Tuesday, March 6, 2012

6.05 Project

My name is Steven Owens and this is my project presentation on climate change.

My environmental issue was climate change. Climate change affects everybody iun the community. It has determined farming hours and dramatically effected our temperatures in general.
A circular flow diagram is used to basically demonstrate how one action impacts every sector of our economy. Climate change affects every single section of the economy.











Some criteria for any solution to work include budget and labor concerns, public awareness, challenges, and possible externalities. There really arnt any budget or labor concerns, just no laziness. Public awareness is key though, everybody needs to know so they will be able to help and prevent harm. The challenge lies in the money, no money, no solution to our problem. Externalities should always be considered in anything this large.









One solution is more Hybrid/Electric vehicle instead of the old combustion engines. Positive externalities include happier people about the very high gas mileage. Negatives include the ol' school people that would much rather stick with there old vehicle then switch to some wimpy car.











Next is solar energy. Positives include cheap electric bills if any bill for it. Negatives include electric companies going out of business and the panels are pretty expensive so not everyone can afford them.









Lastly is safer industrial factories. Positives include better overall health of the surrounding area and cleaner breathable air. Negatives include Insanely high bills to convert from traditional factories to newer high tech ones.










In conclusion, I believe that the best solution would be hybrid vehicles. I believe this because they are relitively inexpensive to manufacture and with gas prices rising every single day everybody would enjoy the comfort of knowing they wont have to fill up for a while.


Friday, March 2, 2012

Graduation Rate

My issue for this assignment is the low graduation rate and overall lack of effort put forth by student in my area. Its like school dosent matter anymore when in reality it matters now more than ever before.









So many externalities exist from this, all are negative, unless you are Bill Gates or someone like that, but that is so unlikely. Some externalities include: More people will be ineligiable for even the most mediocre jobs, like a dishwasher. There may be an increase in crime, as in robberies and shootings, all because they cant get a job because they didnt graduate high school and cant support themselves. This will cause severe stress to the government as well. Eventually chaos will insue...










This issue is probably the number one cause of poverty. If you dont qualify for the job and dont get it how will you make a living? Its even tough to get a job nowadays with a GED.



 




The main point of this presentation is to get my viewers a little more motivated and have them want to actually try in school. Im currently a senior in high school, so I see first how how lazy and uncaring a lot of kids are, its highly disappointing. My purpose here is to be the voice of reason : try in school, get a good job that you love, and make a good living for yourself. You only get one life, dont let it waste away......




 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

George Lucas

George Lucas was born May 14th, 1944, in Modesto, California. His parents sold retail office supplies and owned a walnut ranch in California. Originally George Lucas wanted to be a race car driver, until he had an accident in his Fiat just days before his high school graduation. So from there he attended community college and his love for cinematography was born. Soon after he transferred to the university of southern California filmaking school and produced a short film called, THX-113 :4EB. Francis Ford Coppola took Lucas under his wing and made sure his short film was released by Warner Brothers Pictures. In 1973, Lucas released American Graffiti. It was made for only $780,000, but grossed $50 million in the box office. It was nominated in 5 catagories at the Academy Awards: Best picture, Best screenplay, and Best Director.








After the success of American Grafitti, Lucas set off to make Star Wars. Star Wars was made for $11 million, but the film grossed over $513 million worldwide during its original release. He set up a state of the art special effects company, Industrial lighet and magic (ILM), as well as a sound studio, Skywalker Sound. The next time ILM saw action was in Jurassic Park in 1993. This prompted Lucas to develope three new prequels, Episode 1, 2,  and 3









Other productions from Lucas include Indiana Jones and Willow




George Lucas now lives on Skywalker Ranch and has raised 3 children, Amanda, Kate, and Jet. Lucas said "Children are the whole point of life"






George Lucas inspired us all in one way or another. Who hasn't seen Star Wars?? That was probably the most influencial movie of all time. He pioneered the special effects industry with THX sound.




He followed HUNT to a tee. First, harnessing his vision. Athough it wasnt what he wanted as a kid, he still achieved what he dreamt of doing, he fullfilled his vision so to say. Next he underestimated the barriers. Even though he got in that car accident, he didnt let that slow him down, he accepted he wouldnt be a race car driver and moved to something better. Next, He was very good at networking. He put himself out there as an eager to learn student who was determined to see it to the end. A prime example of this is Francis Ford Copolla taking him under his wing. George must have talked to him or got the word out good enough to catch his attention, he networked. Lastly, he took the first steps in many things. He wasnt afraid to try new and innovative things, as seen through his films and his special effects work.






Citation:
 George Lucas." 2012. Biography.com 29 Feb 2012, 09:12 http://www.biography.com/people/george-lucas-9388168

Wednesday, January 25, 2012


HISTORY


In 1935, the CES came to president Roosevelt with their reports the economic security in America. And on January 17th he introduced the reports to both houses of congress. The bills passed through the following hearings overwhelmingly, all the bills needed was the president's signature. On August 14th, 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act.

                                                        (F.D.R providing his signature)
Soon after the Social Security Board was created. It was comprised of three men hand picked by the president himself. The original social security board were: John G Winant, Chairman; Arthur J. Altmeyer, and Vincent M. Miles. The SSB's first task was to provide employers, employees, and the public with information on how earnings were to be reported, what benefits were availiable, and how they were to be provided. The SSB was in service until 1946 when it was abolished and replaced by the current Social Security Administraion.



( The original SSB)

Who Benefits??

Everyone who has a job benefits from social security. So do the disabled, and especially the elderly






COSTS?

The yearly cost to the American taxpayer is about $10,000, take a look at this chart






This chart shows the cost rates both recent and historical rates for the American taxpayer. There are many things that most be accounted for when talking about the federal budget, social security is one of them. 20% of the total federal budget is spent on social security. Thats $707 billion. Other programs are included in the following graph:





Social security has a positive impact on economic growth. Without it, many people would be a lot less motivated to get out an work. People such as the elderly may DEPEND on that social security check to live. It wouldnt have any effect on general prices in the market.
 The potential impact is the retired having an easier time managing their own life and those around them.




OPINIONS




In Support of:

Social Security, a pay-it-forward program that is self-sustaining so long as we do not allow the GOP to keep on outsourcing all of our American jobs to third-world nations, is a very well-run government program paid for the by Social Security taxes from working Americans. Each generation pays for the generation in front of it, and the system has functioned well for more than 75 years now. If we keep our manufacturing jobs base intact, the system will continue to do well for the next 75 years and beyond.
                                                                                                 -Anonymous
 
I personally agree with this one, I believe that social security is a great plan for everybody and will be in place for a very long time to come.
 
 
 
Against:
 
 Social Security is financially unsustainable and will collapse after the baby boom generation retires. Although that is debatable, polls show that most Americans lack confidence in the program's future.
                                                                                                    -Gary Boatwright
I tottally disagree with this statement