The Rise and Consequences of the Information Age

    Over the last 2000 years, humanity has progressed rapidly from sticks and stones to hydraulic presses, 3D printing, and even spaceflight. If someone from even 100 years ago was somehow transported to today, they would be amazed at all of our achievements architecturally, culturally, technologically, and our luxuries. After spending some time getting over their awe, people would realize that our progress has also led to some consequences for all its benefits. We love technology. Technology has made our lives easier both in the working world and in the privacy of our own homes, and yet, we can barely recognize the consequences, let alone address them.

    First, before looking at these consequences, we need to look back at history and compare what life was like. To think that just 100 years ago, we did not have computers, ships still ran on coal, airplanes had just been developed, and Detroit was an economic powerhouse. This was when some semblance to our modern lifestyles began with long-distance communication infrastructures such as the invention and use of the telegram, cars were mass-produced by Ford, skyscrapers were erected, and culture flourished with Jazz music, swing, and movies becoming popular. America underwent the first civil war before expanding to what it is today, Napoleon was attempting to conquer all of Europe, Germany didn’t exist, and Asia was either in isolation or suffering natural disasters or famines. This is the point at which any similarity to how we live today ends as luxuries that we would consider basic today like clean water, sanitation, and heating were all but reserved for the rich and powerful. Three hundred years ago, Feudalism reigned across Europe and Asia, the first republics and fundamental freedoms began to gain influence, and the industrial revolution began. Jobs shifted from small workshops with a master and apprentice relationship to the grueling and dangerous factories. Looking back 1000 years, the Dark Ages were in full swing with practically all knowledge of this time being lost, the standard of living was abysmal, and entertainment or freedom was almost unheard of. As horrible as these conditions were then, it is hard to imagine that life being better than what we have today. However, the rapid advancement of technology has caused some rather unique problems that we have yet to address as a society.

    One could argue that as this modern 21st century was just kicking off Steve Job’s Apple Computer, Inc.’s BIG “Think different” ad campaign was laying the groundwork for a technology-driven culture war that exists in so many dimensions of our society in 2021. Apple’s behemoth “Think Different” advertising campaign, which remains ongoing, combined with its world-changing iPhone smartphone product line together have done more to impact the quantity and quality of human communication in this technology age we are immersed in. We face so many conundrums as a result of the rise of such technology. In particular, while many people may be communicating more frequently and with a broader number of individuals who are connected via “smart” communication devices, it is questionable if the quality of communication is also being increased or if it has been diminished in significant ways.  Today, entire communication exchanges occur regularly on smartphones using emoticon symbols that strike a resemblance to the languages written in stone thousands of years ago. Today’s technology-driven social media communication platforms also seem to be contributing to more surface-level exchanges, often of the inflammatory type, versus deep exchanges of thought or critical thinking about culturally important issues. America may have already passed the crossroad where one common language was promoted and accepted for the common good of a nation. America is fast becoming a challenged nation as we become more and more divided racially, economically, culturally, and politically. For example, the 2021 Academy of Motion Pictures’ Academy Awards ceremony recently experienced yet another year of tremendous decline in viewership, suggesting that large swaths of Americans even have a problem with entertainers being active in a culture war.  Last, a significant number of America’s most powerful corporations are now actively and controversially engaging in our expanding culture war, even as these corporations employ more and more technology to automate work processes that reduce their human workforce, causing more strain in the technology-driven culture wars.

    

    One constant throughout human history is war and while the methods change, the fundamentals always stay the same. As our advancements in industry, agriculture, and entertainment grew, so did our desire to take from others and the methods to complete such a goal. Eventually, our weapons advanced to such a state that war could no longer be decided by a handful of battles or skirmishes, instead, war required the entire weight of a nation to be levied against its adversaries, be they soldiers or civilians. With the change came horrors against all as giant metal beasts roamed the battlefield, the sky rained explosives fired from artillery far away, snipers struck fear into the hearts of the combatants, and people watched as their homes and cities burned as the air raid siren was blaring in the distance. This mass traumatization of the globe caused many nations to become isolated in a desperate attempt to evade suffering. Others thought that through close cooperation the world could come together and throw off the cycle of endless war, but their dreams were crushed at the outbreak of WW2, the dissolution of the League of Nations, and the current collapse of the UN caused by corruption and genocide. Yet, a handful of nations think that the only way to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity is through the subjugation, reeducation, and destruction of other cultures. Why? Why would any country or, better yet, why would a human think that this is an adequate solution? If a people who have seen hardship and death at the hands of others see the same signs leading up to a repeat, is it a wonder why they would seek to avoid a large and grueling conflict by stopping the problem before it arises? I do not condone war, nor do I seek it, but we must acknowledge that due to the luxuries and all the benefits our technology gives, we have created the very environment and created the very tools required to enact that which we fear most.

“Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could they didn’t stop to think if they should.” – Dr. Ian Malcom from Jurassic Park

The Eight Values

 Under the First Amendment of our Constitution, protection is a guarantee for The Eight Values of Free Expression, yet like no other time before, these values face constant challenge and brutal assault by those who neglect to be tolerant of differing or opposing thoughts and beliefs.

1. Marketplace of Ideas 

2. Participation in Self-Government

3. Stable Change 

4. Individual Self-Fulfillment 

5. Check on Governmental Power 

6. Promote Tolerance

7. Promote Innovation

8. Protect Dissent

Of the Eight Values of Free Expression, it is vital that we relentlessly protect Promote Tolerance. Tolerance is what drove the Colonists out of England and became the bedrock of our Constitution. The concept of tolerance is easily understood - to respect that which is different and that which we may not agree. As toddlers, we learn tolerance when learning to play with others. As children, we are taught to be tolerant of those who look or sound different. As young adults, we are taught to tolerate and respect different opinions, religions, and beliefs. Yet, as adults living and working in a complex and chaotic world, tolerance is, at times, quickly abandoned to fear when our political views, personal opinions, or beliefs of racial equality are attacked and at risk of alteration due to the beliefs of another. Social media may be the single most egregious media source that allows for the corruption of tolerance and the perversion of freedom of speech simply because of how quickly and far-reaching words can spread through the many forms of social media. With that said, there is much to be learned from social media exploits, such as the fine art of deciphering between truths and nontruths. Propaganda and the manipulation of the truth are rampant throughout social media, raising tensions in more ardent defense of free speech. Whether of high moral ground or rooted in hate, we seek truth and what is just on principle. The question then becomes how do we comprehend what is moral, truthful, just and weed out evil disinformation and lies? In The Tolerant Society: Freedom of Speech and Extremist Speech, Bollinger theorizes a more psychological way to differentiate between moral truth and evil lies, "if one looks not at the speech but at the motivation behind the restrictions, one may properly conclude that the restrictions were imposed for bad reasons."

Optimistically, Stable Change is the Value of Free Expression most personal to me. There is nothing more crucial in the political arena than allowing candidates to speak unfettered to their constituents. It is equally vital for the people to speak freely to their respective candidate. In Tractatus-Theologico Politicus, Benedict Spinoza believes that citizens will grow more restless under a dictatorial rule stating, "so constituted that there is nothing they would more reluctantly put up with than that the opinions they belief to be true should be outlawed." Look no further than to the west coast state of California to see this playing out today concerning the unconstitutional ban on the people's freedom to religious worship during the Covid-19 epidemic. The religious citizens of California stood up, spoke out, and took their case to the Supreme Court to victory.

EOTO The Birth Of The Internet

Birth of the Internet

On January 1, 2021, while the world ushered in a new year, the technology world was celebrating something entirely unknown to technophobes and the general public alike – the 38th birthday of the Internet. On January 1, 1983, the Internet's maiden voyage into the world of global communication and information sharing took place, and a standard communication protocol between computers was born. 

It may be surprising to learn the Internet has been around much longer than 38 years. The first digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIC), was created in 1945 by the Army, Ordnance Corps, Research and Development Command under Major General Gladeon M. Barnes and designed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckhert as a way to solve complex, wartime ballistics tables. However, ENIC was not able to communicate with another computer. The ENIC's first program was a study on the atomic bomb's feasibility. It was 1000 times faster than electro-mechanical machines, and it calculated a trajectory in 30 seconds when it took humans 20 hours. Even though ENIC technology was ahead-of-its-time, it was 24 years later, in 1969, when the United States military-develop Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) first linked four computers together to transfer information, even if nuclear war had decimated the world. On October 29, 1969, Internet history was made when two computers, one at Stanford University and one at the University of California, Los Angeles, connected for the first time via satellite communication. Stanford and UCLA were the first higher-education institutions to host what would one day become the Internet and forever acknowledged as the first universities on the Net.

Known as "Fathers of the Internet," Computer Scientist Vinton Cerf and Electrical Engineer Robert Kahn together designed the architecture of the Internet and the procedures known as the "Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol" (TCP/IP). The vision to provide "...an open, accessible collection of networks operated cooperatively, that allow supercomputers and desktop PCs to share the Internet" belongs to visionary Robert Khan. 

To think of our modern world without the technological advancement of the Internet is to think of our world without other directly related technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), satellites, and mobile communication devices, to name a few. Imagine having to go to a physical uplink node! Think of the environmental implications in a world without the Internet and the potential environmental atrocities of forestry devastation to fulfill the world's paper supply. Over the past 50-75 years, there have been many substantial technological advancements, but it is the creation of the Internet that stands above as one of the most significant. 

Sources:

https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/birth-of-the-computer/4/78  

https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2013/11/history-internet-and-colleges-built-it

https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-the-internet 

https://www.invent.org/inductees/vinton-g-cerf

https://www.invent.org/inductees/robert-e-kahn

https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/ARPANET#:~:text=ARPANET%20was%20the%20network%20that,interconnection%20of%20four%20university%20computers

https://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit07/internet07_02.phtml#:~:text=January%201%2C%201983%20is%20considered,Protocol%20(TCP%2FIP)

https://www.zdnet.com/article/before-the-web-the-internet-in-1991/ 

The History of the Supreme Court

 Established in 1789, the United States Supreme Court is steeped in over 200 years of precedence and controversy. It wasn’t until fourteen years after its inception that the Supreme Court attained the notoriety worthy of its standing as the highest and most powerful court in our nation that was also looked upon as a model to emulate from other nations. The United States Supreme Court evolved as our nation evolved. In 1789, the Supreme Court was made up of six justices which has evolved into nine justices today. Supreme Court justices’ tenure is for life or until voluntary retirement. In 1803, highly respected Chief Justice John Marshall elevated not only his own reputation but the reputation of the Supreme Court by creating judicial review - the power to review and keep in check the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government with one of the most critical cases heard by the Supreme Court, Marbury v. Madison 1803. Being the highest court in our nation, it would be reasonable to think the United States Supreme Court would be inundated with caseload annually. However, just 7000 petitions for certiorari cases are received by the Supreme Court every year. Of those 7000 cases, only a fraction is heard. After thorough deliberation and circumspection amongst the Justices, the 7000 cases are narrowed down to approximately 100. The Supreme Court hears cases they deem most important and of highest national interest. The workings of the United States Supreme Court are deeply complex. In order for the people to embrace the Supreme Court’s decision on case law, the Supreme Court must work for the people to fulfill their Constitutional right and promise of equal justice under the rule of law.

Statue of John Marshal That Used To Stand In Front of The Supreme Court

Where Do I Get My News From?

 Introduction: Max length should be 1 paragraph

In this day and age, staying up to date on the events ongoing throughout the world and across the country have become ever more important. It seems as for every day that passes, a new story breaks that surpasses the last in importance, severity, and grandiosity. Although this never ending hype train seems to get larger and larger, it is always important to know that you are getting your news from a reputable source. As such, I thought it would be useful for anyone who is looking for news sources to learn where I get my news from.

Source 1: Apple News

My first source, Apple News, is also my primary source of news. Apple News is merely an aggregate app that lists the new compiled from various sources ranging from the larger networks like CNN and FOX to the more local papers. I would recommend this source because it allows you to keep up-to-date on global events and then look for the other sources further down on this list. The app is app is only available on an iPhone but you can get the app here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-news/id1066498020 

Source 2: CNN

CNN's Motto has, since the very beginning, been "The Most Trusted Name In News". While that motto has seemingly been little more than a joke for the past couple years; non-the-less, it is still the main source of news for many Americans. As such, even though I do believe it to be biased similarly to other news networks, it is still important to know the arguments and stories being shared by those across the political isle. In essence, CNN can be used to learn accurately about scientific achievements but when it comes to issues related to politics, I see and use it as just a way to hear one side of the story.

CNN's Front Page: https://www.cnn.com/

Source 3: FOX

FOX News is, for all intensive purposes, the opposite of CNN. It too has been heavily criticized by its political adversaries for being too biased. This assertion, while not completely unfounded, shines a light on why I use it as a source. FOX is one of the top media companies in the country and covers a broad scope of national news. Using FOX News you generally gain a contrasting view from CNN which allows you to find the truth in between.

FOX's Front Page: https://www.foxnews.com/ 

Source 4: Louder With Crowder

Steven Crowder is a right wing comedian and political commentator. He uses comedy and humor to lay out the points of a topic to his audience in an entertaining manor. He has worked to create a diverse staff which adds to the quality of the podcast. This gives a wide range of new points, arguments, and perspectives that would otherwise be absent in this casual setting.

Louder With Crowder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIveFvW-ARp_B_RckhweNJw

Source 5: Tim Pool

Tim Pool and his Podcast are not dissimilar to the work that Steven Crowder has done. Tim Pool was also a founding member and the first investigative journalist at Vice News. During which time he earned many awards while traveling the globe before leaving Vice due to what he saw as a mix of tabloid journalism and politicizing of the news. After leaving Vice he created his own podcast in which he discusses the news and does his own investigative journalism as to the stories with his two cohosts. Recently, he began the process towards creating his own news agency which will be similar to that of a watchdog group as they will be focused on calling out other news agencies for their efforts in spinning and misinforming the public.

Tim Pool's Main YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe02lGcO-ahAURWuxAJnjdA