Daily Blog 1 Week 6

Konnor Drewen

2/25/011

How did Alexander create his own myth?

            Alexander created his own myth in many ways. The first that I will bring up is when he went to the oracle of Didyma. In Didyma Alexander the Great was told by the oracle that Apollo told the oracle that Alexander might be the son of a god.  It was only after Alexander had defeated the Persians that the oracle spoke again. If we are to believe the Macedonian propaganda, Apollo's first announcement was that Alexander was the son of a god indeed. The second thing I will bring up is the Gordian Knot. In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great had invaded Asia Minor and arrived in the central mountains at the town of Gordium. Undefeated, but without a decisive victory either, he was in need of an omen to prove to his troops and his enemies that the outcome of his mission was possible. In Gordium, by the Temple of the Zeus Basilica, was the ox cart, which had been put there by the King of Phrygia over 100 years before. The staves of the cart were tied together in a complex knot with the ends tucked away inside. After becoming frustrated Alexander drew his sword and severed the knot. That night there was an electrical storm and they say that was Zeus proclaiming that Alexander was his son. The final thing to bring up is the battle at Halicarnassus.  Alexander's army managed to break through the city walls. Memnon, the leader of the Greek mercenaries who was working with the Persians, now deployed his catapults, and Alexander's army fell back. Memnon then deployed his infantry, and shortly before Alexander would have received his first (and only) defeat, his infantry managed to break through the city walls, surprising the Persian forces. Memnon, realizing the city was lost, set fire to it and withdrew with his army. A strong wind caused the fire to destroy much of the city. The reason this built his myth is because against all odds he was able to break through the Persians and take Halicarnassus.

Daily Blog 4 Week 5

Konnor Drewen

2/24/011

What do you think should have been done after Alexander's death?

            Well, several things should have been done. First of all, after his death there was no plan for a successor. After Alexander died nobody knew what to do, or who would run his new empire. The empire collapsed at his death, and nations and generals vied for power. The Greek culture that Alexander introduced in the East had barely developed. But in time, and under the "successor" kingdoms, the Oriental and Greek cultures blended and flourished as a by-product of the empire. So the first thing that should have been done was find a successor. They could have used a brother or a son, if one was known. They could have then done something so that all he did and conquered did not fall apart. Maybe if Alexander had some sort of plan for when he died they would have not had to figure out the problem. Then again, no 30 year old king who thought he was the son of a god considered the fact that he would die so young. Two famous quotes that Alexander said were, "There is nothing impossible to him who will try.", and "I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians." Now both of these were said close to the end of his life and really speak true of what he was like. But in the end he died in Babylon and left no successor and there was nothing done to stop the ball from rolling on.

Daily Blog 3 Week 5

Konnor Drewen

2/23/011

Based on what you know about Aristotle, do you think Alexander had listened carefully to his tutor?

            Yes, I think on some points he did listen to his tutor. Aristotle was a philosopher; he worked in physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, and botany; in psychology, political theory, and ethics; in logic and metaphysics; and in history, literary theory, and rhetoric. His ethical and political theory, especially his conception of the ethical virtues and of human flourishing, continues to exert great influence in philosophical debate. You could make the argument that the political theory that Aristotle taught Alexander made a significant impact on his life. This could be true, but for the rest Alexander was a conqueror he did not seem to have too much interest in physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, and botany and psychology, but in fact Alexander was a great military tactician, arguably the best of all time. He used physics often when fighting the Persian army because he helped develop many new weapons for his army. He was able to use what Aristotle taught him to develop a system of attack. He had knowledge of wind speed and direction and because of that when he ordered his army to fire arrows he would be able to estimate very accurately where they would land. So yes, if you go by what Aristotle taught Alexander about physics, mathematics, and politics Alexander did listen carefully to his tutor, Aristotle. 

Daily Blog 2 Week 5

Konnor Drewen

2/22/011

Do you think Alexander honestly felt like he was avenging Persian wrongs? Or was that just propaganda to mask his goal of conquest?

            Well, depending on what you think of Alexander the Great your answer could vary. Now it does seem that Alexander was avenging for all of the war the Persians caused. They fought for years with the Greeks. So Alexander could have just felt like the Persians had what was coming to them and deserved to be destroyed. He had a lot of reason to attack the Persians. They had been in the Battle of Marathon and the Battle of Thermopylae. I could see why he could feel hatred for the Persians. Now the other part of the question is still a viable suggestion. He could have just wanted more power and territory. He had just gotten into power after his father had been murdered by one of his courtiers. He could have used the fact that the Persians had attacked Greece before to cover up the fact that he wanted to control more power. Alexander the Great once said, “Is it not worthy of tears that, when the number of worlds is infinite, we have not yet become lords of a single one?” This quote would lead a person to believe that all he wanted was power.Now I do disagree with this. While I feel that Alexander the Great was just avenging for what the Persians did, I can accept if someone feels like he was using it as a cover.  

Daily Blog 1 Week 5

Konnor Drewen

2/21/011

What compels someone to lead others?

            Well, I think that it has a number of factors. To lead others you have to, first, be a good leader. A lot of people have to think you are worthy of leading them. You could also be someone who thinks that you deserve to be a leader. So you could argue that to be a good leader you could either be a person who everyone loves, or you could be the kind other leader that does what is best for your people but they hate you for it. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” I think that stands true no matter the when or the where. You cannot really know what a person will do with power until he has the power. You may not be able to know what you will do with power until you have the power given to you. Another thing that compels someone to lead others is if you have a want for something better. Say you are under a ruler who is leading your civilization into complete destruction. Under that pressure you are compelled to defy that leader and rise up against him/her. The final thing that compels a person to be a leader is probably the most simple. The final thing is just the pure lust for power. No matter who you are, I think that at one point everyone on earth has wanted power. No matter what they want it for good, evil or just to have it. Either way power compels others to lead each other.

Weekly 4

Konnor Drewen

2/17/011

Script

Narrator: Our story begins in the city of Athens with a young soldier named Demetricles. Demetricles, who had just joined the army at the age of 18, was a common happy-go-lucky young man but that kind of person does not work well in the Athenian military. We now go to Demetricles who is in the middle of training with his other brethren in the Athenian army.

(Demetricles and his older brother, Bane, are fight training in a dirt circle as their commander, Commander Draco watches)

Commander Draco: Come on Demetricles, actually try! You can’t let your brother beat you every time!

(Demetricles tries yelling back but he is to out of breathe)

Bane: He can’t help but lose. He is still a little kid. (Bane shakes Demetricles’ head)

Demetricles: I am not a little kid and you are only two years older than me. (Demetricles tries to start to stand but Commander Draco pushes him back into the dirt)

Commander Draco: You are not allowed to stand back up until you eat a hand full of dirt.

(Demetricles takes a hand full of dirt and puts it in his mouth and swallows, the Commander then kicks him in the stomach and Demetricles spits it all up)

Bane: Commander, take easy on him he can’t take that much.

Commander Draco: Hold your tongue, or ill have it removed. (The commander kicks Demetricles again as he starts to stand. Bane then runs toward the commander and tackles him takes a stone and strikes him on the head and knocks him out. He then walks over to Demetricles to help him up.)

Demetricles: Thanks……Bane.

Bane: Don’t mention it.

Demetricles: You know that you will be punished for that.

Bane: Don’t remind me.

Narrator: Bane was taken away later that day after the commander awoke and was put in prison. His trial was quick and painless, unlike the punishment. He suffered a torture known as the Iron Crucifixion. While he was in prison, Athens, his home, was surrounded by the Spartans and now released, they are in the middle of a city that is trapped within its own walls.

Demetricles: Brother, I am glad you’re out but I wish you had a better sight to see and I wish I had better news.

Bane: What’s going on?

Demetricles: Mom passed away, from the plague.

Bane: Damn, we wouldn’t have to deal with things like this if we were not trapped. We might have been able to save her.

Demetricles: There’s nothing we can do.

Bane: I know we have to let them sign the treaty.

Demetricles: Yeah.

Bane: Alright, but we won’t forget this we will get revenge against them.

Narrator: It is now several years later; Demetricles and Bane are on the Athenian fleet and heading to Sicily. The plan was to take Syracuse and then the Spartans. They did not even guess what the outcome would be.

Bane: We are almost there brother; I can already taste the blood of the soldiers of Syracuse.

Demetricles: Do you think that it will be easy…, defeating Syracuse.

Bane: I am sure of it.

Narrator: But the brothers did not realize the trial that lay before them and what they will find in Sicily. Immediately after landing the army started to create a plan. They had other cities join their cause but it was no help in the end. The acting leader Nicias made a plan to attack the soldiers of Syracuse in waves but it left them scarcely damaged. It is now winter and the Athenians have taken refuge from Jack Frost’s icy touch.

 Demetricles: Bane, I don’t know how much more I can take. It is so cold and we have made no headway with defeating the Syracuse army.

Bane: In time, we just have to be patient.

Demetricles: I know but… (He stops mid-sentence because a soldier runs in yelling)

Soldier: The Syracuse soldiers are attacking and they have help from the Spartans.

Bane: We can handle this. We don’t need to run from them. (Bane draws his sword) We won’t back down.

(Demetricles stands up nervously)

Bane: Don’t worry I’ll be fine and so will you.

Narrator: The two brothers, in the midst of a great battle were braver then that was expected of them. They stood, at the front of their stronghold and fought, fought for the lives of the brothers and their families and themselves.

(Sounds of a large battle)

Bane: Just a little longer they can’t fight forever.

Demetricles: I can’t last much longer.

Bane: You’re doing fine just hold them ba… Demetricles behind you. (Large Spartan standing behind Demetricles swings his sword.)

Narrator: Bane thought it was over for his brother but he under estimated his speed. Demetricles ducked and swung his sword as quick as he could a felled the Spartan.

Bane: I knew you could do it I knew you could… (Sentence cut short)

Narrator: Those were the last words the Demetricles heard his brother say. Demetricles turned and saw his brother staring at him. He had this blank stare on his face. Then Demetricles saw it. There was a sword through his brother’s chest with a Spartan standing behind him. Demetricles, in a fit of rage, ran at the Spartan and plunged his sword into his chest. Demetricles looked at his brother. There was nothing he could do. He was already gone.

Voice: And then what happened. (Barber continues to cut the man’s hair)

Narrator: Then Demetricles got on the boat to retreat. He came back to Athens and he lived his life and one day he decided he needed a haircut. (Man stands up and starts to walk out)

Barber: Wait, Sir.

(The man turns around)

Barber: …… I’m sorry.

(The man looks at the barber)

Narrator: I am too.

(The man walks out of the barber’s store)

F. I. N.

Daily Blog 4 Week 4

Konnor Drewen

2/17/011

Explain how the origins of theatre in Athens are tied to both religion and politics.

            The origins of theatre tie into religion and politics because of some reasons. For one the ancient Athenian theaters were open air theaters. We believe that this has to do with religion and politics because all political events and all religious events took place outside of temples or palaces. This seemed natural to the audience after being out-doors for formal events. People also believe that Athenian religion and theater were inter-related. It also has to do with politics because Thespis, being a winner of the first theatrical contest held at Athens; he became the leader of the dithyrambs performed in and around Attica, especially at the rural Dionysia. Dithyramb was an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility; the term was also used as an epithet of the god. That is also another way that religion ties into theater because some plays and shows were to honor their gods. So because he was the winner of an acting contest he became the leader of the dithyrambs, which was an important position. Plato said “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” I think that this could have been what other ancient Athenians thought. If the saw a person in a play and he was strong, determined, and brave then they thought that he/she would be good for a role in a political office.

Daily Blog 3 Week 4

Konnor Drewen

2/16/011

Do you think Socrates got what he deserved? Why didn't he accept exile?

            No, I do not think he got what he deserved. The Athenians were just looking for somebody to take the blame of losing everything. They charged him because he was a critic and expressed his thought about the government. They also charged him for corrupting the youth. He was tried and he stated his case. He was found guilty by a jury of his peers. He was taken to stay in prison and while he was there he was visited by friends. Eventually he was put to death by drinking Hemlock. Plato later wrote about the account in what is now called his Apology, “If I had engaged in politics, I should have perished long ago and done no good to either you or to myself. ...for the truth is that no man who goes to war with you or any other multitude, honestly struggling against the commission of unrighteousness and wrong in the State, will save his life; he who will really fight for right, if he would live even for a little while, must have a private station and not a public one.” Another quote that shows what he said after his death was this, “The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways — I to die and you to live. Which is the better, only God knows.” Socrates didn’t accept exile because he didn't feel that he should deceive himself by pleading a lesser charge and renounce his beliefs. When I say beliefs I feel that this does not necessarily have to do with God, but his belief in his own being and self.

Daily Blog 2 Week 4

Konnor Drewen

2/15/011

Was Athens really a 'democracy'?

            Well, Athenian democracy is considered to be a predecessor to our own democracy. They had things that were undemocratic like slavery and that women were not allowed to be a leader or vote but that is how America was for a long while. Now there have been a lot of critics to the Athenian democracy, modern and back in ancient times. In modern times people find fault with what was considered the citizen body. In ancient times many writers told of what they thought of the democracy. For them the demos in democracy meant not the whole people, but the people as opposed to the elite, instead of seeing it as a fair system under which 'everyone' has equal rights. To Athenian detractor’s democracy was not well used or established. They had some instances during the Peloponnesian War. The ten treasurers of the Delian league had been accused of embezzlement. They were tried and executed one after the other until, when only one was still alive, the accounting error was discovered and that last surviving treasurer was acquitted. This was perfectly legal in this case. This shows that in that time the system was flawed and innocent people were punished for things they didn’t do. This still happens today where someone goes to prison and years later is released because of a new piece of evidence or a part of the case has opened up. So was Athens really a democracy? Well there is evidence that it was but maybe it was not a true democracy.    

Daily Blog 1 Week 4

Konnor Drewen

2/14/011

Please read http://ow.ly/156BA and write a blog post comparing the Ancient Greek Olympics to the Games this coming weekend!

            Comparing the Ancient Greek Olympics and the Olympics today, there are some similarities and some differences. For example something similar is that in the Ancient they would have a large bonfire on the top of an altar, for Zeus. Today we don’t light a bonfire for Zeus but we have the Olympic Flame that is carried to the Olympic torch and it lights a large fire to start the games. A difference is that according to record at one point in the history of the games everyone in the games performed naked. This was changed sometime before Thucydides was born. Another difference is that women had a different Olympics that only consisted of one race that was five sixths the race of the men. Another similarity is that the wave similar parts of the games as we do now. They had running, wrestling, and boxing. Now they did have some that we no longer do like chariot racing. They also had a sport called “pancration” which was an “all power” race that combined all physical activites. This quote from Pindar shows the importance of winners of the games in Ancient Greece, “When they saw you many times victorious in the Games of Athene, each of the maidens was speechless as they prayed you might be her husband or son.” In that way the games are similar also because people who win the games become famous in their time.

Weekly 3

On the Galapagos isles lies this memorial of Fonzy lies. During this time period the Hudew people built large memorial megaliths to honor famous people.  This person was the entertainer. Fonzy knew everyone and everyone knew Fonzy.  Fonzy caught the eye of the war chief’s daughter. But the war chief Did not want his daughter to marry a fool. Fonzy had this talent for making people laugh.  So when he asked the good war chief what must be done to win his daughter the chief said, “You may not marry my daughter.” Fonzy was heartbroken.  Months went by and by order of the war chief Fonzy could not go near his daughter.  Then came the day the Hudews went to war with the nation to the south.  Fonzy decided if he could not be with his love he should die fighting for her safety. So he went off to war. The war was long and tough. The raiders started losing moral. The story goes Fonzy ran around the camp spreading cheer and boosted the moral of the troops to make them actually win the war despite the strong odds put against them. In the end the war chief gave Fonzy permission to marry his daughter. The megalith represents a memorial to Fonzy. Fonzy is represented in the center with his thumbs in the position he was known to have used with the word he said before going into battle, AAAAAAAAAY.

Rough draft design

Daily Blog 4 Week 3

Konnor Drewen

2/10/011

"Structures, both social and physical are continually improving." agree or disagree

            I disagree with the statement "Structures, both social and physical are continually improving." In some ways yes, they are improving but in more ways they are staying the same. Our social structures are not improving much because we have that same kind of classes as we did 40 years ago. There is still class warfare and the theory of trickle – down economics has not made much affect. Now according to the theory (it is a theory because it has not been proven to work and even if it does it has a very small effect) if we provide tax breaks on the upper class then because they provide the most donation of money to businesses, they will cause an increase in jobs for the middle and lower classes. “If you feed enough oats to the horse, some will pass through to feed the sparrows” that was said by John Kenneth Galbraith that was said in reference to the trickle – down economics theory. If physical structures are continuing is a tough question. In some ways they are improving if you are talking physical structure like a building. In a earlier blog post I discussed the increase in technology and how it increases the safety of a structure. In that way physical structures are improving.

Daily Blog 3 Week 3

Konnor Drewen

2/9/011

"War is a form of technology". Agree or Disagree.

            I agree with the quote “War is a form of technology. I agree with it because technology is something that can further a civilization, war can further civilization. Here is why history is full of war ever since the dawn of time there has been war. The people who win these wars further their existence. People have had war over food or land or just a different way of thinking. One side may instigate the problem while the other side did not know there was one, or maybe each side was just waiting for the other to strike. Either way it happens the war commences or the only way to end it is to either decide on a treaty or on side will be suppressed. Now another way you could look at it is like technology war advances. There is always some new piece of technology to buy that everyone wants, the same is for war in a way. We are always looking for better weapon technology to advance our goals in the war. Not just the current war but past wars. In WW I we developed the nuclear warhead and we did and we used it and won. After that, other countries that did not have nuclear arms started to develop them. So yes war is a form of technology because it continues to become a power force in this world.

Daily Blog 2 Week 3

Konnor Drewen

2/8/011

Why do you think so many conspiracy theories surround the pyramids and the megaliths? Give examples of a few and explain where you think they come from.

            I think that conspiracy theories surround the pyramids and megaliths because people don’t know what they mean. Now, we know what the pyramids were for, they were used as burial temples for pharaohs but we still are not completely sure what the megaliths were for. The reason that people may think that they have special powers, magical properties, or just put there by aliens are because they have no other way to explain why they are there. Some people even say that the pyramids and megaliths and other structures like it are said to be built by people forced to by aliens. The reason people believe this is because on the inside of many important landmarks there are drawings from the time they were built and the drawings depict many alien creatures watching  them as they work. Now this could be dismissed as the peoples way of drawing a god or a person of authority but it is not just in one pyramid or landmark. The drawings are all over the world and the strange thing is, that most likely started these theories, is that the drawing all like the same. All over the world people of ancient times drew the same thing. Now, I am not saying whether this is real or aliens exist but I have to think in the trillion or plants in the trillions of galaxies how could we be the only life out there in the vast wondrous universe.  

Daily Blog 1 Week 3

Konnor Drewen

2/7/011

What is the oldest human-created artifact that has mattered to you? Why/how does it matter?

            I think that the oldest human created artifact that matters to me are some of the Bronze Age weaponry that was beginning to develop around 3300 – 1200 BCE. Weaponry has always interested me and the Bronze Age was the beginning of metal weaponry. The people of that time had made metal swords, shields, spears, and armor which had not been made before. Before it was mainly stone weapons which did work but were not as good as the weapons developing in the 17^th century BCE. Now this is not saying that physical weapons are always a good thing. I found a quote that said “"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs, and explosions, and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, ideas, and prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy. A thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own for the children yet unborn.” I think this means that not only physical weapons can harm people. Just the words people say and their action can affect and kill people. Think about this Adolf Hitler did not go into battle and yet all the things he said and all his actions cause the murder of millions which also resulted in WW II.   

Weekly 2

Konnor Drewen

2/4/011

Is 'Change' a Good Thing or a Bad Thing? (Relate to the origins of art, the agricultural revolution, architecture and urban planning in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

            Well, in the case of all of those things change could be a good thing or a bad thing. In the origins of art change was definitely a good thing. If you look at ancient art it will show pictures of animals and the people moving with them. Change was a good thing because their surrounding and the places they were staying were always changing. That is because the people of that time always stayed with the animals they hunted if they didn’t they could starve. So change seemed to be a good thing while looking through the first versions of art.

            Through the agricultural revolution I think change could have been a definite bad thing. At that time the people were farming and not moving around as much. Change could mean that the weather is changing and that would be bad. If the weather changed from wet and sunny to dry and sunny then the crops could die and that would not be good. The people of the village would either starve or start stealing from other villages and it would all end badly. So change throughout the agricultural revolution would be a definite bad change.

            In the case of architecture it is a harder one to decide than the others. In some ways it is better for change. Once architecture changed the buildings were most likely safer than they were. I think this because yes, the people who first created these buildings were architecturally minded but they may have not known as much as now. Also now we have computers that help us find out the angles and geographical facts that we need. So in that way change was a good thing.

            Now change in architecture could also be a bad thing. Some people will say that they prefer older versions of architecture. The people that have the most expensive homes will say that their homes were really old. A lot of the time the homes that have been around the longest have a rarer form of architecture.  That architecture must be prized by people because most of people looking for homes will say they want an older home. So in the way that older architecture is wanted change is a bad thing.

            Urban planning in Mesopotamia change was a good thing. It caused the Sumerians to be the first society to create the city itself as a built form. They were proud of this achievement as attested in the Epic of Gilgamesh which opens with a description of Uruk its walls, streets, markets, temples, and gardens. Uruk itself is significant as the center of an urban culture which both colonized and urbanized western Asia. The typical city divided space into residential, mixed use, commercial, and civic spaces. Urban planning caused a lot of great things to happen in Mesopotamia. In this way the change to creating urban planning was a good thing.

Daily Blog 4 Week 2

Konnor Drewen

2/3/011

Which do you think is a better roadmap of history, artifacts of the humanities (art, music, dance, theatre, literature, philosophy, architecture, etc.) or political/military conflicts? Why?

            I think that military/political events make for a better roadmap than artifacts because the events of conflicts better show the political and emotional problems of a nation and show how they conquered and were conquered by other countries. That can help tell where some of a country’s culture and way of thinking came from. The political events can help show what kind of government a country was under at the time that a certain event happened. This could be of use because if it showed that there were major riots in a certain year it could be linked with the country being ruled under a dictatorship and the dictator could be hated and that causes the riots to break out against the government. Now artifacts of the humanities definitely still make a great roadmap of history. They could show past civilizations and their culture. They could also tell stories of things that happened hundreds of years ago. The philosophy of the ancient Greeks and Romans are still used today as major sources of knowledge. The ancient philosophy Sun Tzu said “For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” Now my point of this quote is that in a way people still say this today.  The way of saying to try to stop the fighting before it starts.

Weekly 1

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8335534/?listtype=SERIES

Daily Blog 3 Week 2

Konnor Drewen

2/2/011

Uuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnn= over

Uuuuuuuuuhhhhhh=earth

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh= sun

HUUUUH=AROUND

KIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIK= time

Oooooooooooooooooooah= long

Uuuuuuuuahhhhhhhhhhhhh= moves

Puuuh= not

Uuuuuuuhhhhhhh   Uuuuuuaaaaaahhhhhhh HUUUH Aaaaaahhhhhhh Uuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Ooooooooooooooooah KIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIK.  Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh  Puuuh Uuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh HUUUUH Uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh Uuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Oooooooooooooooooooah KIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIKIK.

Daily Blog 2 Week 2

Konnor Drewen

2/1/011

You accidentally discover an invention that can immediately help millions of people; but only if you act immediately. On the other hand, if you just wait three months, you can secure a patent and get rich. Which do you choose and why?

            I would choose to wait three months and get rich. This is because if I wait three months and get rich I could use the money I gain in some other way that could help millions of people. If I wait then I would most likely be able to help people in many ways other than just the one way that the invention did. The money I make from the patent could be put into medical research, military research, and furthering technology that could help humanity. For example in the news today Egypt is fraught with riots and people uprising against their president Hosni Mubarak. Now the United States was not on either side of this but he had ruled for 30 years before the people rose against him. He tried to do whatever he could to stay in power even firing his staff but he still was forced to step down. Now my point is that if I had the money I could fund, on my own separately from the U.S., relief groups that would make his step down from power less damaging to the public.