Less Privacy Is Goog For Us

Etzioni, In her article, talks about our privacy and our right for the government to stay out of our business. She gives a very good example of HIV testing of infants. Some gay activists claim that when a baby is tested for HIV and comes back positive, it coherently tells that the mother is also HIV positive, and that information is invading the mothers' privacy. An estimated two thirds of mothers are unaware that they are HIV positive, and even though it would be a good thing to inform the mother, some argue that she should not know unless she asks to know.
Etzioni informs us of the complexity of privacy issues with the topic of biometrics. She gives examples of how it is used at ATM machines to recognize faces so the client can cash checks. But once your face is captured by the computer, the same system can be used to identify you any where in the country, possibly the world. For a more beneficial way to look at this technology is to now that it can be used to properly identify any one. Whether they may be a criminal that has escaped, or some one that didn't go to their hearing, or even to identify some one claiming multiple income tax refunds, having this technology will make it easier for the government to know who we are, where we are doing something, and when we did it. But only if they have a reason, would they care to look for you. This technology is used to protect us, not secretly spy on us.

The Myth of Social Concensus

The Myth of Social Con-census is about a person that is trying to get rid of people abolishing books from local libraries or schools. She believes that books are the means by which people learn of the real world. She gives examples of reasons why some books are banned. Such as, because the book has too dark of a feel, talks too much about a religion, or it has sexual content. Many of the examples she presents cases from schools. There have been incidents where the school librarians have crossed out profanity from the pages of books. She wants to promote freedom of speech through books and if schools or, any one else for that matter, distort the material of a book; it is considered not allowing the author to express their ideas.
I agree with Tisdale to a point. I am totally for freedom of speech and freely expressing ones ideas, but I would not want my younger children to be aware of many of the horrible truths of the world until I figure that they are mature enough to handle it. I would not want my daughter reading books about teenagers having sex and thinking that it is ok to participate in sexual relationships before marriage just because the world has lowered its' standards. Not every one has to conform to they every one else acts.

Evolving Opportunities

The Evolving Opportunities video was all about the different stages that Immokalee has gone through, as well as all of the additions that have taken part in its history. Agriculture has and, in my opinion, always will be the main source of business that will take place there. They grow cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon and even peppers. One of the main exports that Immokalee farms grow is citrus fruits. With thousands of acres of oranges, grape fruit, and limes, its no wonder why. Once oil was found, it brought a whole new wave of entrepreneurs into play. Exon mobile was one of the biggest companies that bought the oil. They had under ground oil pipes that ran across Florida from Immokalee to Fort. Lauderdale. The Seminole Casino also helped the community grow. It brought in a lot of tourist and a lot of money.
It is really interesting to discover Immokalees' true past. I had no idea how detailed it is. I also have a greater respect of those who have put their whole lives into making it into what it is today. Many decades of back breaking work went into making Immokalee prosperous. As for the Casino, I guess its good business. It employs well over 500 people and it brings in a lot of money for the community.

Outpost of Opportunity

The video Outpost of Opportunity, told of a lot of history from when Immokalee first started off. The are used to be heavily swamped. Which the native Seminoles used for their advantage. They used the swamp waters to travel and trade with other groups of people. They used the land as shelter. They also used the animals for food and as a type of trading good. They would sell the hides of alligators as a main source income, or at least traded it for tools or clothing. To the Seminoles, the swamp was their way of life.
Then the government began to drain the swamps, which in turn drove many of the local wild life to die, and eliminated the Seminoles main form of transportation. With all the water drained out, there was a lot of barren land. This started a new business, agriculture and livestock.
I do not think that the government should have drained so much of the swamp lands. They made it harder for the Seminoles to live and forced them to adapt to a new life style. To see what Immokalee used to be is very interesting to me. I never really thought of it as such a historic area. I always just imagined acres upon acres of orange groves.