficial, somewhat overrated. That google, since it is available at all times, the artificial intelligence that Google supplies allows our own brains to do more creative thinking; freeing up space in the brain for more important things than conversion factors, periodic table information, or what year the french revolution started. It is however seemingly not possible to measure the change in brain capacity and the IQ level of people today is too influenced by other external forces. Forces like the media, entertainment, finances, and various other influences.
Everyday, 5.1 billion searches are made on Google. In 2000, only thirteen years ago only sixty million searches were made a day. In thirteen years, we've made eighty five times more searches a day, a day! Before the invention of Google, or perhaps the internet in general, if someone did not know something, they would have to go through a laborious process to attain the information, but this process is important. In The Shallows, Carr explains how a human brain makes memories. The harder your brain works to attain information, the more important the brain will make that memory, and thereby the more likely it is you'll remember it in the future. So when Google takes over for your brain and makes information accessible from anywhere at any time, your brain has no need to remember the information. The neural pathways that learning creates is bypassed. Some say that this transition is beneficial, somewhat overrated. That google, since it is available at all times, the artificial intelligence that Google supplies allows our own brains to do more creative thinking; freeing up space in the brain for more important things than conversion factors, periodic table information, or what year the french revolution started. It is however seemingly not possible to measure the change in brain capacity and the IQ level of people today is too influenced by other external forces. Forces like the media, entertainment, finances, and various other influences.