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Bigger Screens Are Not the Answer!

Nearly everyone has a smartphone these days. Or, advertisers want you to believe nearly everyone does- "smarter phones with bigger screens!" Is it true?

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Bigger Screens Are Not the Answer!
Nearly everyone has a smartphone these days. Or, advertisers want you to believe nearly everyone does- "smarter phones with bigger screens!" And when you do finally cave to peer pressure, they want you to buy a smartphone with the biggest screen available. There’s an obvious joke to play here; something about being bigger is better, and some sort of innuendo. But that’s not going to happen. What will happen, however, is that screens on smartphones will get bigger and bigger. But why?

The Space Race

Back in the 40s and 50s, computers were a new thing. They were bulky and crude compared to the technology we command today. Beyond that, they could compute equations only if the input was just right. The tubes involved in computers had to be moved just right, or they wouldn’t function properly. And then came the computers with the punch cards. To make the computer do exactly what you wanted, you had to have the right punch cards to make that happen. Those cards had to put in the right order as well. If you had a stack of punch cards for a computer, you had to make sure they stayed in the right order. If someone dropped them or moved just one card out of order, then the whole process was messed up. Computers, though helpful, were not as useful as they were meant to be. Organizations still relied on the time-tested and trusted source of computing numbers- the human mind. To do this, having a math degree came in handy. Once someone attained the appropriate degree and proved they could execute the right calculations with reasonable accuracy, they were handed stacks of equations to double-check. This is detailed in “Hidden Figures,” by Margot Lee Shetterly. The movie touches, briefly, on this skill. Therefore, you must read the book because it’ll show you so much more about what went into computing. In fact, that’s where the term “computer” came from; a person who computes equations.

A Computer is a Person

Back before NASA existed, there was the NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NACA was concerned with creating superior airplanes and missiles after World War I. Naturally, when the Second World War erupted, NACA was expanded to research and test new airplanes and aerodynamics. To do this, they needed help to compute the mountains of data that came with the researching, testing, and experimenting. So they hired people with math degrees to do the analysis. Entire buildings of “computers” were hired out. And with the draft invoked, NACA had to look beyond the typical male candidates they were so used to finding. This was part of the catalyst for women, both African-American and white, to find their way into the NACA, and soon, NASA.

The Moon

After World War II, there came another conflict the United States was intent on winning- The Cold War. Hence, NACA was still needed. But now they had to go beyond the skies- they needed to go to space. Then John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, gave his iconic speech on September 12, 1962. In it, he spoke these lines that would forever define space exploration; “We choose to go to the moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and others, too.” With that, the race to the moon was on. As exciting as it was to claim that we would make it to the moon first, there was a problem- they had to figure out a way to get up there. To do that, they needed to train pilots to be astronauts. And therein lay another problem- astronauts can only do so much. To pilot a craft out of our atmosphere, there needed to be a support staff capable of doing it. Constant communication was required. Data needed to be taken and analyzed rapidly. That’s why they started making computers smaller, faster, and lighter. You can read up on the speech through NASA’s site, or watch it on YouTube. Just make sure you’ve checked the best internet deals and packages first so you can save some cash before you do.

Then and Now

Think about this- the smartphones we now use have more computing power than all of NASA did when they put a man on the moon. And yet, we’re using them to play games and watch fail videos. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Fail videos are fun to watch. And setting a high score is great. What NASA inadvertently started in the late 60s—the miniaturization of the computer—has become an obsession. Now the latest trend is to pack more and more computing power into a smaller device. But there seems to be one drawback to all this- the screens are getting bigger.

The Screen Race

I currently use an iPhone SE. The screen is 4 inches. And it works for me. I don’t need a huge screen on my phone. The size of this thing is just right because I have to carry it with me and I don’t want to carry it in my hand all the time either. I also refuse to use a cradle or hustle of this thing. Call me vain, but I wouldn’t be caught dead with a smartphone holster on me. But fashion these days is taking a disturbing trend. Pants are coming with fewer pockets. They’re also becoming tighter and tighter.

Why This Trend?

This fascination with tight pants is beyond me. Then again, I was never on the cutting edge of fashion. I grew up in the age when baggy pants were “in.” And better yet, add in a couple extra pockets to make them cargo pants. At first, I didn’t want to buy into the trend. I was so thankful when I did. They were incredibly comfortable! It wasn’t the material that made them comfortable, but the room inside them. I was sealed into some denim torture device. No, I had room to breathe. My pants didn’t judge me, instead, they embraced me and said, “You’ll fit right in!” What could make these pants even better? Pockets! Who’d have thought? By adding an extra pair of pockets you could carry extra stuff on you, like a phone! Yet, as these phones get bigger and bigger, cargo pants are shunned from the fashion world. They’re ostracized and cast out. They’re not “fashionable.” And yet, I’m doomed to carry a massive phone on me without a pocket to carry it in. I ask you, why must we be condemned to this existence? Do we really need screens this big on our phones? And if so, why can’t we have pants that can carry them?

The Next Trend

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m the one who refuses to switch trends. But that’s okay. I’m an outsider anyway, and always have been. Therefore, I’ll stick with my outdated sense of style. I do this because it’s comfortable. Beyond comfort, I know what looks good on me and what I like to be seen in. Therefore, it will be relaxed bootcut jeans, flannel, and a pair of tennis shoes. Even if they come out with a new phone to fit in every pocket, it won’t affect my sense of style. But I have heard of Samsung creating a foldable phone. That might be the new trend. I hope so because a phone that folds will make it easier to fit into a pocket. And when that happens, we’ll have the best of both worlds; big screens, and a pocket that can fit them.

Hurricane Florence

An update and overview of Hurricane Florence's impact on the eastern seaboard. The storm has left a hefty amount of damage in its wake.

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Hurricane Florence
On Friday, September 14th at 7:15 am, local time, Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina. At one-point Hurricane Florence was a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, the scale for quantifying hurricane size and strength. Hurricane Florence reached Category 5 status a couple days before making landfall. As it approached the eastern seaboard, however, it weakened and downgraded all the way to a Category 2 by Friday morning. After making landfall, Florence began moving north-northwest, and weakened even further. Technically it’s now a Tropical Storm. Despite it’s demoted status, Florence is still releasing rains well above the average for the region. Numerous rivers in the area were experiencing flooding before Florence made landfall, and now they’re well beyond their banks. Cities in the area were already evacuated before Friday morning.

What’s Next?

Although Florence is moving northward, experts are expecting to see it regain strength by Wednesday and to deposit even more precipitation in western North Carolina and southeast Virginia. Officials are speculating that Florence could “re-intensify as it transitions to an extratropical cyclone.” An extratropical cyclone is another name given to the heavy storms that come with a low-pressure system. Extratropical cyclones can also be blizzards and the like. With hurricanes there are rain-bands, emanating out from the eye of the hurricanes. Tropical storms and extratropical cyclones also have rain-bands, though not as intense as those found in hurricanes. As Florence weakens and moves over the North Carolina-Virginia region, there is still the potential for heavy rainfall. This rainfall can result in landslides, more flooding, and high winds.

The Cost

Until the storm subsides, the true extent of the damage is unknown. Rescuers and government officials have already detailed massive flooding in the affected areas. The city of Wilmington, apparently, has been cut off due to flooding. Homes being washed away is a common report. The total count of homes is yet undetermined. Other areas of the South and North Carolina coasts equipped with levees have issued breach warnings. The levees have had to deal with above-average rainfall for weeks leading up to Friday morning’s landfall. Now with the surge in rainfall, some are skeptical of the levees continued functioning. As of this writing there have been no reports of any levees or dams failing in the area. Other cities, such as Charleston and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, reported only a power outage two, as well as some debris to wash up on the shore. Cities to the south of the hurricane experienced high winds and significantly less rain. This is due in part of the spin of the hurricane. As they’re on the southside, Florence has already dumped all the water to the north. All that’s left by the time it reaches the southern edge is just wind. Unfortunately, the true cost of the storms has been to be determined as rains continue to pound the areas north of Florence and rescue efforts are still ongoing. So far there have been eighteen confirmed deaths due to flooding and hurricane related accidents. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and residents affected by Hurricane Florence. 9/20/2018 Update- There are now 32 confirmed deaths linked to Hurricane Florence

Windstream Internet Review 2020

For those who haven’t heard of Windstream yet, consider this your first introduction. As they expand, and help more people, we'll hear a lot more.

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Windstream Internet Review 2020

Windstream Internet Review 2020

It is the year 2020 and with all the talk about coronavirus some stories are getting buried especially those about companies who are providing excellent internet and tv service.  For those who haven’t heard of Windstream yet, consider this your first introduction. If this were a movie, there’d be this cool intro where the CEO of Windstream would walk in and start talking about…something important. Or, if the movie was created and produced for younger ages, there would be a song and dance number. As a comedy, Windstream would be portrayed as the hardworking company that was getting no love in the media. What’s important to understand is that Windstream is expanding and they’re doing so at a consistent rate. Whether they ever make their story into a movie is not the point. Would make for an interesting movie though.

By the Numbers

Windstream currently has a presence in all fifty states. Of the 42,000 zip codes in the United States, you can find Windstream in 14,854 of them. If my math is correct, that’s 35% of the country. That’s not bad. The 35% of the country that can get Windstream service, there’s a range of options available. Depending on the area, customers can choose DSL, cable, fiber, and fixed wireless. Check with the best Windstream deals to find out what’s available in your area. Their top download speeds, for fiber, is 1 gigabit. That’s their fastest. Unfortunately, their fiber coverage is only 20% of their total areas served. But it’s not all bad, there are other services that you can get to make it worth your while. Windstream is also one of the top providers when it comes to downloading times during peak hours. Netflix has this handy speed index that calculates every provider and how well they handle downloads during peak hours. These peak hours are usually 5-10 pm every night. The average for their DSL connections over the last year is 3.17 Mbps during peak hours. This makes them one of the more reliable ISPs out there. That reputation for reliability has also helped them as they seek to expand. Within the last two years, they’ve merged with Earthlink and acquired Broadview Networks. Through these expansions, they’ve been able to utilize and incorporate these networks into their unique branding.

What Have They Been Up To?

Like any good company, Windstream has been busy.

Veterans and Military

In August, they were named ranked among the best companies for veterans. US Veteran’s Magazine listed Windstream on their Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies. Windstream stood out among the other 350 companies that participated. The Military Friendly Designation was also bestowed on Windstream by VIQTORY with help from the Military Friendly Advisory Council. They were ranked eighth for the 2019 fiscal year.

Fixed Wireless

Windstream has also been working to expand their fixed wireless capabilities. Unlike satellite internet and tv companies like hughesnet, viasat and directv, which can be affected by weather, fixed wireless uses line-of-sight. A receiver, installed on the home or structure, will connect with the transmitter on a tower or a tall structure. So long as the line-of-sight is unimpeded, customers can get reliable internet. This method is far more cost-effective for rural customers, and for ISP startups. Windstream utilized this technology to connect Poteau, OK. Located in Eastern Oklahoma, Poteau is like any other city; they need reliable internet to connect to the larger world. Given Poteau’s rural location, however, deploying fixed broadband to the area has been economically challenging. Windstream took on that challenge and rolled out fixed wireless technology to the area. So far, the first phase allows 900 residents to get fixed wireless installed. When the entire project is completed, about 8,800 residents will have access to fixed wireless. As fixed wireless technology expands, residents who once had their options severely limited, if any at all, now have the same opportunities as those in more urban areas. And Windstream is part of realizing that dream.

Their Biggest News

While Windstream is helping to connect rural areas, as well as residential customers, they’re all helping small businesses. To do this, they created OfficeSuite UC. OfficeSuite provides a means for small to medium-sized businesses to run their operations through the cloud. Like most UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), OfficeSuite provides a means for small business to send messages, collaborate, and meet, among other things, all through cloud connectivity. What’s set OfficeSuite apart is the fact they’ve grown by 20% year-over-year. While this may not sound terribly exciting to most people, when you stop to think about it, it’s quite mind-boggling.

What this Means for Windstream

Winning awards, accolades, and exceeding sales goals are all signs of healthy company growth. But it’s nothing new. What really matters is what Windstream is doing. And more important than that, what is Windstream working towards? Let’s see... Windstream is on target to expand and help more and more customers connect to the internet. With this as their main goal, Windstream is working hard to make this a reality. The fact that they’re winning awards and hitting sales goals is just icing on the cake. These metrics are really pointing to how many new customers they’re helping, and how they’re running their business. And it’s working. Windstream, though considered “small” is doing more than what the bigger companies are; they’re utilizing different technology and targeting unique markets. They’re doing things differently. While the bigger companies are still around, they’re expanding into more and more markets. If AT&T’s purchase of Time-Warner isn’t contested, then AT&T’s focus will shift. They’ll begin to expand HBO and other entertainment properties held by Time-Warner. Providing more and more entertainment options seems to be their top priority, rather than reaching more and more customers. Windstream is moving up into the void created by such expansion. While it probably won’t hurt AT&T too much, Windstream stands to gain a lot from AT&T’s lack of focus in this area. If this were a movie with a good scriptwriter, there’d be some intriguing scenes written about this expansion. Instead of a boardroom, there’d likely be shots of exec’s walking around, talking with sharp wit about what to do now that AT&T is distracted. That is if this were a movie.

Try out Windstream

I know I keep bringing up the movie analogy, but what can I say? I watch a lot of movies. Out in the real-world Windstream is a solid company with more than just internet to offer. They have OfficeSuite. They’re also actively utilizing fixed wireless and working with veterans and the military. It wouldn’t be so surprising to see them overtake one of the “bigger” names like AT&T internet, Centurylink Internet, Spectrum internet soon

. Even if that doesn’t happen, Windstream is one of the many ISPs available across the United States. It may not be as big as let's say a Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Centurylink or ATT but don't let that fool you.  Windstream internet deals, streaming options and customer service make it a formidable opponent to the bigger internet and cable companies in the US.  To find if they have a presence in your area, input your zip code through Konecteaze This way you’ll see the deals, and who’s providing them, in your area. And then you can stream any movie, or show, written by Aaron Sorkin that involves lots of walking and dialogue. One can easily get the impression that all company executives talk this way. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The truth is that despite no snappy dialogue, Windstream is doing above-average work and is worth taking a lot into.

Remembering Burt Reynolds

There are actors who’ve attained notoriety, and then there’s Burt Reynolds, who made roles, and his mustache, into pop culture icons.

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Remembering Burt Reynolds
There are actors who’ve attained notoriety, and then there’s Burt Reynolds, who made roles into pop culture icons. In the process, he became a pop culture icon himself. The often-mustached Reynolds is best known for the 1977 action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit, and a couple others.

Smokey and The Bandit

Thanks to Reynolds country-boy charm, the character of Smokey has become a well-known trope in movies; the daredevil driver who casually takes on police and outruns them without breaking a sweat. Smokey and the Bandit outran even Star Wars at the box office that year. That wasn’t all that Reynolds did that year. The car from Smokey and the Bandit; the black 1977 Trans Am, became an instant classic. Sales soared, and two more movies were made to capitalize on the popularity of the Trans Am, Reynolds, and his portrayal of Bandit.

“So That’s How it Is”

Burt Reynolds, although a tough-looking guy, was quite the comedic actor. This was evidenced beyond just his role as Bandit. He put his comedy skills on show for The Longest Yard. He played Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a disgraced quarterback who ends up in prison. To settle a dispute with the Warden, and his guards, Crewe heads up a football team to win a high-stakes game against the guards. Crewe, who’s somewhat unscrupulous himself, agrees to take a dive so the Warden will give him preferential treatment. However, after taking a few too many hits, and seeing his own team getting demolished, Crewe attempts to renegotiate a deal. Only for the Warden to double-cross him. After getting up off the grass from a particularly grueling sack, Crewe shakes his head, grabs the ball, and says “So that’s how it is.” From that moment on the inmates play tougher, harder, and meaner football than they’ve ever played. And Crewe’s the worst of them all. Reynolds would go on to play in the remake that was released in 2005. He would play a disgraced football coach who would end up coaching Adam Sandler in the titular role of Paul Crewe. It wasn’t bad as far as remakes go. The good news is Reynolds was just as funny as Coach Scarborough as he was playing the original Crewe.

Deliverance

Although Reynolds would be nominated for an Oscar for his role in Boogie Nights, he’s best known for his role as Lewis in Deliverance. Reynolds played the outdoor enthusiast Lewis in a troupe of four who decide to canoe the fictional Cahulawasse River. It’s not the adventure they bargained for when they run into local folk who don’t take kindly to outsiders. There are a few dead bodies by the end of the movie while Reynolds and the remainder of the party try to cover up what really happened. Thanks to Reynolds popularity, the movie did well at the box office. There’s some debate surrounding why the film didn’t win for any of the three categories it was nominated in. Or why Reynolds, or the rest of the cast, didn’t receive acting nominations. But that’s history now.

Burt Reynolds

Reynolds enjoyed a successful career as an actor, and sometimes stuntman. He’d earn a few more awards for his roles and quite a few Razzies. But make no mistake, Reynolds could act. When he did, his films did well at the box office. On September 6, 2018, Burt Reynolds passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 82. He will be missed.

Jack Ma Set to Retire

Jack Ma's set to retire, and he plans to return to teaching. Take a look back at his career from "failure" to billionaire.

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Jack Ma Set to Retire
In 1988, Ma Yun graduated with a Bachelor of Art in English from Hangzhou Teacher’s University. Located in the capital city of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Teacher’s University, like all universities in China, only offer their entrance exams once. Ma Yun took four years to pass his entrance exams. Even after finishing with a degree, Ma Yun struggled to find a stable job. Throughout the struggle, Ma Yun kept searching for something that would work for him. Then he found the internet. On a trip to the United States in the mid-90s, Ma Yun discovered the burgeoning internet. This thing that could connect people across great distances was truly fascinating to him. More surprising than the internet’s capabilities, was the fact that he couldn’t find any information on China by searching the internet. To solve this problem, Ma Yun began creating web pages. Soon, other businesses and executives approached him to create web pages for them. And Ma Yun was off on an adventure that would change his life. But you already know Ma Yun. As a teenager, Ma Yun would travel to the hotels in Hangzhou city, where foreign tourists would stay when they visited the city. He’d offer to give tours for cash as a way to support his impoverished family. These tours also afforded him another opportunity- honing his English. Thanks to these tours, Ma Yun landed a few pen pals. One of them, finding his name hard to pronounce, gave him a nickname. Jack Ma.

From Failure to Billionaire

Although he did land a job as a teacher, Jack Ma worked on his technology endeavors as well. Soon he created a company that is China’s answer to Amazon- Alibaba. Thanks to this company, as well as Ma’s relentless pursuit to improve, Ma would become one of the wealthiest men in the world. Now, as he turns 54, Jack Ma is looking to retire from Alibaba. He’s expressed interest in returning to teaching. While he has announced his intentions to retire, he’s not out of the company just yet. Reports say he’ll remain with the company for one year before stepping down. During that time he’s going to create a succession plan to find and groom the right leader to take his place at Alibaba. It’s unclear if that person has already been chosen or if Ma is starting from scratch. What is clear is that Ma’s making another in a long line of smart moves for his company. And yet, he struggled in school. What does that say about the current methods for assessing intelligence?

Jack Ma To Lead the Way

By deciding to take the time to find the appropriate successor, Ma’s ensuring Alibaba has a shot at remaining viable after he leaves. When Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were ousted from Apple and Microsoft, respectively, both companies underwent a short of “identity crisis.” They lost the “it” that made them what they were. Simon Sinek calls it their “why,” that goal they’re always striving for. When Jobs and Gates returned to their companies, they managed to get them back on track. And then they worked to ensure there was a succession plan in place in their respective companies so as not to create the same crisis again. And so far, it’s worked. For Ma to be taking those steps now shows just how much he’s learned from others. And more importantly, others’ mistakes. As Ma gets ready for the next phase of his life, it’ll be interesting to see what he plans to do. Now that he’s got the means, and he wants to teach, may we’ll see a revolution in education? And who better to start a revolution in education than a failed teacher?