Assignment 5A: Identifying Local Opportunities

1. "A First Step In Restoring Voter Rights"
   http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial-A-good-first-step-in-restoring-the-right-to-vote_164781623
      This article from January 24th, 2018, talks about the citizen-led petition in Florida to let ex-convicts have their voting rights back upon completion of their sentences as opposed to how the law works now, where they must qait until they have their full civil rights back before gaining the right to vote, which has proven to take many years.
Supporters of this petition, which will be appear as Amendment 4 in the state ballot, point to the fact that Florida is only one of three states that do not grant ex-convicts from voting until they are given clemency, and how these people have already repaid their debt to society and should get all of their rights back immediately.
Lawmakers who oppose of this amendment have attempted to prevent this amendment from reaching the 60% vote it needs to become law, by adding other voting bills to the ballot to try and confuse the public. Those who support the amendment must unite and gain a strong following if they want to get this amendment passed.
            The Problems: Ex-convicts in Florida are not being granted their voting rights following their completion of their sentence unlike most states in the country.
            The People: Ex-convicts, Rick Scott, Constitution Revision Commission, Florida Voters


2.   Competing  Scientology-related events "the last thing we need for our downtown"
          http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/City-Competing-Scientology-related-events-the-last-thing-we-need-for-our-downtown-_164633450
            This article explains the rift between two organizations, specifically events attempted to be hosted by both the Scientology community in Clearwater and by high-profile and celebrity defectors of the Scientology community. Event applications were sent in less than a week apart, one from the defectors as a meet and greet about Scientology, and one application from the actual Scientology organization. Both applications were denied, with the city manager not interested in competing functions.
            This issue is not just about the friction between  these two organizations. Several event applications were denied this month simply because of supply and demand imbalances. There are not enough police officers available and willing to work overtime to work all of these events and make sure things go smoothly, so as a result, many of them are not able to host these planned events.
            These rejections from the city council for hosting these events has not deterred some of these organizations. The Scientology community still plans to host its block party event, but are limited to just the sidewalks of the city.
                    The Problem: Not enough officers to supervise potential events planned in Clearwater
                    The People: Scientology, Scientology defectors, City council and managers, and  Clearwater police force



3. Bay area foster care shortchanged
                            http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/letters/Sunday-s-letters-Bay-area-shortchanged-on-foster-care-funds_164630206
                     An increasing opioid problem in the bay area is causing a rapid increase in children being placed in bay area foster homes. The problem is that, as the number of children being placed in these homes, due to parent addiction to these types of drugs, the funding for these bay area foster homes are stagnated and cannot support the increasing numbers.
                    One of the surprising statistics given is that Hillsborough county has nearly 700 more people involved in its foster care system, yet receive 20 million dollars less funding annually than the foster care systems in the Miami-Dade area. Also, Pinellas county has as many kids in its foster care system as Miami-Dade, yet they receive 28 million less annually.
                     Citizens are calling for increased resources being allocated to the children involved in these foster care homes as well as to local agencies so that they may invest in strategies that have worked in the past that allow these children and families the opportunity to heal and recover.
                The Problem: Foster care homes are being unequally funded throughout the state, and in some areas, the children and families in the foster care system are receiving enough resources as they need.         
                The People: Bay area foster children and families, Local legislatures


4. Federal chaos comes home; state officials cope with the impacts of the government shutdown on Florida
http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/01/19/florida-braces-for-government-showdown/
                 The Government shutdown in Washington has the potential for profound effects in Florida. Most places will stay open and functional yet the lingering effects from hurricane Irma can make this shutdown particularly stressful.
           With the government shutdown, certain crucial hurricane Irma relief programs are in danger of being shut down or interrupted. Many cities are still waiting for bridge, road and many other maintenance repairs.
           If the shutdown is anything like the once that happened in 2013, there could be political consequences as well. Veterans had difficulties filing claims, and national programs to distribute food were temporarily halted. This time around, the shutdown was caused by disputes over DACA receipt-ants. Governor Rick Scott stood with president Donald Trump on his tough stance on border security.
            The Problem: The possible bad effects on a weakened Florida from the current government shutdown
          The People: Florida Citizens, National Government, Rick Scott

5.  Its so cold that.. Farmers fear for crops, black ice causes a crash and utilities troubleshoot                                                                                                     http://www.tampabay.com/weather/Tampa-Bay-record-lows-burst-pipes-threaten-berry-and-fish-farms_164634457
                    The extreme cold weather unusual to the state of Florida has been causing dramatic effects to the agriculture and infrastructure of the state. Burst pipes as well blackouts have been common place during this stretch of cold weather.
                   One driver struck struck a small patch of ice and lost control of her BMW, causing the car to strike the median wall, she was not badly injured. To prevent accidents like this from happening, some of the roads were shut down so workers can chisel the ice.
                  Other problems have affected Florida's agriculture industry, many strawberry farmers have been affected since the berries cannot grow in this type of weather. Many local farmers will not make it through due to the financial hardships that accompany this cold weather stretch. 
                         The Problem: The freezing temperatures Florida is experiencing is causing a financial burden on farmers and many other citizens
                          The People:  Farmers, Florida Citizens

 

4A: Forming an Opportunity Belief

I believe that  driving under the influence of alcohol is a problem and major opportunities to combat this issue can exist in the near future. Each year, over 10,000 people are killed by accidents related to drunk driving,  about one drunk driving fatality every 50 minutes. (https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving)  Currently, there is not much being done that's effectively stopping these tragedies from occurring. Commercials and strict laws and penalties have not been enough to successfully solve this issue.  The need for a solution is not new, deaths resulting from drivers being under the influence as been common since cars first started coming out. I think there can be a product made that would undoubtedly slash these statistics significantly.  All Cars should have an option to install a breathalyzer attachment, and from the hours between 10 P.M and 4 A.M when the majority of the drunk driving incidents occur, requiring a breathalyzer test to start the car.  I am about 75% sure this opportunity exists. This concept has been suggested, and prototypes based off an idea similar to this exists but as of now, is not very common place.

1.  Early 20's  college student and member of a fraternity 
                  Have you ever driven under the influence or have been in a car with someone who was driving under the influence?
                   " I have never driven drunk, but i know a few people that have before, and one that has gotten a DUI."
                Do you believe we should be taking bigger steps to fight the issue of driving under the influence? 
                 "Yeah, I definitely think so, there should be better ways to prevent people from making these bad decisions when they're drunk and putting themselves and other people at risk."
                Would you believe that over 10,000 people a year are killed by drunk drivers?
            "Yeah, for sure, I hear news stories all of the time about people getting killed by a drunk driver, that number does not sound unreasonable at all to me.
            Would you support or be opposed to purchasing a breathalyzer attachment to your car that would require a test to start your car during night hours?
             " I probably would not buy one because I can control myself and I know when i have hit my limits, but i would recommend it to others I know, and I think there are some people that cannot control themselves as well and should definitely get one if it was available.
               What do you currently do now, to prevent yourself  or others from driving while under the influence?
                " I don't get the urge to drive to places when i drink, like some other people, i know when I can and cannot drive, but sometimes at parties we will all put our keys in a separate area off limits if you plan on drinking, or sometimes we'll just have to take somebodies keys if they start talking about planning to drive somewhere when they clearly shouldn't."
                When did you first become aware of how serious the problem of drunk driving is?
             I've always known for as long as i can remember it was wrong and stupid to do, but it really wasn't until my junior and senior year of high school when i saw even my own friends starting to make these bad decisions, that it occurred to me how dangerous and common this issue is.



2.  Mid 40's European male
                  Have you ever driven under the influence or have been in a car with someone who was driving under the influence?
                            "Never in my life have I tried to drive while having drank previously. As for being in the car with someone who made the decision to do so, i may have once or twice been in a car with someone who I thought may have been questionable, but i never knowingly drove with someone who was drunk.
                 Do you believe we should be taking bigger steps to fight the issue of driving under the influence?      
                      "Yes, absolutely, I have always thought that this was a big problem and that there wasn't enough being done, no one should have their life taken away by one person's stupid decisions.
               
                   Would you believe that over 10,000 people a year are killed by drunk drivers?
                      " Yes, i probably would have guessed a higher number  too, but 10,000 deaths is already a number too high."
                   Would you support or be opposed to purchasing a breathalyzer attachment to your car that would require a test to start your car during night hours?
                       " I believe something has to be done to solve this problem, that may get a little annoying to use after a while if its required to start your car  no matter if you have been drinking or not, but i'm sure most people who drink often and are a risk, would sacrifice a few seconds to possibly save their life or the lives of others and make a purchase like this."
                  What do you currently do now, to prevent yourself  or others from driving while under the influence?
                        " If I am at a bar or restaurant I will only drink a little bit so i can make sure i am fit to drive so I do not find myself being in a situation where i would have to drive home under the influence. When I am in the company of others, i'll encourage them to do the same."
                 When did you first become aware of how serious the problem of drunk driving is?
                Drunk driving has always been a problem, but one night i had to call 911 while driving on the highway after I saw someone swerving and then crash over the wall, seeing that made me understand just how serious this issue was and the problems that arise from not wanting to drive your car home are very small compared to the problems you can face if you do decide to drive."




3.  Late 20's  male college graduate 
                 
                     Have you ever driven under the influence or have been in a car with someone who was driving under the influence?
                             " I will admit to have driven very short distances, no where less than a few miles, when i probably should not have, but I was by no means completely drunk and in a terrible state. I have learned and have gotten much more responsible, i am never going to risk it again"
                      Do you believe we should be taking bigger steps to fight the issue of driving under the influence?      
                               "Absolutely, there's too many people out there dying every day from drunk drivers, there has to be more that can be done."
                   
                      Would you believe that over 10,000 people a year are killed by drunk drivers?
                               "Unfortunately, yes, I'm aware of the severity of the issue and a stat like that does no surprise me at all.
                      Would you support or be opposed to purchasing a breathalyzer attachment to your car that would require a test to start your car during night hours?
                                "That sounds like something would have been good for me when I was in college, i would recommend buying that for others."
                       What do you currently do now, to prevent yourself  or others from driving while under the influence?
                                 " If i know that i am going somewhere with alcohol involved then my friends and I will assign a designated driver or if not, we'll just use Uber, i try not to drive anywhere in these cases if I can help it."
                       When did you first become aware of how serious the problem of drunk driving is?
                     " My parents always told me how wrong and serious it was so I've had it ingrained in me for a long time, it wasn't until i started college when I started to see just how easy it is to get behind a wheel and not think twice about whether you should or not."



Reflection:  From the information I have gathered, it is clear to me that drinking while driving is more common than I had thought. It seems that everyone has either done it at one point or knows others that have. We've all heard from a young age that this was wrong and stupid but it seems to many that they don't start to fully grasp the severity of this problem until they experience it on their own or see others that have made the decision to do so. A breathalyzer to start your car may seem like a nuisance to people, but it may be one of the only ways to truly solve this issue.

Summary:  Based on what I've heard, a breathalyzer test to start your car at certain times of the day would be a definite problem solver, but would not be flying off the shelves.  Nobody wants to believe that they are a risk of drunk driving, or that there could be serious consequences if they, individually, do. We all know it is a huge problem today, but not many are too serious about making a real effort to combat it, making this seem to me, less of an opportunity than before. As an entrepreneur in this case, I would think to adjust the product so it is not as much of a nuisance, such as a feature to turn off the breathalyzer once installed, if you are in a situation where you were not drinking. But doing this seems counterintuitive. As someone concerned about the amount of deaths per year linked to drunk driving, i would have no choice but to stand firm on my product the way it is, and try and promote it in any way possible, to ensure the roads are safer than they were before.
               

                       
                     
    
                   

         

3A: My Entrepreneurship Story

My interest in entrepreneurship started when I introduced me to Shark Tank when I was in 7th grade.  My parents and I would religiously watch the new episode every Friday night and soon I became enthralled in the idea of one day starting my own business from the ground up,and being in charge of my own future. Seeing how, sometimes a very simple business idea, can become immensely profitable inspired me from a young age to pursue a career in business and maybe one day try and build up my own company. From watching several seasons of the show, i learned a lot about how certain entrepreneurs start their own business' and what it takes to build up their company. The show made me think about what kind of problems are still out there and i always wondered if i could ever come up with a good enough idea to make money like many of these entrepreneurs who strike a deal with one of the investors. To me, these people on the show were living the American dream and i always admired that.
I understand that being an entrepreneur is not as glamorous as Shark Tank makes it out to be. Very few actually make a lot of money being an entrepreneur and to have a chance, it requires an abundance of hard work and trial and error. I decided to take ENT 3003 because I know that becoming a successful entrepreneur is difficult to achieve, but it is possible. I want to understand the mindset and thinking that is involved in successful entrepreneurs, and to figure out if this is the right path for me.  What I hope to get out of this class, is a better idea of what entrepreneurship is and how the best entrepreneurs find success. I want to learn how I am supposed to create opportunities for myself to have the best chance of finding success should i decide to pursue a career path as an entrepreneur.

Assignment 2A: Bug List

Assignment 2A - Bug List

1.  Long waits for the crosswalk on SW13th St
WHY it exists: People driving cars need to pass through the intersection as well, and there is many more cars trying to drive through than people trying to walk across the road in most cases.
2. Puke in the toilets/sink in the Broward 3rd floor bathroom
WHY it exists: Students cannot handle their alcohol consumption and drink too much, making them sick and causing them to throw up in the bathroom.
3. UF Wifi goes out when I am trying to work on an assignment
WHY it exists: Too many people connected to the Wifi may cause the connection to falter or shut down altogether temporarily during, or there is interference to the Wifi and as a result, the connection is affected.
4. Forgetting my key when i leave my room and have to wait until someone can let me back in
WHY it exists: Sometimes i am in a hurry and remembering that I need my key to get back in my dorm completely slips my mind.
5. Walking to the superior Gator dining instead of the much closer Broward dining.
WHY it exists: Gator dining has much better food options, as well as a larger selection than Broward dining, and they have many more TV's than Broward  has, as well as more areas to sit.
6. When my contacts get stuck in my eye
WHY it exists: My daily disposal contact lenses are thinner than normal ones and they often get stuck under my eyelid, eventually sliding out several minutes later once i put another contact in my eye.
7. When the Broward Laundry machines won't take my card and I have to move all my clothes to another washer or dryer.
WHY it exists: Sometimes, certain laundry machines will be out of order or just does not display the "Insert card" message on the screen, and it would be after I put in all my clothes already before I realize it is not working.
8. When people order too much on their pita at Pita Pit and i cannot wrap it easily
WHY it exists: People feel the need to get the absolute most out of what they paid for and want every single topping we have available on their pita, making it very difficult to wrap, often causing rips and tears in the already fragile pita bread.
9.  Paying for a textbook I never even open
WHY it exists: Often times, professors will recommend or require books for the class but with other resources that are provided such as lectures or practice tests or smokin' notes, the textbook becomes inessential and does not need to be bought.
10. PlayStation connection lags when playing online in my dorm
WHY it exists: The UF Wifi is not strong enough to reach my dorm room fully and so as a result, the PlayStation online quality suffers a little.
11. Having to skip breakfast because i wake up too late for class or work
WHY it exists: I set multiple alarms to wake me up in the morning but i am undisciplined and always fall back asleep and wait until the last alarm because then i know i have to get up, but by that time, it is too late to eat. 
12.  When the line at Subway at Rawlings is too long
WHY it exists: The Subway at Rawlings is the only food establishment nearby that is open past 11:00 PM and so everybody that lives in Broward and Rawlings and other nearby dorms always go Subway once the dining hall closes.
13. When the trash builds up in my dorm 
WHY it exists: The trash buildups quickly in my room and neither my roommate or I like to take it out when it gets full so we usually just wait until it overflows and needs to be taken care of.
14. When Student Rec is too crowded at night
WHY it exists: There are only two places to workout on campus, and Southwest gym is very far away from most of campus and so everybody goes to student rec. I try and go either early in the morning or late at night, when there is less people, but sometimes it is still too crowded to do everything i want to do.
15. Having to walk to the Reitz to print papers
WHY it exists: I do not own a personal printer, and Broward hall does not have a printer in its library, so i have to walk down to the Reitz union and use their computer lab every time i need to print something out.
16. When there is no paper towels in the Broward hall bathroom
WHY it exists: The custodial staff refills paper towels on the weekends, but people overuse the paper towels all the time and often times by the end of the week, there is none left to dry your hands.
17. When my phone randomly dies when the battery is above 10%
WHY it exists: As newer Apple products come out, the older models start to break down after a while. Often times, the battery life of an older model iPhone starts to dwindle until it gets to the point where it will often die long before it reaches 1%
18. When the lights turn off when I am in the shower in the Broward hall bathroom
WHY it exists: The lights in the bathroom are operated by a motion sensor but they do not reach the shower stalls, making it so that if you are in the shower too long and nobody else is in the bathroom, the lights will turn off.
19. Turning the TV off at night when it is time to sleep
WHY it exists: I am used to sleeping with the TV on at night, because it is a comfort to me and I like having the stimulation. But my roommate does not like sleeping with it on so i have had to get used to sleeping without it.
20. Having to pay when I play pool at the Reitz Game Room
WHY it exists: The Reitz charges money to let people use its pool tables, ping pong tables, and bowling alley, even though it should just be a place where students can blow off steam and relax without having to pay each time to use them, but they have to make money some way.

Reflection:  This assignment was not so difficult for me because living in a dorm hall with dozens of people makes it so there is often things that go on that bug me, especially when sharing one bathroom.  Perhaps if I was still living at home with my own space and a routine i was completely familiar with, the assignment would be a little tougher, but still getting used to a new lifestyle makes it so there are many things I can identify that bother me, because I have just not gotten used to them yet.
In the last year, I have had to deal with many changes in academics, work, and where I am living, and so it becomes easier to identify these "bugs" when things are still new and still a little uncomfortable.  I do not consider myself high maintenance by any means, but coming from a home with resources like food, printing, and a steady internet connection, among other things I needed readily available to me, to now sharing a small living space with many others can be bothersome in many ways. My routine has changed drastically and it is still taking some getting used to, so I was able to draft a list of 20 bugs fairly quickly.

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