Due: October 15, 2009

1. Amelia Earhart    

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly in an airplane. She is famous because she flew over the Atlantic Ocean in 13.5 hours. She was the very first woman to fly from Hawaii to California. The last thing that was found was an urgent message to the US Coast Guard from Amelia. Something that did not surprise me that may have surprised someone else was that she was the first woman ever try to fly around the whole world. I do not think that she would be a good person to use as a power of one person. I think it is because she did not have a big affect on the world. She was a woman that flew a plane, and she does not affect all four areas.

2. Helen Keller 

Helen Keller was a woman that was deaf and blind. When she was young she was very healthy but then she got a fever which made her blind and deaf. I was surprised that she could find a tutor to help her understand and speak with her hands. Her tutor taught her how to write out words, read braille, and how to use sign language. She learned many things over several years without seeing or hearing anything. I do not think she would be a good person to use for the power of one project because she does not meet all of the four areas. She was an amazing woman. 

3. Christopher Voigt    

Christopher Voigt is a thirty year old man, and he is a Synthetic Biologist at the University of California. He wants to program cells like robots. I was surprised that someone could try to human cells. For example he is trying to fix the DNA E.coli bacteria, and he wants to change it so the organism follows commands. I think he could have a possibility to be a power of one subject because; he wants to do many things in science, and in economics.

Due: November 4, 2009

               Biography: Thomas Alva Edison

The person I chose is Thomas Alva Edison. He was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847. He died on October 18, 1913 from poor health and, old age. Thomas Edison became famous for his great inventions. He made the telegraph, and the light bulb. Thomas became very wealthy from his inventions after they spread worldwide. His major accomplishment was making electric lighting. It was a big change for the whole world. It he wouldn’t have invented this we would still be in the dark ages, and using candle light for everything. He also invented the phonograph and the telegraphy. Another one of his major accomplishment was his marriage. He got married on Mary Stilwell in New York City, and he started a family. After his wife’s death in 1884 he was extremely upset. He did not work on any new inventions, he needed to spend time with his three children. A year later he met a woman named Mina Miller. They got married and they lived happily together until his death. He was a very successful man, and did many things that helped the world.

Why I Chose Edison

I chose to do Thomas Edison because I thought that he made a big impact in the world. The thing that drew me to pick him was that he made electric lighting. If it was not for him we would still be living in the dark ages. We would have to cook in the dark, and we would not be able to read or do homework in the dark. This invention was one of the greatest things made. He also wanted to help improve the telegraph, and he made the phonograph.Life would be different, he has made a very big impact in the world today.

                His World & The World Around Him

During the late 1800s and early 1900s Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, and the electric light, or known as the lightbulb. He also helped improve the telegraphy. He got married two times during his life, and had three children. He moved a couple of times, and he had to get use to different lifestyles and growing up. From 1847-1913 several things were happening in the world. In 1848 the Gold Rush in California had started, it went on for a while. The Gold Rush was a period of time when people would find gold in the mills along the rivers. Only a few people knew about this  and then the word about it spread. In 1849 James K. Polk became the eleventh president of the United States. During the late 1800s a disease called smallpox was going around Europe. It killed thousand of people throughout all of Europe.  

               Edison & His Greatness 

I think Thomas Edison is a good person for the power of one project for several reasons. He was a great for many reasons. He made the lightbulb, which made a very big impact in the world. It opened new doors, and gave people new opportunities. We would not have nearly as many advanced things as we do now if he did not invent the lightbulb. He also wanted to try to improve the telegraph. The telegraph was our first way to comunicate with people that were far away from us. It would send out signals on boats and to places, and we could communicate. He also made the phonograph. This was a device used to play records, or music. It was a form of entertainment. Many people enjoyed this invention. He was an amazing man and invented great things.

References:

·        Bellis, Mary. “Biography of Thomas Edison: Early Life.” November 3, 2009.

      http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventors/a/Edison_Bio.htm 

·         Beals, Gerald.  “Major Inventions and Events In Life Of Thomas Alva Edison.” Copyrighted © 1996  November 3, 2009. http://www.thomasedison.com/Inventions.htm  

·         Thor, Her.  “Europe in the Late 1800s.” Modern World History Interactive. Student Page. 1998 November 3, 2009 http://mclane.fresno.k12.ca.us/wilson98/MWHI/1998/her.html