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If there’s one innovation of the twentieth century that people will look back at in admiration, it’s not the discovery of nuclear weapons or the advent of the family car, but the invention and wide adoption of the personal computer.  I believe that the invention of the personal computer and the wide utilization of the Internet have greatly improved our cultural understanding, political participation, and academic research.  No other invention has equally impacted the culture, politics, or most importantly, education of the world in which I live.

Wikipedia is a massive free online encyclopedia to which anyone can contribute.  My primary contribution is to help new users create articles, as well as to vote on the quality of articles that have been nominated for deletion.  A group of volunteers writing for the masses without review would have sounded ludicrous twenty-five years ago.  And yet today, it is an invaluable resource for me when I look to cure my curiosity.  Wikipedia has given me the ability to feel as though I have improved the world, one small step at a time, as well as giving me an invaluable resource.  My education has been greatly helped by Wikipedia, not only because I can learn about topics that interest me, but also because I now understand how to work with other people to try to reach a consensus.  Wikipedia is not the only global organization to grow out of the Internet, but it has had one of the biggest cultural impacts.  Although it tries to avoid editorializing, Wikipedia can become a forum for political discourse.

I believe that computer technology has allowed for greater political organization.  I, as a United Sates Citizen, can share my ideas, correspond with my Representatives and Senators, and receive up-to-the-minute election results without leaving my living room.  I can blog about my political beliefs, which become public instantly, as well as read the views of others.  I can speak out for justice on any number of issues, and can be heard instantly.  Technology has connected my world to other people around the United States, and given me a political voice.

I believe technology has not only made my life easier, but also much richer.  I have always had trouble with handwriting.  Being able to type has greatly enhanced my schoolwork and has created a confidence in me allowing me to accomplish my goals. With this technology at my fingertips, I have overcome my personal disadvantages in academics.  I believe that if I become a political leader, technology has allowed that to happen, and if I become a researcher, technology has made that possible too.  Technology has allowed me to do what I want, not what my disadvantages allow.

Here’s a comparison of organ systems to the departments of the United States Cabinet.  It contains some fairly good analogies to both the political system and the body system.  Note that this is not quite  a finished analogy yet.

The Department of Agriculture and The Department of the Interior are the Digestive System.  All are in charge making sure we get enough good food and exercise.

The Department of Defense is the Immune System and the Lymphatic System.  All work to defend the body from foreign threats.

The Department of Homeland Security is the Reproductive System.  Both work to grow either the spices or democracy, and to make either the species or the nation look better for it.  Homeland Security and the Reproductive system are both technically optional as well.

The Department of Energy is the Respiratory System.  Both exchange gases with the environment.

The Department of Justice is the Excretory System.  Both are responsible for getting rid of the bad parts of (food or society).

The Department of Health and Human Services is the Circulatory System.  These are among the more important systems.  They are in charge of making sure that every single part of the system (person or cell) has the energy and support that they need to survive, stay well, and grow.

The Department of State is the Nervous System and the Endocrine System.  They represents the communication elements and body(world)-synchronization elements.

The Department of Transportation and The Department of Labor are the Muscular System.  They all have to do with movement and work.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the The Department of Veterans Affairs are the Integumentary System.  They are all under-credited with the vitally important roles that they do.

The Department of Commerce and The Department of the Treasury are the Skeletal System.  The make the whole stand up strait and work together.

For me, this is a season of hope.  New hope, for a justice and a fair prosperity, for the many, and not just for the few; New Hope, and this is the cause of my life; New Hope, that we will break the old gridlock, and guarantee that every American; North, South, East, West, Young, Old; will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right, and not a privilege.

~Senator Edward Kennedy, at the 2008 DNC.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize the work of Senator Ted Kennedy.  He was an amazing senator.  Although his personal life was mediocre at best, his political life was at worst mixed.

First the bad.  Kennedy, some claim, screwed the Democrats in 1980.  He ran against Jimmy Carter, which loyalists claim caused Ronald Regan to win the election.  Secondly, Chappaquidick was detrimental to any presidential ambitions that he had.

But for the good, Kennedy worked on important issues such as health care, the environment, and Massachusetts.  He did well and he will be missed.

I wanted to write in the Technology Notebook for the first time today to give absolute first impressions of Namoroka.  It’s the next-generation Firefox (Alpha developer beta) and it’s super fast.  I encourage you to take a peak and download.

Evening Talking Points: This is an occational series in the political notebook. Always published after 9:00PM, it will talk about the issues of the day and week.

The famed Cash for Clunkers program is off to a great start.  The program average miles per gallon (MPG) getting traded in is 16.3 MPG.  The average MPG purchased with the $3,500 credit is 24.8 MPG, an increase on average of 8.5 MPG.

The economy is benefiting more than the environment.  Ford Motor Company announced its first increase in sales since NOVEMBER 2007! Ford, one of the most troubled automakers, is the biggest winner from the Cash for Clunkers program.  Many Asian and European automakers continued to report losses.

Evening Talking Points: This is an occational series in the political notebook.  Always published after 9:00PM, it will talk about the issues of the week.

Recently, I watched Sicko, by Michael Moore.  It’s a bit of an exaggeration, taxes are higher in some of those other countries for instance, but it shows one thing: Universal Health Care is vital.  Yes, the dreaded Socialized Medicine is not only proper, but necessary.  As a Massachusetts resident, I’ve been required to have health care for a while now.  And while it is true that there is a greatly slashed budget, parcialy due to the public option, the state will likely make money in the long run.  This money will be made without raising taxes, and even cutting taxes.

This post is part of a series of characters that will be developed.  The characters themselves are Creative Commons, but please give me credit, and email storys@noahcoolidge.com.

NOTE: CHARACTERS ARE FICTIONAL.  Any connection to real people is unintentional and/or minor.

Today we have a character that would work well in historical fiction.

Name: George Clarke

(1720-1790)

Place of Birth: Newtowne, MA (Now Newton, MA)

Place of Residance: Lexington, MA

Wife(s): Mary Munroe Clarke (1715-1750); Maddy Coolidge Clarke (1727-1780)

Children: 5: (Mother: Marry) George Jr. (1738) George Jr (1740-1775), Cally (1745-1820) (b.  (Mother: Maddy) Jack (1754-1822), John (1760-1850)

Occupation: Farmer and Doctor

Information: Based off various historical figures (William Munroe/Jonas Clarke), George Clarke is the typical Lexington farmer of the colonial period.  As some astute observer may notice, I named his second wife after my family.  I think this is reasonable as there were people named Coolidge in Watertown, MA.  George is a very strong and fiery patriot.  He served in the French and Indian War as a “surgeon’s mate.”  On April 19, 1775, he was guarding John Hancock and Sam Adams (with Sargent Munroe).  He stayed and guarded Aunt Lydia and Dolly Quinsy.  He was there durring the conflict on the green.  His son, George Jr., was killed, however.  He participated in Parker’s Revenge later in the day, and helped with many of the wounded on the green and later in the day.  A brother of Jonas Clarke, he is very worried about the Reverend.  A doctor, he has a specialty as a surgeon.  In those days, if the bullet didn’t kill you, the surgeon would.  There was very little idea of sterile environments.

Description:  About 5′, George works hard to make ends meet.  He works as the town doctor.  One of the very few trained professionals in town, he would have gone to university, perhaps Harvard in Cambridge, MA.  He married quite young to Mary Munroe.  When she died in 1750, he was devistated.  Three years later he married Maddy Coolidge, who was only a few years older than his eldest son.  He had several siblings, including Rev. Jonas Clarke.

So this is my new blog.  This is a lame excuse for a post, but it’s the first one.  The new website is in the upgrade process.  Please email me if you want to help with anything.