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Blog Post #10

What are some of the benefits of the Patriot Act today, and why are they important?

The Patriot Act basically states that the government is allowed to use surveillance as a tool to aid in national security to prevent attacks such as 9/11 in the future. According to Parenti, some of these forms of surveillance include search warrants, subpoenas, tracking, wiretaps, etc. All of these tools are important because they allow the government to get a feel for how secure some places are and if there are any potential threats, they can step in before things get out of hand. It’s understandable why this can make people feel uncomfortable and like they have no privacy, but it’s also important to consider the benefits and how this act can keep us safe. 

2. Why would the Patriot Act broaden the definition of a “terrorist?”

The Patriot Act would technically broaden the meaning of a “terrorist” because, instead of the word meaning someone who is specifically targeting the United States with bad intentions, it has a variety of meanings. Like Professor Lee’s slides said, a terrorist can now technically be defined as a person who doesn’t get a permit for a protest or “anyone who breaks the law in order to impact policy or change public opinion and does so in a way that might endanger human life” (slide 5). This can create a large amount of fear and uncertainty because it doesn’t seem like threats are being taken as seriously as they should be, in a way. 

3. Why are protests seen as such a threat in the eyes of the government?

The government sees protests as a “threat” because it’s sort of the people’s way of challenging the government’s power. People are able to have their voices heard when protesting and see it as a chance for them to speak up for what they believe in and what needs to be fixed. Protests can be a great tool to spread awareness and educate others when done peacefully; however, when protests start looking more like riots, that’s when they’re much less beneficial. The government is supposed to be run as a democracy and consider the people’s point of view and what will best serve them, but when the government wants all the power (which is what it looks like as of right now), that’s when the people get worried and more protests come to light. 

4. Why is it important to keep track of your digital footprint?

Your digital footprint can be extremely important because it has to do with your safety, both online and in real life. Some of the examples we discussed in class included how phones allow apps to track you and use your data to improve things, such as AI. These features are built in or reset with every update to your phone, and users have to manually turn off tracking for each app. This is crazy to me because it seems like a lot of work to go through to prevent people from knowing their apps are tracking them and using their data. It may be true that some of it is for safety purposes and bettering technology, but it also limits our privacy and makes some people feel unsafe in their own homes because their devices are always listening to them. 

5. How can people lock down their digital identity to avoid cyberstalking and harassment in online spaces?

People can take the steps to make the internet a safer place for themselves by using VPNs, clearing their cookies, deleting data from digital assistants such as Siri and Alexa, checking the credibility of a website before using it, etc. There are a variety of tools out there meant to help protect people and keep them safe from online threats, as well as protect their identity and avoid things such as identity theft, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, harassment, etc. When using any sort of map on a device, it saves your locations to make it more convenient for you to find them later, but this can also be dangerous because if anyone were to get a hold of your phone or look at your map, they could easily find out which places you frequent the most. 

Locking down Your Digital Identity – Femtechnet, www.femtechnet.org/csov/lock-down-your-digital-identity/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025. 

Parenti, C. Fear as Institution: 9/11 and Surveillance Triumphant. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025. 

Power, Matthew. “How Your Twitter Account Could Land You in Jail.” Mother Jones, 11 Mar. 2010, www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/police-twitter-riots-social-media-activists/. 

Tactical Tech. “Homepage.” Data Detox Kit, datadetox.myshadow.org/en/detox. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025. 

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Blog Post #9

How can online communities directed specifically towards women of color be supportive and create a safe space?

Online communities allow people to come together to share knowledge as well as support with others. It creates a bond between people that helps them to feel more welcome and comforted when the world seems like it’s shutting people out. Online communities that are specifically geared towards women of color are very important because they allow these women a place to feel accepted and heard when they may not get that sense from their everyday lives. 

2. Why should online communities prioritize purpose over profit?

Online communities should prioritize purpose over profit because people always start things for a reason. There’s always some sort of purpose or drive behind what we do, and when we start to attach money to these things, they become less valuable in a sense. So if we look at the purpose of an online community and why it was created, we want to make sure it’s genuine and isn’t just looking to get profits or money from the situation, but to get life experience and bring change. 

3. Why is trolling such a big issue in today’s online spaces?

Trolling seems like it used to be a fun, joking concept and wasn’t really taken seriously. However, when we look at it in the bigger scheme of things, we can see that trolling can be very harmful to both individuals and larger communities. Trolling has the power to make people feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, self-conscious, nervous…you name it. It’s not just a joke like some people may think it is; it can do real damage. 

4. How can surveillance impact people’s lives?

Surveillance seems like it would be a good thing and make people feel safe and protected. But when you’re being surveilled 24/7 and have no privacy, it’s a whole different ball game. In the documentary we watched in class, they talked about how surveillance has disrupted many people’s lives and how it doesn’t just impact one person, but everyone around that person. There was one family towards the end of the documentary that said they were being surveilled because one person wasn’t able to be hacked. This has been true in many cases. If they can’t get access to one person’s information, there’s a large chance that they can go after people close to that person to dig into people’s lives. 

5. Does anyone have privacy in our society today?

In the larger scheme of things, no one really has privacy anymore. Most people carry their phones or electronic devices with them on a daily basis, which allows them to be tracked at each location they visit. Also, when we post things online, like posts or comments, comment on someone’s post, etc. we are giving up our privacy and allowing people to see what we’re doing or what we think. People can also screenshot anything at any moment in time, and that picture will be out there in “the cloud” forever. Oftentimes, people think that on apps like Snapchat, things are deleted immediately or they will be erased as soon as they unsend a text, but in reality, that text or that picture never really goes away. It’s all stored in a server or “the cloud” and can be brought back at any moment, especially if it’s been screenshotted by another person who may or may not have bad intentions.

Hathaway, J. What Is Gamergate, and Why? An Explainer for Non-Geeks, 10 Oct. 2014. 

Lee, Latoya. Virtual Homeplace: (Re)Constructing the Body Through Social Media, 2015.

McLaine, S. Ethnic Online Communities: Between Profit and Purpose, 2003. 

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Blog Post #8

How can we keep colonial history alive in schools, especially since people have become more sensitive to the topic?

Colonial history used to be a basic thing that was taught in schools, but just over the past decade or so, people have become very sensitive to the topics being discussed within the subject. Books are now being banned, some teachers are reluctant to teach certain parts of history because it’s now a “touchy subject,” and some parents don’t want their children discussing these topics in a school setting. I think we can keep colonial history alive by being more clear with our word choices and how we phrase or refer to certain topics, but also by teaching children about colonial history in a way that also lets them know that there were “mistakes” made and that things probably should have been done differently.

2. How can we prevent the pipelines from harming marine life and their environments?

We can prevent the pipelines from harming marine life and their environments by separating the marine life from these pipeline sites. A good way to do this might be by blocking off certain areas to build/use the pipelines and also making sure that no materials or chemicals of any kind are accidentally leaked into marine environments or harming marine life. There is enough damage to marine life currently with pollution and global warming, and we don’t need another issue, such as the pipelines, adding to the problem. 

3. What are some ways social media can become a positive tool for activists to spread awareness?

Social media can become a positive tool for activists to spread awareness because it’s the general umbrella for so many platforms that have millions of users. The beauty of social media is that it allows news and information to spread faster than it would by word of mouth. Activists are able to educate people on pressing issues that they are fighting for and are able to reach so many people in hopes of finding some sort of solution. 

4. What limitations does technology have that might be contradictory?

Technology comes with pros and cons, just like everything else in life. However, the goal of technology is to make our lives easier, as well as to allow us to connect with people all over the world. A limitation in the tech world that we might notice on a day-to-day basis is our phones, for example, and how they are programmed to decrease in performance after 2 years. Phones are supposed to let people communicate with each other with more ease, but instead, tech companies such as Apple are creating a headache with phones decreasing in performance after a fairly short time of actually having the phone. 

5. How did the media misrepresent the #NoDAPL movement?

The media misrepresented the #NoDAPL movement by spreading false information. The information that media sources were broadcasting turned out to be incorrect in terms of the goals of this movement, which sent the wrong message to viewers. I believe some of these media networks were then sued for spreading false information, according to the speaker presentation we had this week in class. 

Deschine Parkhurst, Nicholet A. “Disruptions: Indigenous Social Media.” 9 Apr. 2025. 

Fuchs, C. Communication Power in the Arab Spring and The Occupy Movement, 2012. 

Vegh, S. “Classifying Forms of Online Activism: The Case of Cyber-Protests Against the World Bank.” 

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Blog Post #7

1. How are virtual communities beneficial to those who spend a lot of time on social media?

Virtual communities are beneficial to people that spend a lot of time on social media because it provides a “home” or a safe space for some people to go back to. This can help more people to feel comfortable online and less lonely. Social media sometimes tends to make people feel lonely and isolated because they might not have any in person social interactions. However, social media platforms have the power to bring people together and create a sense of community.

2. What is the significance of right-leaning movements compared to left-leaning movements?

Right-leaning movements are more concerned with liberal views and left-leaning movements are more about conservative views. A large majority of younger generations seem to be more right-leaning because the liberal views align with their ideals and opinions. But I’ve noticed that it’s kind of split in terms of older generations, such as millennials, baby boomers, etc. These older generations seem to have split views because some of them aren’t on board with more modern ideas such as the LGBTQ+ movement, while others from these generations have been waiting for changes such as these.

3. How did the white supremacy movement grow from starting out in the US to more of a global scale through the use of the internet?

The white supremacy movement grew because of the use of social media and people sharing their views on the subject. Social media can be very powerful in this way because it allows people to connect all over the world, especially on bigger movements such as the white supremacy movement. People may disagree with others and share these concerns on online platforms as well, but the internet acts as a space to educate others and share different opinions.

4. Why is racial identity important in terms of white supremacy?

Racial identity is important in terms of white supremacy because people have very strong feelings regarding race. Some people are passionate about sharing their racial identity with the world and educating others on the ideals of their race. However, not everyone is going to agree with some views on race, which is where white supremacy comes in. People have differing opinions on the matter and it’s ok to disagree as long as it stays peaceful, such as a peaceful protest. Personally, I don’t agree with white supremacy but that doesn’t mean people can’t agree with the idea.

5. How can we spread the discussion of race so that more people are educated on the subject rather than just bystanders?

We can continue to spread the discussion of race by posting about it on social media platforms and informing others. Sometimes when people aren’t educated on a subject, it’s hard to take a side or decide where you stand on the issue. I think if more people were educated not only about their own race but about other races and how they impact the world, such as with trade and opportunities, I feel like this could make the world better and it would be able to thrive in more of a peaceful way.

Daniels, Jessie. (2009). White Supremacist Social Movements Online and in a Global Context. essay. Retrieved March 20, 2025,.

Elin, L. (2003). The Radicalization of Zeke Spier. story. Retrieved March 20, 2025,.

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Blog Post #6

How are humans increasingly becoming more similar to cyborgs in this day and age?

Humans are definitely becoming more like cyborgs every single day. We all depend on technology to help us on a daily basis, even if it’s just completing a simple task. People also spend a lot of time on their phones and other electronic devices each day, and it’s like we’re attached to our phones now. Some may feel like they can’t live without their phones and that they would be completely lost without this small piece of technology. We are so dependent on our devices nowadays that it really makes us wonder what the difference is between us and cyborgs, and quite frankly, there isn’t much of a difference. 

2. Why are cyborgs usually thought of as feminine or having a female voice?

Cyborgs or people that are designed for video games are usually imagined as women because it’s more appealing to the general population, or men in particular. For example, when we looked at the Mavis Beacon documentary in class, we saw that this sort of cyborg was modeled after a woman. This is because she presents a more motherly figure when teaching people how to type. To take it one step further, when we think about our early school years, most if not all of our teachers were female because teachers are seen as more of a mother figure. So when developing the Mavis Beacon typing software, the creators thought it best to make it a woman that teaches the typing program because it’s more comforting. 

3. Why are men favored in most fields of work, and what does this have to do with the concept of white supremacy? 

Men are thought of as stronger and more able and willing to work hard and provide for the family, which is why they are often favored in most fields of work. Women are seen as weak in terms of labor and are thought of as stay-at-home mothers. Taking this back to the days of slavery, black women were made to stay in the house and do laundry, cook, clean, and take care of the children while the men did the hard labor. White men, specifically, would usually be the head of the household and would be wealthy and powerful, which would put them even higher than black men. So there’s sort of a class system in a sense when looking at our history when it comes to labor and white supremacy. 

4. Why is the feminine presence so popular in today’s gaming culture?

The feminine presence is so popular, specifically in video games today, because women are sadly seen as objects sometimes and often not taken seriously. For example, in GTA, women are seen as prostitutes and are not really seen as tough. I’m not one to play video games, but from what I’ve gathered, a lot of other games are like this, in that they portray women as something to be earned or some sort of object, while the men are doing all the “manly” things such as driving the cars, acting as soldiers, defending the land, etc. 

5. Do you think female figures being created for video games through the male gaze is similar to how facial recognition software fails when looking at people of color?

I think female figures being created through the male gaze is sort of similar in some ways to how facial recognition software fails to correctly identify people of color. In both scenarios, one party is being disadvantaged because they are seen as “less-than” citizens. The designers of the facial recognition software failed to fix the errors in the codes that mistakenly convict the wrong people of color. Like I mentioned before, women are often seen in the eyes of men as “objects” or some sort of prize to be won, which makes it even worse when women in video games are designed by men because the women they design are oftentimes inaccurate. Both of these issues can have big consequences, and problems continue to arise in terms of each of these situations. 

Daniels, Jesse. (2019). Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet. 

Haraway, D. (2019). A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781912453269

Jones, Jazmin. Seeking Mavis Beacon. (2024). [Film]. United States. 

O’Riordan, K. (2022). Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture. Critical Cyberculture Studies, 243–254. https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9780814708903.003.0025

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Blog Post #5

How can we positively manipulate how race is seen in online platforms?

We can positively manipulate how race is seen on platforms by “hyping up” different races and not feeding into the hate. People often snowball off of one another, and it’s easy to say mean things and hide behind a screen. Instead of hiding and using other people to get a point across, we can speak our minds with respect and dignity in order to hopefully keep the conversation civil. 

2. Why do people depend on privilege when, for some folks, it’s not worth depending on?

People oftentimes depend on privilege so that they can use it as a sort of shortcut in some way. Some people don’t want to work as hard to get what they want, and it sometimes doesn’t pay off even when they do. An example of this would be white privilege because people of color are sometimes overlooked no matter how hard they work or how much effort they put in to be seen and acknowledged. 

3. Does society really play into color-blind privilege? Where has it been seen before?

Society does play into color-blind privilege because people think they’re not seeing race or not acknowledging people as different, but that’s part of the problem. Some people want to be acknowledged for their race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc., because they’re proud of it. I feel like we’ve sort of seen this in movies and TV shows because when a movie or show is being remade, people of a different background than the original character will be cast for different roles. While this is a great opportunity for them, it also doesn’t draw attention to how proud they are of their backgrounds and how hard they worked to get this part. 

4. What is our version of merits and demerits in the real world?

Our version of merits are usually likes and follows on social media platforms. Our demerits are unfollows and not very many likes on a post. It seems like we read into these things a lot and make them worth more than they actually are because we sort of have to put on a fake personality for people to like us online. People are also a lot more harsh and critical online because they don’t have to say these things to your face. When you do eventually see these people in person, they oftentimes avoid you if they left you a negative comment or unfollowed you on some platform. 

5. How can we prevent the use of a merit system in our country?

We can prevent the use of a merit system by trying not to be “fake” with one another and speaking online as if we’re speaking to each other face-to-face. I feel like if we put a little more effort into being ourselves on social media and not hiding behind a screen, it would make a big difference. 

 

Hunsinger, J., & Senft, T. M. (2015). The Social Media Handbook. Routledge.

Schur, M., & Jones, R. (2016, October 21). Black Mirror: Nosedive. Netflix. episode.

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Blog Post #4

Why do people relate cyberspace to culture, and what is the purpose of this in terms of race?

Cyberspace is related to culture because when looking at the article, “Race in Cyberspace: An Introduction,” we see how the authors begin by mentioning social constructs and how that pertains to the discussion of race. Once we see that distinction, we can apply that to the internet today, or as they call it, “cyberspace.” Cyberspace allows people to connect on various platforms, potentially leading to discussions regarding race and cultural backgrounds. These discussions can get heated depending on the environment and the people, but as much as we think race and culture don’t show up in online spaces, they definitely do. 

2. Why do people continue to play games that mimic genocide, murder, rape, etc.? What makes it so “fun”?

Younger generations, such as Millennials and Gen Z, are known for playing all kinds of video games and connecting with friends through these gaming platforms so they can go on adventures together and fight crime. However, some of these games that highlight concepts such as murder and violence have been proven to affect the people who play them. But these gamers just think they’re playing a friendly game of Valorant or Call of Duty with their friends, and it’s not a big deal. What they don’t realize is that people sometimes take these games too seriously and spend countless hours each day playing games like this. At that point, it’s no longer a “friendly competition”; it becomes sort of an obsession. Gamers will get obsessed with getting the highest score or the most “kills” or whatever the point of the game may be, which is very unhealthy. 

3. Why has this behavior of playing violent video games carried on to new generations? 

This behavior has carried on to younger generations because they see older generations playing these games and think this behavior is acceptable. So, younger kids will somehow get their hands on games that are 18+ and become obsessed with playing them, which creates a big problem. These kids are being taught that these actions are acceptable and that it’s ok to play games that are 18+ when they’re 16 because they question what could be so bad about this one little game. 

4. How does social construction affect our daily lives?

Social construction is how certain categories in our society are created, ranging from race, gender, culture, religion etc. These social constructs are created through norms that are seen throughout everyday life and what people deem as “acceptable.” Some examples of social constructs can be beauty standards in terms of social media or the idea that having lots of money means you get everything you want. 

5. Where do we see examples of covertness in today’s society?

Covertness is seen in countless places when looking at our society. An example that was brought up in class was when people of color or people of a certain race go to a restaurant and aren’t served in a timely manner. This example shows that people of “acceptable” races are taken care of more efficiently and that these other people “won’t mind.” Another example could be legacy admissions for college. Legacy students get top priority when it comes to admissions, and it doesn’t give other students who have worked just as hard, or maybe even harder, a fighting chance.

Kolko, B. E., Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (2013). Race in Cyberspace: An Introduction. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203949696 

Ow, J. A. (2003). The Revenge of the Yellow Faced Cyborg Terminator. 

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Blog Post #3

Do companies such as Apple benefit from the fact that their phones cannot be updated after a certain number of years? 

Companies, such as Apple, do tend to benefit from not allowing users to update their phones after a certain amount of time. Apple has been known for having the newest gadgets and the highest level of technology. People go as far as to describe it as a “luxury” brand. However, as many of us have probably experienced at some point, the IOS systems tend to run slower as time passes, making it hard for Apple users to keep up with the newest technology. They stop allowing older phones to download the newer versions of IOS, apps run slower, storage space disappears in the blink of an eye, battery life decreases, etc. All of these things start happening so that users will seek out the latest iPhone and buy more items from Apple. 

2. How does digital literacy feed into the digital divide in terms of older vs newer generations? 

When looking at the digital literacy of previous generations, it’s very different than younger generations. Older generations are used to platforms such as Facebook, AOL, MySpace, dial-up internet, etc. However, younger generations are hopping on all the new trends on a variety of social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. When we compare these different does of communication, previous generations don’t have the same digital literacy as the newer generations because so much has changed in the last few years, and it’s hard to keep up with everything because things are constantly changing. 

3. What are some of the potential limits of “the New Jim Code” and how do they affect people? 

“The New Jim Code” is based on the previous “Jim Code Laws” which basically describe how things are changing in terms of technology. People are changing their opinions of things they see online and marking them as either objective or progressive, depending on the time period it’s coming from. This affects people because we tend to care a lot about how we are perceived by others, and whether or not they will agree with our views. 

4. Why do people often complain about facial recognition? How can we fix this problem? 

People complain about facial recognition technology because it’s often modeled after the generalized “white man.” I’ve also heard people say that this is just another way for the government to keep tabs on us, which may or may not be true. However, this code that was originally entered for facial recognition is failing humans because it is very inaccurate. For example, it’s basically implying that Black men and women look alike, and this is criminalizing innocent people. I think this problem should be taken into careful consideration and developed with more detail so that it can be more specific and precise, instead of putting innocent people behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit. 

5. How does intersectionality coincide with social media? 

Intersectionality is defined as a frame, which when used, is able to single out the issues within institutions that might have been previously overlooked. I’ve seen instances of intersectionality pop up across social media platforms because some people will point out something that a business or institution is doing wrong, and will create a lot of noise around it. This allows more people to see the issue and in turn, causes the company to make a change.

Benjamin, R. (2020). Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code. Polity. 

Crenshaw, K. (2016, December 7). The Urgency of Intersectionality. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o 

Everett, A. (2002). The Revolution Will Be Digitized. Duke University Press. https://read.dukeupress.edu/social-text/article-abstract/20/2%20(71)/125/32619/The-Revolution-Will-Be-DigitizedAFROCENTRICITY-AND?redirectedFrom=fulltext 

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Blog Post #2

What are the ethics that insurance companies follow, and how do they stick to these ethics? 

I think the ethics insurance companies usually follow are trying to provide aid for their customers while also trying to make a steady income. For example, if they were paid on commission, such as how many customers they sold insurance to, their goal would be to make people feel good about their services and to provide a safe and respectful environment.

2. How do the insurance companies hold power in situations where people claim they have insurance but “the system” says they don’t?

Insurance companies hold power because they might be able to collect more money if people are buying policies from them. It's definitely frustrating for the people in these situations because they think they're covered by insurance when, in reality, they aren't for whatever reason. This allows the insurance companies to have sort of an "edge" because they can decide who has insurance and who doesn't.

3. How are the people who have “lost” their insurance being taken advantage of?

People who have lost their insurance are being taken advantage of by having to pay a bill they thought they already paid. Once this happens to someone just once, they no longer have that peace of mind that they are covered if something were to happen.

4. Who is in charge of what media is released to the public?

It seems like the government is oftentimes in charge of what media is released to the public, specifically when the media is related to government officials or policies.

5. What are some potential limits of cyberfeminism?

One of the potential limits of cyberfeminism is that older generations could say that they don't agree with these concepts. For example, older generations sometimes say that they don't agree with the modern forms of gender today.

Daniels, J. (2009). Rethinking Cyberfeminism(s): Race, Gender, and Embodiment. WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly, 37(1–2), 101–124. https://doi.org/10.1353/wsq.0.0158 

Eubanks, V. (2021, July 20). Automating Inequality. Macmillan Publishers. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250074317/automatinginequality/ 

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Technology... (Blog Post #1)

As we all know by now, technology isn’t always the most reliable source. It has its ups and downs, hiccups, and minor inconveniences. When we need to turn to technology for something, we expect it to be ready and available at a moment’s notice. But what happens when it fails? Technology failed me a few times during the COVID-19 days of 2021. I got up for class one morning and usually, I would go turn on my computer and then eat breakfast and get ready for class because at the time I had a very slow computer. That morning, my computer decided it didn’t want to turn on which made me very nervous because I had woken up a little late and if it didn’t start working soon, I would be late for class. So I tried to just leave it alone and let it work its magic, but it decided to be quite difficult that day. I sat there worrying about how I was already late for class, and what I would tell my teacher. I couldn’t just tell her that my computer wouldn’t turn on, because she would think I was lying. But then I couldn’t blame it on the wifi connection either because she would also probably think that was a lie. So as I sat there waiting, I tried to brainstorm a clever excuse as to why I was so late to class. My mom came in to help me try and restart it or fix it in some way. The screen finally lit up and the motor underneath the computer whirred loudly, but I was just happy it turned on. As soon as the screen came up to log in to my account, I rapidly started typing in hopes of getting to class as fast as possible. I logged onto the Zoom meeting and sat for the rest of the class, hoping no one would notice. At the end of class, however, I decided to message the teacher and explain why I was late. I figured I should probably just tell her the truth at this point because even my mom could attest to the situation. So I told her the truth, and everything seemed to work out fine. I learned an important lesson that day: relying on technology doesn’t always work out, always try to find a backup plan. I also learned to not oversleep and turn on my computer at the last second!