Storytelling vs. Reconciliation

   We tend to listen with our fingers in our ears, meaning people only hear what they want to. It is all to easy to dismiss someone's opposing opinion with a simple "you're wrong", but in order to understand anything, we must listen and understand the opposition. Ever since we were little, our teachers and parents have taught us there are always two sides to every story. This valuable lesson plays an important part in workaday life.

 The death of Michael Brown was a tragic event, as well as the proceeding unrest in Ferguson. The police are still trying to piece together the broken shards of what happened, but it is clear there are two sides. Some say Michael Brown had his hands up and was fleeing Officer Wilson, while others object that Brown was a dangerous, posing threat to the Officer. The media undoubtedly showed bias to one side or another. There were very few reporters and writers that maintained an objective stance on the whole of the situation. This brings about questions surrounding the future of news media outlets. If any of these outlets cease to preserve the smallest bit of objectiveness they have left, who is there left to trust?
   A few weeks ago, my e-Comm teacher told us that he sometimes prefers the BBC website as a news source, rather than sites like CNN or The New York Times. He then went on to say that the BBC often has a more unbiased and objective view than any American news media outlet. Is this what happens when we feel like we can't trust our own news sources? Do other countries find America's stories about their own country, less biased?
   When a story or event blows up globally, it is everywhere. Proof from campaigns like "STOP KONY 2012" show how fast a story can spread, especially if promoted over social media. The video and posters for this campaign spread like wildfire, but after a couple days it became apparent that the "STOP KONY 2012" campaign was not 100% truthful. Despite the "one-sidedness" of stories being spread over social media, their rapid spreading can be an incredible tool if used right. When the revolution and uprising in Syria began, social media became a more useful tool than anything else. The residents, rebels and refugees of Syria used social media expose what was happening — that is before the Syrian government shut them down. Even thought the exposure of the unrest was brief, it was enough to get people's attention and take action.
   Social media has become and incredible tool for situations like those in Syria, but some countries do not have this luxury. China, and some other Asian and Middle Eastern countries do not have access to social media. Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, even Google is blocked. This is not because any of the countries are in a rural area or underdeveloped, but because the government decides what they want the people to see. For America this is a terrifying thought, and makes us wonder what kind of news China is fed. This proves that the levels of "bias-ness" have also flooded into politics.

   While the future of news media outlets is not set in stone, it is certainly headed in the wrong direction if it continues on it's current path.

 Peace in Ferguson - Casey Neistat

Google X Reveals Drone Testing

 News recently broke that Google X (a facility dedicated to technological advancements) have been testing drones as a part of Project Wing. Drones are essentially "flying robot planes" that deliver goods by air. Google X have not been permitted to test on US soil, so the testing has taken place in Queensland Australia. Google X states that the long term purpose of these drones would be to provide immediate relief to people in the event of a natural disaster. The Federal Aviation Administration has kept tight reigns commercial drone use, but is slowly and carefully, looking to change.

   Using drones to provide relief to victims of natural disaster, or residents in rural areas sounds great, but this is not the first thought that comes to mind to most Americans. Most people are excited over the idea of ordering a pizza, or something from Amazon, and receiving it immediately. Amazon has also been extensively working on their own drone delivery service, Amazon Prime Air. Although the potential cost savings and job opportunities would be great, questions about the weather and safety regulation can't help but arise. It will be a few more years before "ship by drone" is the next option after "express shipping", but Google X has been developing and regulating this project for 2 years now. Instead of flying cars, we could have flying drones.

watch the video here

Alan Turing Receives Royal Pardon After 59 Years

   Alan Turing is a name often associated with the British man who was a mathematical genius, a key in the defeat of the Nazis in World War II. This same man was later chemically castrated for having homosexual relations and poisoned himself 2 years after. 59 years have passed, but in late December 2013 Turing received royal pardon from Queen Elizabeth II. Normally when a royal pardon is given the person at hand is innocent or the family requests it. Turing's conviction was not met with regards to any of these conditions. In July 2012, a bill was proposed to the House of Lords and passed three readings. Before the bill could reach the House of Commons the British Government decided to agree to the petition. Turning was granted pardon for his conviction of gross indecency. This took immediate effect.

   Alan Mathison Turing was born in London at the early start of the 20^th century. His intelligence was quite notable and was recognized early on by his instructors. Turing’s focus was solely dedicated to math and science. This created controversy at the school he attended as it focused heavily on the classical studies. Despite this he continued to advance independently with his studies outside of school. Alan Turing relished in the idea that he could solve and grasp complex problems. Since his youth it was obvious Turing thought like a scientist.

   After being educated as a undergraduate at King’s College Turing went on to earn his PhD from Princeton. After Princeton, he returned to Cambridge and began his work with the Government Code and Cypher School. The GC&CS created an extensive cryptanalytic facility that became essential in World War II. Turing was a key code breaker in the cryptanalysis of the Enigma, created by the Axis powers, specifically Germany. He deduced the indicator procedure used by the German navy and created a portable and secure voice scrambler codenamed Delilah. These are a few of many advanced aided by Turing which resulted in the defeat of the German Nazis.

   In 1946 Turing worked with the design of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) and even came up with his own revised design. In 1948 Turing was appointed a principal lecturer in the department of mathematics at the University of Manchester. In 1949 he started to work on software for the Manchester Mark 1. This was one of the earliest stored-program computers. During this time Turing began to work in the field of abstract mathematics. He developed his own experiment, which became known as the Turing Test. This experiment tested the issue of artificial intelligence. The Turing test was the idea that if a computer could fool a human into thinking it too was a human, the machine could “think”. A reversed form of this test is used widely online.

   About 3 years later, Turing formed a romantic relationship with a man named Arnold Murray. Through the result of a burglary the police acknowledged that Turing and Murray were romantically together and both men were arrested. At this time homosexuality was against the law. Turing felt no guilt for having a relationship with Murray and pleaded guilty. He agreed to undergo chemical castration as punishment. He was not allowed to continue his job with GC&CS, but was granted his job as an educator. 2 years after Turing was convicted his cleaner found him dead. It has been confirmed that the cause of death was cyanide poisoning. It is suspected he purposefully consumed an apple laced with cyanide in order to end his life.

   Turing has received much recognition for his work breaking the German enigma code and creating new programs. He was a remarkable man whose brilliant mind saved countless lives. The mathematical genius created the basis of modern computing. Not only was he in standing for a well deserved pardon, but he deserves to be remembered and recognized for his immense contribution to science.

Social Media Can Effect Your Future

     The New York Times recently released an article written by Natasha Singer. This article discusses the involvement of a students online image in the college admissions process. The article provides an anecdote of  a young girl who applied to a college in Maine was rejected because she posted derogatory comments about her fellow students on Twitter. This girl is surely not the first to do this, but her story caught the public eye and created much controversy. Now students are left to recall anything they have posted online that could threaten their future.

     My online presence could be somewhat notable through my number of accounts, but not enough to effect me in a significant way. I have a Facebook, Youtube, Tumblr, 8tracks, Twitter, Instagram, and Blogger account, but not much else. None of what I post on any of these sites promotes a negative image for myself. I don't post much on Facebook or Instagram and my Twitter account remains dormant. If anything the most questionable aspect of any of my accounts would be my music taste on 8tracks.    

     I think it is incredibly fair for future employers and schools to research an applicants online presence.  If the student posts something questionable online, it is entirely their own fault. Because of people's poor judgement regarding what is appropriate to post and what is not, schools have resorted to teaching these basic concepts to high school students. It is embarrassing that the disregard for inappropriate status updates, pictures, and @mentions has led to this. 

     What I find particularly perplexing is that all through middle school we were told that whatever we put online is permanent. We were lectured on the use of the "delete button" and how in a few seconds hundreds of people have already seen what we so desperately wanted to delete. Six some years ago it was vital that kids understand a picture or status could be pulled from cyberspace even if they thought it was long gone. Now administrators are teaching kids to "cleanse" their online presence and "sanitize" their digital image. If everything is permanent, how is one supposed to make their digital presence immaculate? 

KC Redesigns Logo

   Graphic designer Emily Elmore has created much talk, regarding her new logo design for KC. Elmore provided this re-amped logo to the Kansas City government free of charge. Opinions about the logo came pouring in, and most of them were not pleasant. Many people have called the logo a "boring...monogram...". Despite the high criticism that surrounds her logo, Elmore has defended it stating "Any press is good press". 

    Redesigning has recently become a trend and many are leaning towards simplistic, contemporary designs. Elmore pulled from many sources of inspiration to create this new logo. The interlocking K and C reminisce of old sport team logos and the C and H found on the doors at city hall. The seriffed font keeps it somewhat traditional. Although the seriffed font ties the logo with some of Kansas City's past, the bright mint green is what some might call "contemporary". Kansas City is a city that has much depth, and it's logo should do it justice. Officials of Kansas City only see the redesign as an opportunity to bring the city and it's past into the 20th century. 

    I do not like the new logo at all. I don't feel that it embodies the vibe of Kansas City and it is an idea everyone has seen hundreds of times before. The interlocking K and C is an old design that has been around forever. The mint green and grey contrast very nicely, but I don't like them in a logo for Kansas City. The logo is very clean, but clean can also be a synonym for boring. Clean and simplistic design should still be eye catching and original. 

Designer of New KC Logo Rises Above the Tempest