Sunday, October 12, 2008

Our minds are lazier than our bodies.

Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. ~John F. Kennedy




Think for yourself, remember this quote while your casting your ballot this year, or perhaps before you vote. (and do a little research.) This year I have have heard way too many people talk about how strong they feel about their canidate for some less-than-political reason. Dont send a vote out because larry at the bar told you how much better the country would be if Obama won the election, or because McCain's running mate Palin, is real hott. Although it may be a nice change, its not a factor that will save the economy's continuous plummett to hell, or for that matter help the country in any way. How about we all

take an educated swing this year and not let History repeat itself.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Oh, how times are a changin!

I recently helped my father rip down some old walls in the house my Grandmother lived in up until she passed away last December. She moved into this house around 1956, and my Father along with his 5 brothers and sisters grew up in the house. My grandmother is one of those ladies who saves everything, and there was literally decades documents and pictures and books. After the work was done, we began cleaning up alot of the mountain of years and years of memories. From pictures my uncles had painted before they passed away to report cards from there high-school years, I was amazed with my findings. But out of everything, the best treasure I stumbled upon was my Grandmothers high-school year book from 1948. Every male student has on a suit and tie as the females all wore dresses (even the girls basketball team all had sporty-ish dresses on?). I am real happy I found the yearbook and was able to keep it. One day, I hope to have the oppertunity to pass it down to my children. It is unbeliveable how much things have changed from 1948 until now. Compare some facts from 1948,(The year my Grandmother graduated) and the year I graduated highschool in 2007.







(This is a 1948 Ford wagon which cost 1500.)







1948.

President: Truman




1948 Slowly the fashions were becoming more daring with the Bikini gaining in popularity slowly and the first prefab post war housing to solve housing shortages were starting to appear both in Europe and the USA as they could be built quickly to accommodate the growing need and were cheap to build and for people to buy , the quality was not great but they did enable the baby boom after the war years by providing young couples with a home to start their family. In Europe the cold war took a new turn when the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin in Germany and the US countered with an 11 month airlift of food and supplies. Also due to demand and inflationary pressure prices rose and many believed that governments should bring back some price controls. And Televisions are appearing in more and more homes.


Alice Donovan (collins at the time) graduates high-school




How much things cost in 1948


Average Cost of new house $7,700.00

Average wages per year $2,950.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas 16 cents


Average Cost of a new car $1,250.00

Loaf of Bread 14 cents


LB of Hamburger Meat 45 cents

Science and Mechanics Magazine 20 cents

Movie Ticket 60 Cents






Technology
Porsche is founded

1 million households own Televisions was 5,000 just 3 years earlier

Long Playing Record USA made of vinyl and played at 33 rpm

Velcro Switzerland by George deMestral





Popular Culture

The game of Scrabble is introduced by James Brunot ( was an earlier invention by Alfred Butts in the 30's ) they saw the game when called Lexiko and started making it in their home and changed the name to Scrabble

Olivia Newton-John and Johnny Ramone were both born in 1948.






2007



(This is a 2007 Ford Wagon that costs $30,720.)

President: George W Bush Jr.

Dan Donovan graduates high school

News of the Nation: Iraq Edges Toward Stability, Destruction of CIA Interrogation Tapes, Dismissal of Federal Prosecutors, Democrats in Control of Congress, Presidential Election

News of the World: Report Says Iran Has Halted Nuclear Weapons Program, Palestinian and Israeli Leaders Pledge to Work Toward Peace, North Korea Makes Concessions on Nuclear Program, Political Turmoil in Pakistan, Sudan Resists UN Efforts for Peace




How much things cost in 2007

Average Cost of new house $316,800.00

Average wages per year $39,273 .00

Cost of a gallon of Gas $3.50 (give or take 50 cents as it changes everyday)

Average Cost of a new car $28,400.00

Loaf of Bread $1.59

LB of Hamburger Meat $1.99

magazine $10.00

Movie Ticket $12.00





Technology

Researchers Turn Skin Cells to Stem Cells

Mummified Dinosaur Excavated and Scanned

Enzymes Convert Any Blood Type to O

Engineers Create Transparent Material as Strong as Steel

Transistors Get Way Smaller




Popular Culture

2007 pop culture contains Xbox 360 elite, Lil Wayne, Facebook, BLOGGING, Picture shareing, YOUTUBE, or maybe this is Dan's pop-culture?









Now hopefully in 60 more years some future- graduate will see this and update it!










CONGRATS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2067!

(Sources: thepeopleshistory.com, infoplease.com, wired.com)