Current event #5

Samsung is ordered to pay Apple $290 million. 

Julianne Pepitone. Jury orders Samsung to pay Apple another $290 million. CNN. CNN, 21 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. <http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/21/technology/mobile/apple-samsung-damages/index.html>

Samsung is being accused of using Apples design, software, and hard ware ideas, this case has been open for about two years, it started in August 2012. The jury originally stated that Samsung would need to reimburse Apple with $1 billion however, Judge Koh said that the jury miscalculated and there was another trial putting about $450 million on the line. Apple was reimbursed with $290 million more, they feel that they should be granted even more money while Samsung feels that they shouldn't have to pay as much.

I feel that if Samsung did take Apples ideas then by all means, they should have to reimburse them. I feel that you can't just go around taking ideas that aren't yours, especially when they are copyrighted and you're in a big industry like this. Not only does it affect the other company, it affects your image and how other companies will see you. This event affects me because by seeing examples of plagiarism in such big, well know companies this could influence not only myself but others that it's okay to plagiarize.

This event impacts the world because we are taught in school not to plagiarize. If we see well known companies doing this then we might think it's okay for us to do so. Another way that this event affects the world is because if you pay for an iPhone and then you see another phone that has the same features but cheaper you are going to feel like you got cheated out of your money. "Apple accused Samsung of 'slavishly' copying both the iPhone and iPad for its own devices, including the hardware design as well as software features like double-tap zooming."(Apple. 2013.) If this is true then it only reinforces the statement that people who are paying money for iPhones and iPads are being cheated out of their money.

Bi- weekly current event number 4

Driving Selfies

Young drivers snapping 'selfies' at the wheel. 

Heather Kelly. Young drivers snapping selfies at the wheel. CNN. CNN, 6 Nov. 2013. Web. 8 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/06/tech/mobile/selfies-while-driving/index.html>

The newest trend is to take selfies, photos of yourself, while driving. The hash tags #drivingselfie, #drivingselfies, and #drivingtowork  have become very popular in the social media networks Instagram and Twitter. Taking 'driving selfies' is against the law and any driver seen taking these can be given a ticket. 

I think that taking driving selfies is a very dangerous thing to do.  By doing this you are putting not only yourself but other people around you in a lot of danger. This event affects me because I get into a car everyday and if there is a person taking selfies instead of paying attention to the road that could cause me or anyone else around them to be in a serious accident. I think that it is important for drivers to realize that when you are driving your eyes should be on the road at all times. There would not be a law against being on an electronic device while driving if it wasn't needed. 

This event impacts the world because it makes it a less safe place to be. If people are distracted while driving on the road this can lead to many accidents. "Taking a photo of yourself while you're driving a 2,000-pound vehicle down the road at 50 or 60 miles per hour? That is putting your life in danger and putting the lives of those around you in danger," (Jackie Gillan). Can you imagine if you were taking a picture of yourself driving and you caused a death because of that? "Distracted driving played a role in 12% of the fatal accidents." (NHTSA). Driving while you are distracted is against the law, if people would just put their phones away while driving then there wouldn't be nearly as many accidents.