Technology

         The World of Technology is constantly changing. It feels like a new iPhone Comes out every other day and a software update comes every hour. Sometimes new technology advances our way of life and other times it may only make it more complicated. Whatever The technology is, it will always effect the way we communicate and interact with one another. For instance; We used to talk to one another face to face before the introduction of texting. Texting, social media, and other fun time wasters have changed the way we act around others. While this is an Interesting topic in and of itself, I wish to focus on something drastically different: The Hyperloop.

The Hyperloop is a new concept for high speed transportation that is being researched and funded by SpaceX. It will allow people to travel across the country in a matter of minutes. It uses low pressure tubes to reduce air resistance which allows a pod to travel upwards of 700mph as efficiently as possible. It also uses magnets to lift itself off the ground and away from the walls. This reduces unnecessary friction that wheels would otherwise generate. It will also offer a sort of buffer for the pod as it changes course at high speeds.

Some are concerned about how this would impact the environment. Others are concerned about the effects it would have on the passengers. For me, I am not so concerned about these things. Those designing it will find a way to accommodate the needs of the public. My concern is that people will refuse to see the Hyperloop for its true potential. This would change the world as we know it. People would be able to work across the country with only a two-hour commute. Visiting family in Washington would no longer be an issue for me because it would only take 45 min to get there. Imagine how it would feel to climb aboard a near supersonic train. It would open the doors to so many work, social, and economic opportunities. Shipping would not take near as long as it does now. As time goes on, it may become cheaper to ride the Hyperloop than a plane. It would create thousands of jobs, boost our economy, and connect the country in a way that we never thought possible. The Hyperloop is the way of the future and I couldn’t be more on board.

Take a Knee

NFL teams have been kneeling during the National Anthem and it has sparked a social media storm. This topic has been a source of great contention between people. Like most conflicts, it is a result of poor communication and a lack of understanding.

When considering any conflict, it is necessary to understand BOTH sides of the situation. On one side, The National Anthem is seen as a symbol to our nation. To understand why, we must understand the history behind it. It was written in 1814 and was adopted as our National Anthem in 1931. The purpose behind it’s lyrics was to celebrate the military victory at Fort Henry during the war of 1812. To many this anthem represents unity and perseverance. American Culture is such that we stand and salute the flag during the National Anthem as a sign of loyalty or honor for our country. In this light, we can clearly see President Trumps point of view when he began tweeting about the subject.  In his more recent tweets, He has said, “Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country!” Obviously, Trump feels this sign of respect is important for him and for our country. From his perspective, NFL players kneeling during the National anthem are protesting this great American symbol.

Considering the opposing side, NFL players all over the country have been kneeling as an act against racial mistreatment by law enforcement in America. They are drawing awareness to the supposed injustice and racism exhibited by police officers all over the country. This Started when quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, first sat on the team bench in protest during the National Anthem in 2016. His goal was to raise awareness to the oppression of black people in America. While this was a noble cause, it has resulted in people both ridiculing, and celebrating his actions all across nation in the social media realm.

There is an underlying problem in this whirlwind of confusion. Both sides are actively voicing their portion of the story. What’s happening is neither side is listening or understanding where the other is coming from. To people like President Trump, kneeling during the National Anthem is extremely offensive and necessitates public reprimand. However, this is not the message the players kneeling intended to spread. As discussed before, their goal is to raise national awareness of police brutality among minorities. I support raising awareness of police brutality; however, disrespecting the flag and our country is not the way to communicate that point. It does nothing but cause more contention, fighting and disorder. If there is a problem, it should be clearly communicated between the parties involved no matter the reason.

That being said, I think it is ironic that President Trump’s solution is to drastically punish players who disrespect the National Anthem and the flag: Essentially proving the point of those protesting. Every conflict has two sides. Neither President Trump, nor protesting NFL players are one-hundred percent correct. Both Parties should rethink their tactics and strive to find a way in which everyone’s voice can be heard AND understood.

Sorces:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/sports/nfl-trump-anthem.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/replay-trump-tweets-anew-nfl-players-protest/

Online Reputation

To: Chandler Olson

From: Nathan Stevens

Date: Sep. 26, 2017

Subject: Online Reputation

Memo to Chandler,

            Upon review of his online reputation, we have concluded the following: Chandler Olsen shares minimal information publicly via social media. Most of his online profiles have security settings keep people other than his “friends” from viewing his profile. This could be for privacy reasons or to protect his personal information. This is a smart thing to do; however, it keeps employers from viewing his profile and seeing what he is capable of professionally. Building an online profile can be beneficial in making a good impression for other professionals. That being said, it is his decision regarding his online security.

            I did find posts from an Instagram account. Chandler has a dog. It is a black Dachshund. There are a few pictures on his profile that show him with his dog. There are also a few pictures of him with puppies. I assume that at some point a dog he knows had puppies, but it is definitely safe to assume he likes dogs. Dogs are a great influence on people. They show that people are personable and easy to connect with. I may assume that Chandler is a fairly nice guy and would be easy to work with.

Before college, I could see that he owned a pet snake. This is an interesting choice in pet but again comes back to his love of animals. It was a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. This is a relatively large snake and I am sure it took quite a bit of effort to care for. The snake also had snakelets relatively close to when he sold the snake. I am assuming that he sold the snakelets and made a little bit of money off of them. Just before he moved to college, he sold the parent snake. I am guessing that his new landlord didn’t allow pet snakes.

            The next thing I noticed were his cars. He owns an Acura TL. It is a 2004 – 2006 model painted Champaign white. The headlight and taillights are darkened and the rims are blacked out. There is a drop kit on the suspension and overall it looks like he takes good care of it.  He also owns a white Ford Ranger with a lift kit and big off-roading tires. I’m guessing that it’s a 1991 0r 1992 model. It also looks well maintained. I can gather two things from this. One, I know he likes to work on his cars which means he has experience in mechanics. He also has a “do it yourself” mentality. He can most likely learn to do anything he wants which is a great skill to have in an employee. The second thing is a little different. I also noticed he owns a Honda CRF 250R Dirt bike. This, combined with the customized Acura, gives the impression that he likes to drive fast. He might be a bit of a risk taker. This can be hard as an employer to see for fear of his employee potentially getting into legal trouble. There isn’t anything to worry about though with just a quick background check.

            There are a couple of pictures on Instagram of Chandler at Lake Powell. They are taken in different years and all in the summer time. In one of them, he is riding a surfboard on a boat wake. I think it is safe to assume that he takes a yearly trip to Lake Powell in the summer. He also likes to participate in water sports. In all of the photos, he is with friends and family which makes me think that personal relationships are important to him.

            Chandler also took a trip to New York about three years ago. There is not a lot of detail given on these pictures. The only thing I was able to gather was that he was there for three to four months, most likely in the Summer. I can also see that he went with a group of friends. Given the time period and the season, I am guessing that he was there for either a Summer sales job or a study abroad program. The reason I speculate that is because very rarely do people take a vacation for four months with a group that big.

            A few pictures were taken during that time that weren’t in reference to him being in New York. One was showing a before and after of him getting a haircut. He had probably 18 inches of hair before the cut and only about two to four inches after. In another photo he mentioned that he missed his hair. I am guessing that he either cut it and sold or donated it. If that is the case, that is a respectable thing to do. On the bright side, the shorter hair did make his appearance more professional, which may have helped if he was there for summer sales.