5A Local Opportunities

Local Newspaper: The Gainesville Sun and WUFT

1. Alachua County Opposes Coastal Connector Plan

http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180529/alachua-county-opposes-coastal-connector-plan

The possible roadway connections of the Suncoast Parkway to I-75 are strongly opposed by Marion and Alachua Counties for a few reasons. The roadways will increase traffic on I-75, it does not wait for a study currently being conducted on 75, it would cross through "significant environmental areas", and it would also be very damaging to the Horse showing business economy in Ocala, and negatively impact many valuable private horse farms. The Alachua County Commissioners also challenge that the Coastal Connector does not significantly improve the evacuation times of people from the state, which is the main goal of the plan.
The problem in this story is that traffic needs to be able to channel easier out of the state without significant negative impacts to economies, individual property owners, and natural areas.
Citizens of Florida and the state government have this problem.

2. Bike Infraction Leads to Drug Charges

http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180528/bike-infraction-leads-to-drug-charges

A man was riding his bicycle at night without lights and was spotted by an officer. The man turned into a driveway and the officer thought he was avoiding being spotted, so he confronted the man. The man was found with cocaine and spice and so he was arrested. His bond is $20,000.
The problem is that his lack of lights caused him to be suspicious, and found with another bigger, more significant infraction of the law.
Individuals who ride their bikes at night have this problem. Drug dealers or users without cars have this problem.

3. UF Appoints Chief Diversity Officer

http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180529/uf-appoints-chief-diversity-officer

The article shares information about the newly created position of chief diversity officer, and the man who now hold the position, Antonio Farias. He was in a similar role at another University before being offered a $280,000 salary to come here. He says he will focus on learning the UF/Gainesville culture, because these solutions are not cookie cutter. Also included is a very characteristic quote from President Fuchs saying that UF is not always very welcoming.

The problem in this article is that a very high salary position has been given to someone to increase inclusion- which cannot be solved systematically (many opportunities exist that strive to increase UF's diversity) but only through how individuals act toward one another.

Tax paying Floridians and tuition paying students have this issue, because less of their money will be used to educate and improve classroom qualities.

4. Hard-Care Homelessness Proves Costly for Alachua County

http://www.gainesville.com/news/20170805/hard-core-homelessness-proves-costly-for-alachua-county

The first half of the piece focuses on one chronically homeless man named Ramine. He is an alcoholic, has been homeless in Gainesville for 25 years, panhandles, frequents jail and the emergency room, and is estimated to have cost taxpayers around $1 million in those 25 years (legal fees and healthcare costs).
The problem is how to deal with these "frequent flyers" in a way that actually gets them off the street and saves money at the same time.
The problem is for taxpayers. He was quoted saying years ago that he liked being homeless, now he says he doesn't.

5. National Wal-Mart Crime Problem No Different in Gainesville

https://www.wuft.org/news/2017/12/22/national-wal-mart-crime-problem-no-different-in-gainesville/

Walmarts were the locations with the most reported incidents last year in Gainesville. Cops were called to one Walmart an average of six times a week last year. Most of the calls related to shoplifting. This is a national problem.
The company says that its a catch-22 because they like being easily accessible so that they are convenient for customers to visit, but it also makes it easier for shoplifters to get away. Shoplifting costs the company a lot of money, and costs the police departments time and resources as well.
The problem is footed by customers in their bill, and tax payers taxes... but the issue must be solved by the company. The Police Department can only respond to calls. The company needs to add security measures.

3A Entrepreneurship Story

My first introduction into the topic of entrepreneurship was from the "Chocolate with Nuts" episode of SpongeBob SquarePants when I was in Elementary School. I've always felt that I wanted to own my own business someday- but not to the point of being against working for others in the meantime. I think entrepreneurship is in my blood because while my parents didn't do anything entrepreneurial during my childhood, I grew up with stories of my grandfather working many types of freelance jobs (mostly construction and political campaign work) in Miami after he escaped from Cuba. This was before permits were so strictly enforced for construction work; he never had a license, but positive word of mouth provided many clients for him. Now my parents own their own business: Shadow Mountain Mobile Home Park in Hendersonville, North Carolina. They still live in Florida, so it has been difficult for them to mange the property from afar. They've offered me the possibility of allowing me to live there (rent free) where I could mange things, while still working part or full time somewhere else. It could happen!

What I hope to get from this class is some additional confidence and insight into the mindset required to own my own business, what that really entails as far as time management between other jobs and family life, and honestly the biased hope that what I learn will support the lifestyle I've always dreamed of. I wish that I could work hard in my 20's to make money while working for a company, while building a family, then have the resources and time in my 30's to make just enough money working for myself (I have high end honey/bees wax products, possibly incorporating marijuana products, possibly wood pallet art, etc. in mind) to be comfortable and educational to my children.

Pictured: My brother(Left), Abuelo Pedro (Entrepreneur), and Dad (this picture is from the early 2000s)

2A Bug List

1. That vacuum cords aren’t longer, even though there’s space on the hooks to coil a longer cord around them. I always have to unplug it and plug it in again just to do a room or two.
   Why- they don’t want to provide longer than the bare minimum because it adds cost
   
2. When clothes fall on the floor between the washer and dryer. I've tried so many ways to fix this problem, but they're all slow and annoying.
   Why- Side loading washers and dryers allow socks and underwear to fall out of handfuls of laundry when moving the clothing from one to the other.
   
3. When people take too long to respond to emails at work, but act like you're the one dropping the ball.
   Why- They could be sick, or at meetings, or finding out the information to respond. Whoever I'm emailing doesn't depend on replying back like I depend on them- its simply not important enough for them to be watching their inbox.
   
4. When people tell me I'm too young to want to do certain things (i.e., settle down by getting married or buying a house).
   Why- Many have made mistakes, wished their life away when they were young- and now they feel like time has flown by. They're suggestion that I slow down and enjoy the present, but might not see that my ambition for certain goals make me discontent to be as patient as they suggest.
   
5. How awful garbage cans smell after only two days. I never used to notice this, I think because my parent's kitchen garbage bags were just recycled Publix plastic bags- so we were taking out the garbage often. Now at my apartment and boyfriend's house, we use the tall garbage bags- and don't have to change it as often... but phew! yuck!
   Why- We aren't throwing trash out often enough. The garbage we throw away is stinky (try composting for the rotting food instead of letting it sit in the can?).
   
6. The fact that I have to wear pants to work. It's too hot outside, and we work physically very hard, but the dress code still requires black or tan pants.
   Why- We have to look professional, and no one would do well to show up to a meeting in shorts.
   
7. Communal washers and dryers are not fun.
   Why- It saves space in apartments and saves expenses because they are shared.
   
8. I don't have the resources to start the hobbies I want to do (bee keeping, chickens)
   Why- I'm only 21, I don't have a yard, let alone acres, and I don't technically know where I will end up after graduation, so I shouldn't be setting up shop around here if I might need to move.
   
9. Sand in bedsheets
   Why- Sometimes the dog jumps on the bed, my boyfriends' socks.
   
10. There aren't inexpensive premade playpens for my guinea pigs. For Christmas I was given a (I think $70) circular playpen designed for rabbits. It's pretty good, and a lot better than nothing, but its walls are higher than I need, it's heavy and hard to transport, and it really doesn't have a ton of floorspace. The bottom canvas is already wearing out and I've only had it six months.
    Why- Not enough demand? People could build their own? Most people make their own cages for guinea pigs so that they don't have a separate playpen, so maybe that's just what I'll have to do.
    
11. Drivers who don't use turning signals.
    Why- They don't feel that it's important. They aren't aware of others who might like a warning.
    
12. Nikes wear out and get dirty too quick
    Why- They're made out of fabric and go many dirty places. If I really want shoes that will last- I should just wear boots (which is impractical for the gym, but when do I really go there anymore?)
    
13. My microwave keeps blowing the circuit in my kitchen
    Why- I live in a super old apartment complex, so the breaker can't handle all the appliances on it at times.
    
14. Sharing refrigerator and freezer space with roommates.
    Why- I need roommates to share rent, and we don't have room for multiple fridges, and apparently we all like food a lot!
    
15. WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE DIRTY DISHES IN THEIR DISH WASHER BECAUSE """THEY"RE WAITING UNTIL IT'S FULL ENOUGH TO RUN" BUT THEY RINSE OFF THEIR DISHES FIRST (ok, good habit, on its own) SO HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF THE DISHES HAVE BEEN WASHED BY THE DISHWASHER OR NOT!?!
    Why- It makes sense from their end. We need better communication or a coin to flip showing whether the washer has been run or not. If I'm not the one who loaded the washer, I can't know whether or not it was run.
    
16. This is a throwback to an old problem I used to have when I was younger: at church functions, they always assume that people drink sweet and unsweet tea. Well I like neither so I'd always have water. Now I just feel like a spoiled bitch for complaining hahaha (So glad these aren't graded by content ;)
    Why- Most people DO like tea, I'm just the weird minority.
    
17. McDonald's worker's attitudes
    Why- McDonald's core values don't include excellent customer service, they're focused on value meals, faster service, and saving expenses by not being as selective and customer service focused as other chains.
    
18. Starbucks really isn't that consistent. Sometimes it great but sometimes it really isn't! And same with Dunkin' Donuts...
    Why- They need better training to make sure products are similar at all locations (like sweetness level), maybe they have supply issues with certain ingredients being inconsistent
    
19. How expensive chips and tampons are.
    Why- Their target market will pay the price, so they charge it.
    
20. The fact that as soon as I finish this list, I'll probably think of way better "bugs" that I SHOULD have written about.
    Why- Isn't that always the way? I procrastinated BIG TIME.

I tried to use this week to think of them slowly as they popped into my head, but I only came up with four until today. I think that listening to the lecture WHILE doing this list helped me because he mentions so many topics that it took my mind on a walk to notice what bothers me. 

Testing 1-2-3 CINNAMON BUNS

Hi-ya, ya'll!