Reading response for the 18th of February and the 23rd of February

In regards to net neutrality, I believe that it is better for us to try and actually weigh the consequences of attempting to disallow companies to not have fast lanes.

The consequences of disallowing this, to me, possibly outweigh the benefits.

In regards to privacy, I believe the consumers give up some of their privacy in order to use services for free.

The fact is that in order for Americans to be free, we must retain our liberties. However, when we sign user agreements, we give up some of our liberties and freedom and privacy in order to use these services.

This is not to say that this is a bad trend. I only state that users need more transparency when it comes to these user agreements. As most user agreements are written in legal jargon, the average citizen is not going to read these. While I understand that it is written in that manner because they must cover every option, I believe that having a quick manner in which users can read what information is being used and collected would be appropriate.

In regards to the mobile Internet, I believe that the FCC should be able to currently regulate it based on the fact that mobile Communications are based on data packets that get sent through proprietary towers. As this is the case, it should be within reason for them to be able to classify the mobile Internet as within their jurisdiction.

The issue I have with mass collecting of data is that the information can always be misused. Obviously, the issue at hand is that we have been collecting this information for you without regard to privacy or obscurity. The thing is that demographic information can give away a lot more the most people are comfortable with .

Since web sites like Amazon allow wish lists to be public, they leave it open poor people with no intentions to get access to seemingly private information.

I personally do not like the idea that someone can figure out where I live, where I am, and what I do on a regular basis concerning because these people with ill intentions can access services while pretending they are me.

In general, the idea of net neutrality seems like a good one. However, I truly believe that making sure that companies are able to do business as usual is important. I also feel that it is important for people do you know what information is being broadcast on the web. These two concerns must be taken into account when writing any new legislation in regards to the Internet and how it is used.

I also believe that it is important that Internet service providers do not block lawful content for throttle this content in a manner that makes it difficult for anyone to access the content that they are paying to access.

Also, I want to note that I "wrote" this using Google Voice on my phone. And, except for a few errors in grammar and a little frustration with the microphone, it turned out pretty well. This is an example of the free services that we voluntarily give our information to companies to have access to. All with the aim of making our lives easier. 

Net Neutrality

Reading response for 16 Feb 2015 in New Media and Society; on net neutrality and possible implications for and against:

In regards to China changing social media regulations, I am not surprised at their attempt to un-democratize the Internet via regulations on Speech. Any attempt at freedom of speech has always been squelched by China and governments similar to them.

I am not quite sure about Americans and the concept of Net-neutrality because of the possibility that the government will do something similar to that of China and regulate speech as well as speeds. Especially given the track record they have in regards to Wiki leaks and the like. If they feel that the content is "lawful" they would allow it while "unlawful" content would possibly become expanded beyond the appropriate realms. Americans need a realm where all governments have no power: only the people creating content should have power over what they can and can't post.

As we have seen with the Patriot Act, if you give them an inch, they take a mile. Frankly, I am highly skeptical of our government and their ability to do anything correctly. Both sides of the Net-Neutrality coin have decent points. I see no reason that companies shouldn't be allowed to Legoize in order to provide better, faster content.

However, I also agree that companies shouldn't be allowed to throttle competitors to those companies that they wish to work with.

The issue I see us having is coming up with a middle ground between these viewpoints in order to achieve a balanced approach that benefits all involved.

Human rights, taxes and Apple (Reading response for 11 February 2015)

Apple and many other corporations have been able to avoid billions of dollars in taxes through the creation of subsidiaries across state and international borders, Naturally, local governments in California who have been financially defunct in recent years are upset.

Another symptom of this financial strategy seems t be a disconnect from the local people themselves. Google has created WiFi for their local community while Apple, when asked, stated that that they paid taxes for that and the government should provide that service.

I am not personally sure that I agree with either side on this. I think that companies should work with their local governments in order to create a better community and  do this through charitable donations, which Apple does through their matching gift campaign. And they brought jobs to the local area and employees spend money in the local economy. A community should not have the ability to bully any company but conversely  these companies should also help local schools  through donations of technology or partnerships that benefit both groups.

My father owns a small business in the R&D technology industry and our company often donates to the local school systems while we also give individual donations.


The tax strategy that Apple Employs  is now called Double Irish with a Dutch Sandwich, because Apple created two offices in Ireland and through the Irish branch have ties to Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

This is also frustrating for small businesses in the technology industry because these large businesses are able to pay a comparatively less percentage on taxes which leaves individuals and these small businesses on the hook for deficits.

However, California, unlike other states, does not have a balanced budget amendment. Which means that the state borrows money in order to improve while not bringing in the money for these improvements. They are attempting to run a government like a business and it doesn't work because governments are fundamentally different.

We also have to look at how Apple and their companies manufactures their goods.

Apple outsources production of their products to places like China where treatment that we consider cruel and unusual, as well as often a violation of the human rights of workers,

This includes work weeks that are excessively long along with the treat of being let go if you don't go to these long shifts; unreasonably bright light levels to facilitate 24 hour shifts; safety protocols aren't followed in many cases; high enough suicide rates that many companies have started to put in suicide nets to stop people from successfully jumping to their deaths without addressing the root cause of the issue.

Foxxconn is the most infamous of these companies and they make or have made products for:

(Source of list: Wikipedia on Foxxconn)

Reading Response for Feb. 9

MP3: the Meaning of a Format by Sterne

• The Internet allows users to use P2P sharing systems that allow for the wide distribution of information and other interests for people.
• MP3's are the most commonly used file format for the wide distribution of music as it allows more music on a device with less information
• Relies on the use of an algorithm, called perceptual coding,  that is based on human hearing that looses certain pitches in favor of the smaller file size as well as a techniques called lossy compression.
• Telephony, while linked with the invention of the telephone itself, also now encompasses phones communications, VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)/ Internet calling, mobile phone communications, faxing, voice mail and video conferencing.
• Telephony also, at it's inception and forward, have helped to shape how we understand hearing  and helped to shape what it means to hear as well as how new technologies must be shaped around our ability to hear. 

The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It by Zittrain

• In a basic manner, the Internet is a type of "hourglass architecture" in that  the network can be carved into conceptual layers with at least three layers to it: 
  

1. "physical"=bottom and consists of the wires and airwaves that data flows through; 
2. "application"=top and consists of what activities people wish to use the network for;
3. "protocol"= middle and "establishes consistent ways for data to flow so that the sender,the receiver, and anyone necessary in the middle can know the basics of who the data is from and where the data is going." (pg. 67-68)

• Division of labor improves the systems of the Internet.
• The shape of an hourglass represents the ability of anyone who is interested to join in on creation of content and resources.