Genesis, Google, and the Tower of Babel

     When Google was only a few years old and just starting off they set a precedent of “10 things they would always try to hold true throughout their work as seen within the article below.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/about/company/philosophy/

      A profound fascination lies in part with each of those 10 objectives in which every point, could possibly, in some form or another, be thought to influence the ways people think about religion.

     The eighth objective stating: “The need for information crosses all borders” truly spoke volumes to me in particular when I thought about religion. Overall, Google’s mission consists of facilitating access to information for the entire world, and Google does so through the use of more than 130 different languages nation wide. As a whole, Google offers people the ability to restrict their search results to content solely written in their own language, and aims toward providing applications and products in the largest amount of "accessible formats"  possible worldwide.

 

     Through the use of Google’s translation tools, the general public is able to discover content written entirely in languages that they may not actually speak, but could be acquainted with on the opposite side of the hemisphere by just a click away. This key 8^th objective by Google policy, precisely influenced my thoughts on religion in regards to the narrative passage of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11.1-9 in the Roman Catholic Bible.  

 

Picture: Artistic representation of The Tower of Babel by Van Cleve

     As a child growing up attending private Catholic school from kindergarten to 7^th grade, I was brought up in the strict traditional lifestyle in which religion class was taught everyday with mandatory mass every Friday morning before school and every Sunday morning as well.  Often times as a child I was always fascinated by the narrative passage of the Tower of Babel.

     For those of you unfamiliar with the story itself, as seen in the video below, the Tower of Babel is thought to have begun as a result of some people wanting to build a tower reaching all the way to Heaven in hopes to increase their fame and give themselves omniscient amounts of power as their name was being spread throughout the land.  As believed by the Catholic church, God the Father, the all-knowing and most powerful of everyone, was thought to have been angered greatly by this selfish act of the people and punished their efforts by confounding the tongue of each family. Consequentially, this directly forced each family to speak different languages so that they could no longer maintain communication with the other families around them, eventually spreading families apart all across the world, resulting in people no longer trying to conquer building the actual tower itself due to barriers in communication.

Video: "Bible Comic-The Tower of Babel"

     Overall, as stated in the article above, “Google’s tools and translators, have been able to greatly improve both the variety and quality of services offered in even the most far–flung corners of the globe.” I feel Google’s omniscient power in terms of allowing access to knowledge of such multitudes all across the world, truly influences the way people think about religion in regards to a building block for the "cradle of civilization." The Tower of Babel shows a perspective in which individual people who speak particular languages spread all across the world, when united and working together properly, have an unlimited power of success. However, the need for this information crossing all borders amongst the land, must be used properly or else too much freedom to do as one wishes might lead to the downfall of society.

Everything is Personal

     I have a profound love for taking photos and the iPad's incredible technological advances for editing pictures right at the touch of your finger are simply amazing. One of the most fascinating and phenomenal additions the iTouch has contributed to my life, consists of the advancements in photo editing and photo-sharing apps such as that of Adobe Photoshop and iPhoto itself. Although I do not own an iPad, when holding the virtual mini computer itself in my hands, the number one category I would search for on the iTunes apps website interesting me the most, would certainly revolve around anything having to do with photography. Photography apps on the iPad directly show the expressive individualism perspective Apple stands for.

 

Picture of Apple's iPhoto app as seen on http://www.apple.com/apps/iphoto/

     IPad's are not a minimalist design. There is no Jewish iPad, African American iPad, toddler to kindergarten through first grade iPad, but rather a blank display screen with a blank slate just waiting to be filled up with details of who one is as a person. Expressive individualism as emphasized by Robert Bellah certainly focuses on the aspect of each individual having a unique personality and overall core of feelings and intuitions throughout the personal life in which he or she lives. However, that being said, the expressive individualist has the utmost capability to merge their life with the intuitions and feelings of others who have alternate similarities combining together to create a community. When picking up an iPad owned by myself in the future, one would surely see a multitude of photos, editing software, and numerous albums just waiting to be shared for my family and friends to see. This personal development of my own blank screen creation allows me to emphasize who I am and what's important to me because I think different than any other person around me.

     Apple's ads certainly encourage the art of thinking different. It is this art that together combines via networking, app sharing, and communities like facebook that certainly brings the technological and social world together. Without apps the iPad would be boring. However, once one chooses what they want to play around with on the app site, and sets up their personalized items, a new community awaits to be discovered and ventured by all. As the iPhoto app directly implies, "all you have to do is touch it to believe it." The expressive individualism affinity sought for by Apple awaits to be embarked on by the touch of a finger itself. A multitude of apps of all genres have been created to allow each and every human being to do so. What more simplicity could one ask for?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and my iTouch certainly reaffirms this via displaying the photo album journey in the expressive individualistic life of who I indeed am as a person. Everything is personal and my photos allow me to share that personal side to create a community I want others to know and love as well!

Moses to Jobs: A Virtual Transition from Stones to Pads

Video: The January 27th, 2010 unveiling of the Apple First Generation iPad.

“The last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it.”

According the Wall Street Journal, the unveiling of the new Apple iPad almost exactly 3 years ago today, brought with it great suspense and an overall sense of profound expectation for the generation of technology and social networking enthusiasts around the world. This so called “Jesus Tablet” even had the publishers of the Economist transforming Jobs’s himself into an Old Testament figure resembling that of Moses, dressed from head to toe in robe carrying the newfound “law of the land” with the iPad in hand. Steve Job’s requirement for developing and instilling the purest possible simplicity within each of his works, allowed for the iPads “miracle-worthy” success today and set a precedent as Apple’s consistent “law of the land” design technique.

 

Picture: Front cover of the Economist

When contemplating the release of a new device, Jobs’s had to make sure each unit met his ideal standards of a magical work of art. When asked what the core essence of the iPad would be, Jobs’s made sure the general consensus would come up with a consistent reply regarding the display screen itself. But just how was Jobs’s going to develop this pure, simple, yet magical image he desired within all of his work for the iPad? Jobs’s would do so by generating a feeling of enlightenment to his consumers and empowering them the moment they began to unravel the box. Through a meticulously designed device, package, and overall display, upon unwrapping the iPad, one would surely see immediately the exemplification of total tranquility and peace Jobs’s captured and enhanced within the clean lines, simplicity, and beautifully packaged presentation of the new tablet itself.

“The bottom edge needed to be slightly rounded, so that you’d feel comfortable just scooping it up rather than lifting it carefully” (Jobs’s).

The sleek, thin, handheld web browser allowed for a manifold of uses and an unfathomable amount of success today. Jobs’s was a connoisseur advocating the importance of captivating individualism and sparking a catalyst for change in people to think outside the box. The iPad itself represented the sole vision of Jobs’s to simply, in the purest way possible, direct people to become their own artist with a new found work of magic in their hands with few rules needed to follow.

Jobs’s revolutionary user interface with the simplest display screen allows for even an “illiterate six-year old to use without instruction.” The iPad device itself that could be manipulated with the touch of a finger empowers the handler to personalize their own life through a database of photos, to navigate the world via maps/satellite viewing, browse the web with unlimited wifi and 3G capabilities, while also holding the powers to design the next potential record breaking album on the virtual life-size keyboard right in front of them. An unlimited amount of user applications stored with the essence of pure simplicity not only empowers but enables iPad owners to “perform miracles” at the touch of a finger, to overall think differently, while enhancing the vision of Apple's “law of the land” to be simple, unique, slender, and sleek.

"Stop Stealing Dreams"

                                            http://www.squidoo.com/stop-stealing-dreams

 

Seth Godin’s:  "Stop Stealing Dreams" “Ted Talk” exhibits a direct correlation with the ideas and reflections expressed in Bellah’s Habits of the Heart.  Bellah expands on the view of the individualistic perspective in America focusing on two key aspects detailing the difference between one having an expressive individualistic outlook in life versus one getting stuck in a utilitarian world. In comparison, Godin emphasizes two similar themes directly related to the workforce in which:

“The jobs of the future are in two categories: the downtrodden assemblers of cheap mass goods and the respected creators of the unexpected.” 

For many, utilitarianism was seen as a form of material success in which one must focus on the good, what actions are most useful in trying to maintain an increase of the good, while simultaneously decreasing the bad. However, this style focuses on a formula in which there is a need in the economy for (fill in the blank), with a path to follow on how to get there.  

In similarity to Bellah, Gordin relates this more so utilitarian path to that of education in school today stealing students dreams everywhere.

 

Gordin implies  students today are measured based upon test scores, what they memorize, and their ability to be obedient and not stray off the path by following “the downtrodden assembly line” in which they go to school in order to find a hourly waged job in which they have to obey the orders of someone higher up, etc. Gordin focuses on the role of” Universal public education who’s soul intent merging forward from the industrial revolution was being directed towards training people to behave, to comply to the teachers commands, and to fit in ultimately developing the skills needed to be able to work in the factory settings.”  Education was revolving around creating a system of interchangeable people because  factories relied on the basis of having interchangebale parts.

Gordin notes: “In 1960, the top ten employers in the U.S. were: GM, AT&T, Ford, GE, U.S. Steel, Sears, A&P, Esso, Bethlehem Steel, and IT&T. Eight of these (not so much Sears and A&P) offered substantial pay and a long-term career to hard- working people who actually made something. It was easy to see how the promises of advancement and a social contract could be kept, particularly for the “good student” who had demonstrated an ability and willingness to be part of the system.”

This obedient factory line approach of following a route solely for the reason that it will lead to a particular job is not the approach education systems should have today because people are putting their dreams aside and avoiding all together what they are truly passionate about because their ultimate focus right now is to just get a job. The art of individualism and happiness is completely lost within this life format.

Today, a more so expressive individualistic approach is necessary for students to adapt to the economy around them. No longer is there a necessity for people to be forced to fall in lines of the “downtrodden assemblers of cheap mass goods” of fifty years ago as detailed by Gordin.

Gordin’s second category of jobs for the future falls along Bellah’s expressive individualistic approach in which there’s an emphasis on doing things for your own personal enjoyment and leisure versus following the obedient paths others construct around you. Expressive individualism and cultivating the self to become a better person by doing the things one personally wants to do, ultimately leads to a lifestyle enclave. Within the lifestyle enclave Bellah reports a separation seen between the self directly from certain groups like family, church, work, etc. in which one can fully stand back and gauge who he or she is on a personal level based upon what their preferences are and what desires/ passions they ultimately seek to fulfill by self-adapting to and constructing their own moral environment in which they can measure what is good to do and what roles to act on. Bellah reflects upon this self-chosen enclave in which people gather together, with cultural similarities developing circles based upon common interests in individualism. versus the interdependence of collectivism often times seen within an inclusive community in which one is shaped by following the norms of those around them in order to not stand out.

“Here’s the alternative: what happens when there are fifty companies like Apple? What happens when there is an explosion in the number of new power technologies, new connection mechanisms, new medical approaches? The good jobs of the future aren’t going to involve working for giant companies on an assembly line.”

Ultimately, Gordin believes the new jobs of the future in demand will be searching for those individuals who are prepared to embark on their own path, offering insight, design, and their own unique creative abilities to take the company where it’s never been before. The technology is available offering plenty of different techniques in which one can help fully develop the self and shape who they want to be based upon the personal habits they choose to follow versus what they are measured via school standardized test based settings.  

I full heartedly concur with Gordin in that, “The future of our economy lies with the impatient. The linchpins and the artists and the scientists who will refuse to wait to be hired and will take things into their own hands, building their own value, producing outputs others will gladly pay for. Either they’ll do that on their own or someone will hire them and give them a platform to do it. The only way out is going to be mapped by those able to dream.”

Running at the Beat of Your Own Drum of Self-Belief

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Video: "Sound vs. Noise" Chopped segment 16:20-17:57 of the original
"Talks of Shunryu Suzuki" Youtube video

Although, I am not extremely familiar with the beliefs and overall structure of the Buddhist religion, in the “Talks of Shunryu Suzuki” video, I observed a key element of Zen/Buddhism directly relating to the lifestyle Steve Jobs lived himself. Suzuki spoke of a blue jay analogy emphasizing the Buddhists understanding of a major difference between what is considered noise versus what is considered sound. He defined noise as being a bothersome object that disturbs or interrupts the human’s way of thinking. Versus sound, which is to be considered more of a practice; or, a primary objective matter that transforms into a subjective matter in which the human is not disturbed by the noises they are hearing but rather believe those noises to be coming from his or her heart. Ultimately, one is able to understand everything about the noise because they have subconsciously transformed those noises into the sound, and the sound is who they have become.

Steve Jobs exemplifies a deliberate “sound” to his employees that he expects each individual to live up to. Jobs is constantly seen throughout his biography creating a reality distortion field in which Wozniack described to be, “…an illogical vision of the future, such as telling me that I could design the Breakout game in just a few days. You realize that it can’t be true, but somehow he makes it true” (Isaacson 118). Jobs’s was able to get people to accomplish tasks solely because of his direct business pursuing, blunt personality like approach.  

 As described by Debi Coleman (the early Mac team manager who took over Apple manufacturing), “[Jobs created] a self-fulfilling distorting….you did the impossible, because you didn’t realize it was impossible” (Isaacson 119). Isaacson further emphasized that Jobs’s categorized things via a perspective in which he held a world view (or expressed a “noise”) where people were either “enlightened” or an “asshole” and their work was either “the best” or “totally shitty” (118). 

Jobs’s specifically gauged a person on where his or her state of mind lied based upon who could take the vulgarities and often mean things that he said as noise and use those words instead as a sound or an inspiration to develop what they themselves thought to be impossible.  As portrayed within his interviews of clients, Jobs specifically asked one interviewer in particular if he was a virgin or not. To the average individual, this would be an appalling noise to hear as well as quite disturbing and shocking at the same time. Rather, digging deeper into the self-belief system of Jobs, one could say he was solely  doing so in order to reach in and cultivate his new beginner (being the interviewee’s and potential employee’s mind) to see his thought process and whether or not his mindset fit the ideal standard Jobs’s was looking for to help run his company. The interviewee himself directly stated to Jobs’s, “I guess I’m not the right guy [for the job] (Isaacson 143). Jobs’s was trying to analyze the critical thinking skills of his interviewees determining how they could think and react in unexpected situations. Jobs’s tried to decipher whether these candidates for the job were able to tap into his “sound “perspective,  in which if one was disturbed, did they have the innovation techniques and skills necessary to deal with their worst fears and approach things as a beginner willing to develop a primitive understanding of what needs to be done; versus, accepting the words coming out of  Jobs’s mouth as an awful gesture disturbing their mindset and ultimate approach to getting the job requirements done that were being asked of them.

Jobs wanted employees who could overall follow his sound. He wanted people who could be “hypnotized” by his reality distortion in which they would become what he said they would and would accomplish what he said that they could achieve. Jobs’s wanted his employees to run by the beat of his own drum in regards to his conception that you are what you think greatly influenced by the Zen/Buddhist lifestyle that he pursued. If he could get his employees to know they would achieve something, even though they thought it to be impossible, they were no longer disturbed by thoughts of I can’t; but, ultimately they gained the inner heartfelt feeling that they can, they will, and there would be no other option but to accomplish that goal because they became the measurement of the goals success themselves.

Lawrence Like A Little: Technology Being Used as a Scapegoat to Reality

Over the past winter break, many fellow Lawrentians surfing the World Wide Web belonging to a multitude of different Lawrence University Facebook groups may have recently found themselves joining the new Lawrence LikeALittle fan page. For those of you unfamiliar with LikeALittle, the concept itself consists of the use of anonymous flirt posts online for all viewers of that group to see, detailing key aspects from anything in regards to looks, personalities, or even the places college students have been spotted or reside in.  Initially, I realize this concept is for entertainment purposes and can be quite amusing when you go to a such a small school; especially one where you could easily be late for class as a result of 4 or 5 people coming up to say hello to you on your walk to Main Hall from the Warch Campus Center  (which should theoretically have taken 5 minutes but ended up being 10). What I’m trying to say is that being part of such a small campus, or more so such a tight knit community, it’s inevitable to know almost exactly who many of these posts are about or at least to have some definite assumption of who the flirts are more so being directed towards. “Brunette, male, football player, with great biceps, a gorgeous smile, and a great butt sitting in Andrew Commons….Oh how I wish he would just notice me and sit that butt right next to me someday!” While quotes like these are all surely fun and games, attracting great attention and indeed causing quite amusing  reactions at times from people trying to guess who each post is being directed towards, would it be reasonable to conclude that technology is potentially harming the human being’s physical socialization skills? Is technology hindering the ability for someone to start off a relationship the old fashion way by going up to another person and talking to them face to face, asking them to get a cup of coffee together, or from starting to get to know them on a more personal level first before automatically scanning their Facebook profile to find out their interests and likes.  Is it necessary to find out as much detail as you can about the person as you await their acceptance of your friend request while you hope they might stumble across the whimsical flirtation you were too shy to express to them yourself in person that you just wrote so blatantly obvious for them to see? Although, from a safety standpoint, “Googling” someone or scanning someone’s Facebook profile to ensure they are not a creeper is a very reasonable perspective,  and a great option in regards to the scary world in which we live nowadays, I feel like a loss of individuality is coming to today’s society in which our generation no longer knows how to “court” or more so no longer has the courage to initiate a face to face civil conversation with someone they would like to go on a date with. Rather, I think one could argue that this interaction is now being lost in the world of text messaging or Facebook chatting, merely allowing someone to hide behind a screen in hopes to avoid humility or embarrassment.  Even online internet sites like match.com trying to set people up just based on interests they may have checked on a piece of paper, I feel is truly causing a loss of the art of pride in one’s self, a sense of selfishness, as well as a loss of the respect taken in regards for other people.  Individualistic pride, courage, and independence are being lost in today’s world…instead people are depending on the internet as a social means in almost a selfish perspective in that they take are beginning to take pity on themselves saying things like, “He doesn’t notice me, he is constantly focused on that girl throwing herself at him, attached to his side…I mine as well just give up now, I have no chance with him….”  Rather than manning up and taking a risk in person to attempt to let that person know how they feel, or to find a compatible date, many people now are relying on the efforts of an internet site or a matchmaker to find themselves their future soul-mate/ to express their feelings to someone they could never do face to face. Isn’t that kind of embarrassing in some regards that as human beings some might rather spend all their time trying to get to know someone or express their feelings as much as they can over a computer screen versus taking the risk to jump on the ability to get to know that person (if accessible) right there in front of them in the cafeteria or at a sporting event, concert, party, etc. face to face in person? Although technology surely has its benefits to getting to know people, I ultimately believe that to some extents the art of maintaining human face to face interaction in person and getting to know people is being hindered by the use of technology as a scapegoat route to express our feelings in order to avoid the chance of humiliation.

Only a Fool Will Fall in Love

Upon initially hearing that someone you know dropped out of college for one reason or another, one might undoubtedly be first to respond with something along the lines of, “What a fool, that person’s going nowhere in life!” But would the average human being associate one of the most successful businessmen of the 21^st century, Steve Jobs, as a fool?  The infamous last line of Steve Job’s Stanford 2005 commencement speech, “Stay hungry, stay foolish,” quote inspired by his love for the inquisitive Whole Earth Catalog while growing up as a kid, might indeed take some people by surprise. Why would someone want to be foolish? Foolishness, defined as absurd, ridiculous, lacking in sense, judgment, or discretion, would never be the first thing to come to my mind in order to inspire and motivate college graduate students themselves, as they venture off into the real world. But as a 21^st century college student myself, something Job’s said directly affected me and hit close to home when I heard his speech for the very first time. As college students, at a liberal arts school, being away from home for a substantial period of time away from our parents, grandparents, etc., more formally, those who were the sole guidance and decision makers in our lives, who directly influenced our every move, and protected us since we were born, we are suddenly faced with this new found freedom (a liberation for some) to have the power to control our own actions, risks, and each decision we are faced with on a daily basis. This can be quite frightening at times, as well as sometimes overwhelming. Every day, the Id, Ego, and Superego combat each other constantly as an angel and a devil follow us on each shoulder, wherever we go. Thoughts fill our minds consistently telling us what’s the right thing to do, as we simultaneously may be surrounded, and pressured by influences advocating to us the wrong thing to do. As individuals, each unique human being’s ourselves, it is in these very moments in which only we personally, can decide for ourselves, what’s the best decision to make and we must filter through the options presented before us, carefully deciding which path we want to choose on the journey that lies ahead. Job’s emphasized, “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."  Here, Job’s expressive individualistic perspective underlines the importance of each one of us college students to take advantage of the liberal arts education and overall experience posed before us. We must not live our lives in fear of making mistakes, but instead stay ambitious, knowing that at some point, as long as we follow our hearts, the “dots will eventually all be connected together.”  Even though we might not be able to see that right now, in this very moment of time, we must remain doing things that we, ourselves want to do in terms of cultivating the self to become a better person and fully develop. We must find the interests and passions that we truly adore, in hopes to allow us to one day, and for the continuation of the rest of our days, to be able to do “great work.” We must never settle for the materialistic goals pressured by those around us as they may seem to be great routes to take. Instead, we must build our own path for success that indeed makes us happy, and allows us to do what we individually love.  Ultimately, I found a great sense of pride and respect for this college dropout himself, as I would never describe an individual who pursues a lifelong goal of doing what he is most passionate about, and sincerely loves, at the end of each day making him happy, as a fool; but, if that’s the case, then Steve Jobs is proof that only fools, will fall in love.   

Works Cited:

Memmott, Mark. "Read And Watch: Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Address : The Two-Way : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. N.p., 6 Oct. 2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2013. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/10/06/141120359/read-and-watch-steve-jobs-stanford-commencement-address>.

The Life-Hacking Abilities of a Student Athlete

“Similarly, the relatively affluent twentieth century American could reorganize habits and style of life experimentally to achieve a more gratifying private life.”

In the words of Bellah, as a twenty-first century American, the use of technology specifically allows a collegiate student athlete such as myself to achieve a more gratifying both public and private life directly and conveniently within the environment in which I live. A specific form of technology that has made life easier or allowed me to take a short cut in life itself would include my cell phone: the Samsung Galaxy SII Epic 4G Touch. If any of my friends or teammates were to describe me to a complete stranger, one of the first things that would come out of their mouths would include the fact that a camera is always at my side and that I need to document everything. In correspondence to this characteristic playing a prominent role in my life, initially the main reason I bought this phone itself, was due to the eight mega-pixel camera/ camcorder capabilities. The dual camera ability of this phone has allowed me to capture every angle of any memory I’ve ever wanted to store as a keepsake and has indeed made my life easier because I never have to worry about not having my point and shoot camera on me at all times. Before I feared I would miss out on capturing an important event, but now, that is never an option with my new smart-phone.. The extensively large platform capabilities of the Android software on my phone itself have allowed me to maintain a constant communication base with my family, who lives two and a half hours away. No matter where school or sports bring me on a traveling basis, within the touch of a screen, my family can always be right there with me on any road-trip seeing all of the phenomenal sites and games I get the amazing opportunity to explore. The incredible multitasking abilities of my phone allow me to listen to music and have my pictures sent to friends or uploaded on Facebook within the blink of an eye via remarkable 4G and wifi compatible capabilities without even needing to touch my computer. A series of different widgets also help me to know what weather to be expecting that week as well as to connect to the outside world around me via receiving news updates directly from CNN as soon as they happen. Lastly, the calendar helps me to know what I need to be doing on a daily basis and helps me to make a conscious effort to manage and keep track of my time and rigorous schedule.

Works Cited

• Bellah, Robert Neelly. "Culture and Character: The Historical Conversation." Habits of the heart: individualism and commitment in American life. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985. 46. Print.
• Hutchinson, Ronald. " Samsung Galaxy S II WiMAX Announced For Japan | Geeky Gadgets ." Geeky Gadgets - Gadgets, Geek Gadgets, Cool Gadgets, Technology News, Gadget Geeks . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. <http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-wimax-announced-for-japan-16-01-2012/>.