Connection About Connections in a Connected World

Connection as Bond, Interaction and Communication

Perhaps this article should be the first in this series. It would be a self-explanatory introduction to the proposal of the Drama Connections Blog. Starting from the beginning, connection refers to the link or relationship between two or more things, ideas, or entities, which allows interaction or communication between them. In technology, it can mean the connection between devices, such as a computer connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi, or the connection between different systems through networks. In personal relationships, it refers to the emotional and social bond between people, such as friendships, family relationships or partnerships.

Connection, in communication, refers to the transmission and understanding of messages between senders and receivers. In mathematics and science, it describes relationships between variables or components of a system. In psychology and neuroscience, it refers to the links between neurons that facilitate brain communication. In the connected world, the idea of ​​connections encompasses the complex interaction between people, information, technologies, and cultures.

Technological Connections

Devices and systems connect via radio wave communication networks, such as Wi-Fi, which work in an analogous way to TVs, radios, and cell phones. A router acts as an adapter, capturing and decoding signals emitted by antennas, which are used by operators to provide telephone coverage and internet access. Antennas emit signals in all directions, but with greater intensity in a specific direction. The signal is decoded by the devices' chips, which automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks. In addition, smartphones with a Wi-Fi card can create a Wi-Fi signal from the mobile network, sharing the internet with other devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB.

With the advancement of the internet and communication technologies, it is possible to connect people globally through social networks, emails, videoconferencing, and messaging platforms. Technology, covering areas such as IT, communication, manufacturing, health, environmental and consumption, is a set of knowledge and tools used to solve problems and improve processes.

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Biological Connections

Terrestrial ecosystems include forests, deserts, grasslands, and savannas, while aquatic ecosystems include rivers, seas, oceans, and lakes. They are formed by biotic factors (plants and animals) and abiotic factors (soil, atmosphere, light, and water). Ecological relationships can be harmonious, such as mutualism and commensalism, or disharmonious, such as predation and parasitism, and can occur between individuals of the same species (intraspecific) or between varied species (interspecific).

Essential biological elements include carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, as well as calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, potassium, and chlorine. In ecosystems, producers provide energy, consumers promote the flow of energy and matter, and decomposers ensure the cycling of nutrients. Abiotic factors, such as temperature, sunlight, humidity, wind, and pH, influence the living conditions and survival of organisms, regulating biological processes and ecological interactions.

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Literary Connections

References and connections between literary works connect the present to the literary past, as exemplified by the relationship between James Joyce’s Ulysses and Homer’s The Odyssey. The Odyssey, an epic from the eighth century BCE, tells the story of Odysseus (Ulysses) to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Divided into twenty-four cantos, The Odyssey begins in the middle of the story, with Odysseus facing dangers such as the Cyclopes, the sorcerer Circe, and the nymph Calypso, who holds him prisoner. Ulysses's wife Penelope faces suitors who want to usurp his throne, while his son Telemachus searches for Ulysses. Odysseus returns in disguise to face the suitors and restore order. The work presents themes such as cunning, fidelity, and the tension between destiny and free will.

Ulysses, published in 1922, is a groundbreaking work of modern literature. Set in Dublin on 16 June 1904, it reinterprets the Odyssey in a stream-of-consciousness style. The narrative follows three main characters over the course of a single day: Leopold Bloom, a Jewish advertising executive; Stephen Dedalus, a young writer; and Molly Bloom, Leopold's wife, whose final monologue reveals her innermost thoughts. Divided into eighteen chapters with distinct narrative techniques, Ulysses covers themes such as identity, urban experience, and issues of sexuality, religion, and nationalism, and is widely recognized for its stylistic innovation and thematic depth.

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Neural Connections

The human brain has over eighty-six billion neurons, each with about seven thousand connections. These connections, called synapses, transmit electrical and chemical signals, allowing the brain to respond to stimuli. The main neural circuits are hippocampus which stores and retrieves conscious memories and processes stimuli to establish contexts; sensory cortex which interprets sensory data; amygdala which decodes emotions, identifies threats, and stores memories of fear; and hypothalamus which activates the “fight” response.

Communication between neurons occurs through synapses, which can be chemical or electrical. At chemical synapses, neurons send messages using chemical messengers. Motor neurons transmit nerve impulses to effector organs, such as muscles and glands.

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Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections in response to stimuli, such as listening to music. This adaptive power allows the brain to adjust its architecture and functions based on internal and external experiences and changes.

Analogical Thinking

We can use analogies to compare different subjects, such as bats and radar systems, which have in common the use of echolocation. Bats emit ultrasonic calls that bounce off objects and return as echoes, allowing them to locate prey and navigate in the dark. Bats analyze the echoes of these reflected sounds to determine the location, size, shape, and even texture of objects around them. This ability allows bats to orient themselves and hunt in complete darkness, even detecting small, fast-moving prey.

Similarly, radar systems emit radio waves that bounce off objects. The time it takes for the signal to bounce back is used to calculate the distance, speed, and characteristics of the objects. While bats use this technique biologically, radar is a technological invention applied to air navigation, weather monitoring, traffic control and surveillance.

Connections Between War and the Arms Industry

The arms industry is essential for the development of weapons and equipment, with demand increasing during wars and conflicts, which drives technological innovation. Government investment in weapons, increased by wars, can generate economic growth and jobs, but diverts resources from areas such as health and education. The arms industry also exerts political influence through lobbying and donations, affecting decisions on defense and security budgets.

The demand for weapons can create a continuous cycle of wars and production, maintaining international tensions. Conflicts drive the development of military technologies, many of which are adapted for civilian use, such as the Internet. At the end of wars, the need to rebuild armed forces and infrastructure results in contracts for the arms industry, as in the reconstruction of Europe after the First and Second World Wars, a big business for the United States.

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The war between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict (massacre of Palestinians) between Israel and Hamas continue to cause destruction and the death of more than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, in the Gaza Strip. Bad for humanity, good for the arms industry that is increasingly prospering with the sale and development of new and deadly technologies, such as ballistic drones and artificial intelligence bombs supplied to Israel by the United States. These bombs have millimeter precision to hit strategic targets, which reduces civilian deaths, the problem is that it is Israel that defines what is a strategic target and this brings even more catastrophic consequences for the Palestinians.

Connections Between The Art of War and the Modern Business World

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, a military strategist from ancient China, during the Warring States period (approximately between 475 and 221 BC) offers strategies applicable to the business world. The book highlights the importance of detailed strategic planning to develop market strategies, analyze competitors and predict trends. Sun Tzu recommends knowing your rival, which translates into market research and competitor analysis.

Flexibility and adaptability are essential to adjust to changes and new opportunities. Efficient use of resources is crucial, including optimization, cost reduction and effective management of operations. In addition, effective leadership and team morale are essential to achieve goals and maintain productivity. Preparation and anticipation of competitors' actions are also vital for future planning and facing business challenges.

Connections Between Science, Research and Public Health

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International collaborations in research and science are accelerating progress in many areas, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development of vaccines, such as mRNA vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, has highlighted the importance of research in biotechnology and immunology. The identification of treatments, such as remdesivir and antibody therapies, has been made possible by extensive clinical trials.

Science has also advanced diagnostics with the development of rapid and accurate tests, such as PCR and antigen tests. Epidemiological models have helped predict the spread of the virus and guide public health policies, facilitating the allocation of resources and control of the pandemic.

The genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 has been crucial to understanding the virus, identifying variants, and tracking its evolution. Public health research and mitigation strategies have been essential to the response to the pandemic. International cooperation has been key to accelerating the development of vaccines, treatments, and control strategies, highlighting the importance of global collaboration in science and public health.

Politics and Governance

International organizations, such as the UN, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization, facilitate cooperation among nations to address global issues ranging from international security to public health. These connections create a more interdependent world, where actions and events in one part of the world can have significant effects elsewhere֎

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