Internet Censoring

The Internet can provide anyone with almost unlimited information, because of this it is sometimes referred to as the “information superhighway”. Internet censorship limits and even stops the flow of information. Web censoring goes on for many reasons and is used by many different organizations. Some governments use it to limit what their citizens have access too, while schools might uses Internet filters to limit what their students access using school computers. Private companies may limit Internet to try to keep their employees on task. The programs which block the websites are usually called Web Filters and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are made for the parent wanting to limit what their child sees on the Internet, while others are massive and created for blocking a website from a whole nation of people. An example of a larger massive firewall is commonly called the Great Firewall of China. Other nations like Cuba force citizens to use a public access to browse the Internet. There are now many groups like the OpenNet Initiative that support and inform people about Internet Censoring. Other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union push governments, through politics, to keep the Internet uncensored.

Through the use of embedding content in websites private companies have the ability to track a person’s movements on the Internet. A prime example of a company with this ability is Facebook. Every time you see Facebook’s “like” button on a website, and sometimes even your name or profile picture from Facebook, that web site had to get that information from Facebook. Facebook sent the site the information which then displayed it to you. When Facebook sent the information, your name and the website it was sent to was more than likely logged somewhere on one of Facebook’s servers. On top of this Facebook never asked you if it was ok to share this information (they probably have a clause in their terms of service that allows this). Sending your name to the website also makes it possible for that site that is receiving the information to find out exactly who is visiting their website. Websites previously would have to go through much more difficult channels to get the name of those on their websites.   Although they publicly deny taking actions like this, their having the ability to do track people through the Internet is an enough for some people to take this on as a serious privacy concern.

Longboarding

Longboard skateboarding is a sport like no other.  Riders all appear with a certain unmasked grace that I have not seen in any other sport. When you first experience riding a 40 inch by 10 inch longboard you may find it difficult to balance or to not fall off the board. If you only force through the awkwardness of first learning you will soon master the longboard. Riding will become second nature and you will no longer have a constant fear of falling off. Once your confidence has risen you may decide to take on a hill. Before you do so you should check a few things. Make sure the hill is free from pot holes or debris, you have a place to ride out your speed, and you must ensure that there is no automotive traffic for you to deal with. Once you’ve decided the hill is safe to run then it’s time for the moment of truth. You’ve reached the top and are about to go past the point of no return. Your back foot leaves the ground and your speeding towards the bottom of the hill. On issue of stopping you don’t have too many options. There are two real ways to spot, you can remove your back foot from the board and drag it on the ground, or you can break traction in the wheels and use their drift to slow you down. The second option is much more difficult; however advanced riders and professionals prefer it when you need to come to a complete stop quickly. As you speed down the hill your feel the wind rushing by you and feel a sense that can’t be felt on through any other sport. You keep speeding up, and you may experience know as speed wobbles. It is where your board wobbles, and due to an instinctual human reflex you may exponentially increase their severity by turning against the wobble. The whole process is very similar to over correcting while driving a car. If you survived the wobbles, or are just barely keeping control of the board you should now be reaching your top speed. Then you’re slowing down and your first hill run was successful. 

visual elements in one hour of my life

My hour of watching the visual elements in my daily routine started when I woke up. The first thing I noticed was a large goldfish box in the corner of my dorm room. It advertises the fact that it doesn’t have any artificial preservatives or any trans-fat in bold print at the top of the box. In the center of the box there is a large smiling goldfish and a picture of a block of cheese which says that the cracker is made with real cheddar cheese. The next thing I noticed was a flyer on my way out of the dorm to breakfast. It was white and was advertising the RISE (Residents in Science and Engineering) tutoring which would happen in the lounge 6:30- 10:00 Sunday to Thursday. There is a picture of a person writing on a massive chalk board what looks to be a large equation or math problem. In yellow highlighter there is the words “Advice form upperclassman Engineers who have been in your shoes” and “We can help” in bold print. Lower on the flyer there is the words “Get ahead of the curve” in a nice looking cursive font. The next flyer I noticed on the way to my first class of the day was for the Residence Hall Association. It was a fourth sheet of paper colored orange. The page was headed with the question “Want to improve your residential experience?” and was shortly followed by “We are your VOICE!!”. It stated the time of the interest meeting and when the elections were held. Lastly in bold again it said find out more on facebook and then provided a shortened link. A few more flyers flew by advertising intermural sports and other organizations followed by a a board with a picture of all the dorm’s Residential Assistances. Then I was out the door headed towards the harcomb dining hall. I first saw the atm wall with names and logo’s of all the banks represented there, including Bank of America. I then saw a blue and white sign for the post office, and a neon sign that said “open” at the paw mart. I walked into harcomb and my attention was instantly captured by the spectacular looking plates where the meal options were laid out on the table in front of the register. Interestingly enough I can never remember my meals ever looking that impressive. I walked to the Cereal area and got some fruit loops. I noticed the signs above each different meal station advertising the food they were serving and they had images of the type of food they regularly serve.  I noticed the napkin holder had a card inside it that listed all the dining halls meal plans and their cost. Next thing I knew I was heading out the door to my first class of the day. I saw a white speed limit sign which said 25 in black. Lastly as my hour expired I notice an orange Clemson Tent outside of Copper Library selling first Friday orange tee shirts.