Larry Page: A Pure Outlier

Larry Page: A Pure Outlier

What is an outlier? As Malcolm Gladwell explains it in the book Outliers, an outlier is “something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body”. It is also a “statistical observation that is marked differently in value from others of the sample”. Larry Larry Page is the co-founder and CEO of Google. He has earned a variety of awards and is considered one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35! Page, in my opinion, is an excellent example of an outlier.

Larry Page was born on March 26, 1973, in East Lansing, Michigan. Page attended Okemos Montessori School and graduated at East Lansing High School. After graduating, Page attended the University of Michigan. There, he earned a  Bachelor of Science in computer engineering. Page also attended Stanford with honors and earned a Master of Science in computer science. At Stanford, he met Sergey Brin. Together, they launched Google. Besides being the co-founder, he is also the CEO of Google. According to Danny Sullivan, the editor-in-chief of Search Engine Land,  “Google remains the most used search engine in the world, far outdistancing competitors.”   Page is married to Lucinda Southworth and has two children.

Larry Page has earned many awards. He was named a World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow in 2002. Also, he and Sergey Brin were named   “Persons of the Week” by ABC World News Tonight in 2004 and were both named to the MIT Technology Review

TR100  as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35!  In 2014, he was ranked 19th on the Forbes list of billionaires with an estimated wealth of $32.3 billion. As you can see, Page has clearly been tremendously successful.

In the book, Outliers, Gladwell lists the qualities of an outlier. One quality is opportunity. He was born into a family that supported him in his interests. His father, Carl Page, was a computer science professor at Michigan State University and was considered a “pioneer in computer science can artificial intelligence.” In Page’s house, there were many computer devices, leading to the second quality of an outlier, practice. Page learned to take the devices apart, with the help from his brother, when he was only 6 years old! Page says, “from a very early age, I also realized I wanted to invent things. So I became really interested in technology and business. Probably from when I was 12, I knew I was going to start a company eventually.” After raising $1 million from family, friends and other investors, Sergey Brin and Larry Page launched their company, Google  in 1988. This is another quality of an outlier, help.

In conclusion, Page is an excellent example of an outlier. He took advantage of his opportunities, he had help from his family and friends, he reached 100,000 hours of practice in computer related work, and enjoyed phenomenal successful. He continues to be a leader and innovator in the technology world today, and recently donated 177 million dollars to charity!

Bibliography

1.Forbes, Steve."Larry Page". Forbes. Retrieved March 2014.

2.Identities, WorldCat. "Larry Page." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 May 2014. Web. 20 May 2014.

3.Sullivan, Danny. "Google Still World's Most Popular Search Engine By Far, But Share Of Unique

Searchers Dips Slightly." Search Engine Land. Enterprise, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014.

Life-changing event- Sara King

Sara Bingham King

I once read a quote from the book House Rules, by Jodi Picoult. It says, “It feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out.  You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place.”  Like the newly formed hole in the mouth, the absence created by the passing of my friend and teacher, Sara King, may take a while to get used to. I discovered a whole new perspective on what my goals and purpose of life would be. Many events have made a big impact on my life, and this has been one of the greatest.
When I was five years old, Sara was my teacher in Primary (the children’s organization at church). She later became the church’s primary president when I was about nine years old. I always admired Sara’s faith in God, enthusiasm, kindness, humor, and her great love for everyone. She very much symbolizes a shining ray of sunshine because she was always very bright and brought happiness wherever she went. My friend was an amazing, beautiful young woman who made everyone around her feel very happy. She was also a loving mother to her three kids and a friend to many people. One of my favorite memories of her was when she would tell all the kids in our class how much she loved teaching us and that we were all children of God.

About three years ago, Sara was diagnosed with colon cancer. As she announced her illness, many people immediately helped in many ways. Everybody loved and cared for her greatly. She was a strong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even during her sickness, Sara continued her position as president of  the Primary organization. It always made me very sad to see how much pain she was going through. What I love about Sara was that she always wore a shining smile where ever she went, even during the times when she had just gotten her chemo treatment and felt very ill. Knowing Sara King has made a great impact on my life.  Everyone at church kept Sara in their daily prayers. However, after two and a half years of battling colon cancer, Sara passed away. She left behind her family of three young children and her husband.

Sara’s passing has been an eye-opener to me and has made me realize that  I’ll never know when it is my turn to go. Before I leave this world, I want to be a good influence to others, just like my awesome friend Sara. I have learned that prayers are not always answered the way we want them to be. Sara’s passing made me reevaluate my priorities and the purpose of life. This sad event has inspired me to live each day to its fullest, like Sara did. I want to be remembered as a kind and happy person. Although I lost my friend, I have developed a new perspective on the main goal of my life.

Hundreds of people showed up at Sara’s funeral. She has been greatly missed by everyone, especially by her parents, siblings, husband, and her 3 young children. I believe that we will see Sara again in heaven, and that we are only separated temporarily. Even as the pain from the loss of sara starts to lessen, she will always be apart of my life. Remembering Sara King will always remind me to be the best person I can and to be kind to everyone. I can picture her standing in heaven with her beautiful smile waiting to give everyone a big hug.

Reformation Persuasive Paragraph

Reformation Persuasive Paragraph

The Founding Fathers were correct in believing that religion and government should be separate. First of all, there are many religions in America; forcing everyone to have the same religion would not be realistic. Secondly, America was founded as a free society where people can worship however they choose to do so. For this reason, it would be impossible to mix church and state together and serve the will of the people. We believe in the freedom to worship, as well as democracy; therefore,we cannot enforce the laws of one religion. Some may say that one official religion would unify our country. However, enforcing one official religion would only cause conflict. In conclusion, religion and government should always be separate. Religious laws and leaders and secular laws and leaders should not be the same because people who have different beliefs from religious leaders would not agree with their ideas or laws. The American government and laws are based on democracy. We elect our government officials, and our laws are usually based on the will of the majority of the people.

Cause and Effect of the Great Schism

Cause and Effect of the Great Schism

During the late middle ages, many factors gradually led to the weakening the Catholic Church.   One factor for the weakening of the Catholic Church is the selling of indulgences to support the church. In addition, the church was also selling offices, or leadership positions. This caused many Catholics to be deeply disturbed by the abuse of indulgences and simony (the buying and selling of spiritual or holy things). Second, kings and queens tried to increase their own power. Because of this, there were many disputes and conflict with the pope. These disputes added to the questioning of the pope’s authority. This further added to the weakening of the Catholic Church. Third, Pope Clement V appointed many French cardinals. Therefore, many Europeans believed that France’s kings now controlled the papacy. Furthermore, Pope Gregory moved the papacy back to Rome in 377. A year later, an Italian was elected pope and refused to move back to Avignon. The church council later elected a third pope! All of them claimed to be the real head of the church, and this eventually caused the division in the Catholic Church, known as the Great Schism. The Great Schism lessened people’s respect for the papacy and sparked calls for reforms. All in all, there were many events that led to the Great Schism. Indulgences were sold to support the church, kings and queens tried to increase their own power, and there were, at one time, 3 popes!

Alchemyst by Michael Scott review

Book Notes Interview with Michael Scott

Good morning! My name is Michael Scott,  and today I am going to talk about one of my best selling books, The Alchemyst: The Immortal Nicholas Flamel, also known as The Alchemyst. First, let me introduce myself.

Biographical Information

I have authored over 100 books over the past thirty years. Yes, I know I am amazing, thank you... But, guess what? I have also written a wide variety of short stories and novels for all ages. Furthermore, I am an experienced script writer whether it’s for stage or screen. I have produced numerous projects including drama and documentaries, as well as scripted high profile events such as the 2003 Special Olympics held in Ireland. The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel has been printed in 20 languages and is available in 37 countries!

Intended Audience

This book is written for young readers who appreciate fantasy and adventure. Don’t even get me started on what I did to vampires... Anyway, this book gives the opportunity to explore world history, literature, mythology and science without even opening a textbook. It will, without a doubt, captivate the reader in many different areas including history, art, science and geography.

Plot Summary

Here is the basic plot of the story:  Sophie and her twin brother Josh work for Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. Dr. Dee attacks the bookstore where Josh works and flees with Pernelle, and steals a magical book called the Codex containing the elixir of eternal life from Nicholas. From that point, everything changes for the twins. Sophie and her brother are taken into a neighboring shadow realm belonging to Hekate, where sophie gets her powers awakened. Dee’s dark elder masters lead an army into the shadow realm and destroy it, but Nicholas and the children escape.  From there, Nicholas, Sophie, and Josh try to avoid Dee. At the same time, they also attempt to obtain the other pages of the Codex, and to save Pernelle before it’s too late. I don’t mean to brag...but this is the best novel ever...

Special Features

The Alchemyst opens up a whole new world that people want to know more about; It’s really amazing when books have that kind of effect.  It would have been easy for me to just simply combine the legends and their back stories into the novel; however, I wove them into the story giving each one their own distinct and thorough personalities.

One of the most unique parts of the book is when Flamel and the twins meet Hekate, an elder God who lives an entire life every single day. In the morning she is a young girl, in the afternoon a middle-age woman, and in the evening she is transformed into a bitter old crone. Both Hekate's character and the shadow-world she lives in are beautifully described.

One of the best parts about reading The Alchemyst is that you get adventure, excitement, and great characters all wrapped up in a super friendly tone. You get to take part on the journey as if you're one of the gang because the tone is so engaging, sympathetic, and humorous—all the things you'd want in a friend telling you a story.

Encouragement to read the book

So, why read my book? Did you ever wonder why certain legends have stuck around, or why so many different cultures' myths have such striking similarities? Take vampires, for example. These mythical bloodsuckers have existed in legends for centuries—right up to our present-day movie Twilight. Witches and wizards, too, have been around for millennia. In addition, entire civilizations have worshiped gods and goddesses with magical powers since the beginning of time.

So, it makes sense that books like The Alchemyst would be irresistible to many. Imagine, if you could leave your ordinary life behind and discover all the magic beneath the everyday! Ancient mythology and old events in history suddenly don't seem so dusty and out-of-date if the stories they contain, could help reveal the secrets of your present. The Alchemyst puts the wonder back in life and literature, and will make you believe in magic all over again.                                                                                                                                         

Well, that’s about it for this edition of Book Notes. Once again, my name is Michael Scott and I thank you all for your time to watch this show.

References used

http://booksntea.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/book-report-the-alchemyst-by-michael-scott/

http://www.shmoop.com/alchemyst/

Summary of “Beijing’s Polluted Air Opens China’s Eyes”

Summary of “Beijing’s Polluted Air Opens China’s Eyes”

China has been experiencing significant environmental problems that come with industrialization. In the article “Beijing’s Polluted Air opens China’s Eyes” from “What’s Happening In The World”, author Lawrence Gable describes these problems. Beijing’s factories, automobiles, weather and geography are all factors contributing to its air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI), a tool for measuring air pollution is also explained.

One example of Beijing’s severe smog problem was  in mid-January of 2013. The smog was unbearable for its 20 million residents and lasted for four whole days! However, the most unfavorable day was January 12th. The air quality reading was an astonishing 755, according to the government. This reading exceeded the AQI’s scale, and set a record for the highest reading ever.

There are many causes for Beijing’s pollution. First is the burning of coal. The consumption of electricity has increased due to the growing Chinese economy. Coal-fired power stations produce most of Beijing’s air pollution as well as the burning of coal at home for heat. The second cause is pollution from automobiles. Although authorities have tried to control the number of new cars on the streets, thousands of new cars still go onto the roads everyday. There are over 5 million cars in Beijing! Third, the weather and geography have also contributed to the polluted environment. Because this winter has been colder than average in Beijing, people have been burning more coal and wood than usual. Finally, mountains surround Beijing in a horseshoe shape. As a result of this, pollution gathers together as it blows in from the many factories in neighboring cities.

The article “Beijing’s Polluted Air Opens China’s Eyes” explains the negative effects of Beijing’s air quality. Beijing’s lung cancer rate has increased by 60%  in the last ten years and hospitals have reported higher numbers of patients with respiratory problems. In summary, although China has the world’s fastest-growing major economy, its air quality has suffered greatly as a result of its factories, power plants, and automobiles. The government is slowly taking action, it recognizes that it is time to change their environment.

The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan

The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan

Cultural diffusion, the spread of cultural elements from one society to another, had a major influence on many aspects of Japanese life. Cultural elements include objects, ideas, and customs from a society. These ideas from neighboring countries were brought to Japan, and impacted its ideas in government, city design, religion, writing, literature, sculpture, architecture, and music. The influence of neighboring cultures such as China, Korea, and India on Japanese culture is still seen in today.

Japan was introduced to many cultural ideas by the way of the Korean Peninsula. Some of these ideas had originally come from China and India. These ideas had spread to Japan through  many ways. For example, a Chinese scholar visiting Japan from a Korean kingdom introduced Confucianism; and Buddhist priests visiting from Korea introduced Buddhism. Furthermore, Prince Shotoku, who came to power in Japan in 593, encouraged contact with the Asia mainland. The rate of cultural diffusion accelerated as Shotoku and later rulers sought out contact with the mainland, especially in Korean and Chinese culture. Japan sent thousands of people on flimsy ships across the sea to China during the next three centuries. Usually these people stayed in China for years and returned home with the knowledge they had acquired. They also brought many examples of mainland culture including paintings, religious statutes, and musical instruments. Ideas and skills were also introduced by Korean workers who settled in Japan.

The Japanese created a unique culture as they blended new ideas with their own traditions. For example, during the 7th and 8th centuries, Japanese rulers adopted new ideas of government from China, giving the emperor and central government more power. Prince Shotoku established a set of ranks for government officials based on Confucian ideas. In 604, he issued the Seventeen Article Constitution which stated that the emperor was the country’s supreme ruler. In addition, the future emperor Tenchi created the Taika reforms in 645 to empower the central government. These changes were blended with Japan’s own culture when a powerful aristocracy developed during the 9th century. Another example of cultural blending in Japan is religion. Japan’s original religion was Shinto which expresses the love and respect of the Japanese for nature. However, when Japan was later introduced to Buddhism, the emperor and his court admired its wisdom and rituals. Buddhism and Shinto blended together, and continued to thrive in Japan, with their influence still strongly seen in Japanese culture today. Lastly, the Japanese music was influenced by especially by China, as contacts with the Asian mainland increased. For example, Gagaku, a form of Chinese court music, arrived in Japan in the sixth century. New musicals instruments also entered Japan. A Chinese wind instrument that the Japanese adopted was the sheng
. The Japanese called it the sho, a type of mouth organ designed to sound like the call of a phoenix. In conclusion, cultural diffusion and blending has helped Japan develop its own unique culture.