Apple vs. Big Brother

Their company name may be Apple, but the pickle in which the Palo Alto-based tech giant currently finds itself in is far from fruity. After a devastating mass shooting in San Bernadino, California, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes that the criminal's iPhone may hold key information as to his whereabouts immediately after the attack. They have requested that Apple creates new software to grant them access to the iPhone, but Apple has repeatedly refused. At what point do we sacrifice privacy for the greater good of our country?
With their "1984" Super Bowl commercial in 1984, Apple exploded onto the scene as the computer company which would save the world from the stranglehold of IBM. Their allusion to George Orwell's 1984, a novel set in a future totalitarian society, cemented IBM as the bully and Apple as the saviors. That was all cute, but now we are dealing with a real-world situation. This is no longer a metaphorical battle against big government. This is a real one. Furthermore, it is one Apple should give up.
Since 1984, Apple has come out with countless (and by countless I mean over 300) new products. They have come out with over two hundred new software updates over this time! Now, the government is calling, and it is calling with a purpose. Apple needs to man up and do what it does best: make functional software. If anything, they should be rushing to take such an opportunity. They would not be making software for mere enjoyment, but they have the chance to help our country prevent future terrorism. This is an opportunity which cannot be underestimated. Apple, I know you care about privacy. But take one for the team on this one. Make the dang software. It could save lives.

Blog #5: Ana Juan

Precis

Ana Juan, in her 2001 New Yorker cover illustration, asserts that the Twin Towers will always be a part of the New York City skyline, even after their tragic destruction. She accomplishes this through a unique artistic technique, drawing the skyline of New York and including the Twin Towers in the reflection of the Hudson River. Juan hopes to encapsulate the feelings of the country in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack, and capitalizes on her opportunity to draw the cover page of such a publication in such a critical time. Anyone looking to understand the importance of the Twin Towers in the history of New York City would appreciate this drawing.

Response

This drawing is definitely an illustration of the quote: “a picture is worth a thousand words.” At the time, nobody could find the words to explain the feelings of America, specifically the city of New York. Ana Juan was able to do this with a simple drawing. It was nothing that fancy, it was just perfect. It is so beautifully simple. Hundreds of people died, and hundreds of families were affected by loss and injury due to the collapse. Again, the emotions hidden within those statistics are far too significant to convey with words. With Juan’s drawing, anyone in need coud interpret the drawing the way they wanted to, and it gave words to the speechless. Juan was a master with the brush, and she proved it here.