Four Opportunities (Regulatory and Economic)

1. Economic Trend- Georgia Poultry Lab needs $4 million to fix design flaws, ag commissioner says

This story, taken from the Gainesville Times (in Georgia), goes into the issue of a poultry processing lab who has been condemned for containing high volumes of diseases such as the avian flu in their lab, and will need to pay an estimated $4 million to the government to right these wrongs and repair their lab. I think an opportunity exists here because this is only one of many food processing plants that needs to be reprimanded for not carrying out the quality services that they may advertise on their food products. It is a large economic issue when these plants must make millions in reparations to the department of agriculture and FDA to get their labs up to standard. As a selective vegetarian, this spoke to me because it is severely disgusting and I would hate to know that the poultry I’d be eating would be coming from such a bacteria infested plant such as this one in Georgia. 

https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/georgia-poultry-lab-needs-4-million-fix-design-flaws-ag-commissioner-says/

2. Regulatory Trend- City ends prison labor contracts

This article from the Gainesville Sun talks about the city’s efforts to end prison labor. I saw this as an opportunity because the city now must come up with around $50,000 per month for labor wages that hadn’t been budgeted for. The work is expected to cost the city about $654,000 in the future. This puts a large strain on the city as it must now reevaluate its budgeting for this fiscal year. Additionally, they must decide between creating permanent jobs or using contract labor to get the jobs that the department of corrections used to aid us in.

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190125/city-ends-prison-labor-contracts

3. Regulatory Trend- SF students shut out due to shutdown

This article, also from the Gainesville Sun, discusses the issue with many Santa Fe students not being able to enroll at the college due to the inability to obtain tax documents for proof of needing financial aid amidst the government shutdown. Many students need to show certain tax documents to receive federally funded aid, and cannot in the important time of enrolling in the college for this semester. This is a big regulatory opportunity as their success in receiving an important education is now reliant on a regulation imposed by the president. The waves of people that it is affecting are stretching wider and wider as the shutdown nears going on one month.

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190108/sf-students-shut-out-due-to-shutdown

4. Economic Trend- The Latest: Shutdown should have minimal impact on economy

This article, also from the Gainesville Sun, talks about congress working against the president to reopen government functions after a record 35-day long shutdown. They discuss that the president has agreed to fund the government for three weeks through mid-February. This is a big economic opportunity because, as stated in my previous article summations, the government shutdown has indeed affected so many aspects of our country’s prosperity, and though economists argue it may have only minimal impact, I think we will be seeing the negative reverbs of this shutdown for many months to come.

https://www.gainesville.com/ZZ/news/20190125/latest-shutdown-should-have-minimal-impact-on-economy

Five Opportunities

1. 'Geek culture and fine art' - Anna Young's comic book store Gods & Monsters a labor of passion

This story describes Anna Young, a young entrepreneur whom, with her husband, opened their own comic book/sci-fi blockbuster replica store. The issue that Young faced was that, shortly after her shop had been established in the Artegon Square mall on I-drive in Orlando, the mall closed down. As a small business just starting to grow, Young faced a massive issue in both needing to now relocate her shop, and reallocate her time and funds. She and her husband had just put down a deposit on a non-refundable honeymoon, and were worried that they would now not be able to afford it, since their shop had been closed down without their consent. This is a struggle that small businesses frequently face- their success is often too dependent on the space in which they host their business.

2.  Malls are fading, making way for new entertainment

This article discusses the rising popularity of food, bar, and retail “marketplaces” (such as Disney Springs in Orlando, or Park Ave in Winter Park). Many businesses are realizing that providing only one entertainment platform, such as just food or just retail, is becoming less and less popular amongst consumers. The new phase of entertainment brings along large conglomerates of stores, eateries, and bars- and those centers are where most people are flocking to. However, this causes an issue for the businesses such as Sears, a common department store in malls, who has now had to close down even more locations due to a massive decrease in consumption and sales. Additionally, other previously large chains such as Lowe’s have had to close due to the new Amazon packaging fulfillment center that was built in Orlando. With the new wave of consumers preferring online shopping over going into a store and physically buying what they need, the types of businesses that thrived off of in-person shopping are now suffering.

3. Gymboree closing 4 stores in Central Florida - Children's apparel chain shutting down amid second bankruptcy

This article is about the previously popular children’s clothing store Gymboree filing for their second bankruptcy in two years and shutting down their stores all around central Florida. The issue is that these stores primarily existed in shopping malls, which have recently seen a crazy sharp decline in popularity and traffic. Gymboree as a company is selling their online business and intellectual properties, as they are officially giving up on trying to keep their business and it’s residuals (Crazy 8 and Janie and Jack) alive.

4. Food banks worry as shutdown nears 1-month mark

This story is discussing the rapidly-growing issue of food shortages in food banks in central Florida (and, really, everywhere in the country) amidst the mass government shutdown. A number of residents who rely on government-funded programs, such as food stamps, have had to resort to food banks to get their meals, and with the shutdown nearing it’s 1-month mark, these banks are drying up. Second Harvest Food Bank, a well known food pantry in central Florida, has seen a 60% increase in requests for food in just this past week. This is putting both this nonprofit business and those who rely on its services to survive at a major risk, as the shutdown and the strain it is putting on federal employees has no foreseeable end.

5. $15 minimum wage could cripple small business - My Word

This article talks about the issue with the statewide initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15, and the negative impact that can have on small businesses that can’t necessarily afford to pay their workers that much. The author is the owner of a small importing business and is discussing how raising her employees’ wages even just a few dollars higher could potentially crush her business, due to her profit margins being relatively slim already. The author’s personal example can be widely applied to the general population of small businesses- they are facing issues with the possibility of having to pay their employees with money that they just don’t have.

Bug List

1. Autocorrect on the iPhone

We all know the struggle too well. You’re in a heated argument over iMessage, furiously typing to make a really great point, when autocorrect assumes you were talking about “ducks” as you hit send, and you make a complete fool of yourself. That’s not what I meant, Apple!!!

Why does this bug exist?

Software isn’t always where we ideally want it to be, and the takeover of our technology by artificial intelligence sometimes has more downs than ups. One of these downs being that going off of what you’ve texted before, your iPhone makes assumptions about what you’re trying to say, based on the context surrounding your sentence and your previous comprehensive word history.

2. Slow walkers

If I had more time in a day, it would probably all be consumed by figuring out how to finagle my way around those clumps of people who tend to walk at much slower pace than preferred. All you want to do is make it to class on time, but that’s a personal problem, and some people just have too much free time.

Why does this bug exist?

Everyone has their own agenda! It is not the concern of the UF student body to make sure that you get to class early enough to snag your favorite seat. Maybe someone has a long story to tell so they walk slower with their friend. Maybe someone has a physical disability and just can’t get to and from destinations in a timely manner. Maybe someone is on their phone while walking and just doesn’t care about their surroundings. Either way, this is a bug that will most likely never be fixed. It’s just something you gotta deal with.

3. Ads in gaming apps

The only reason to turn on Airplane Mode when you’re definitely not on an airplane.

Why does this bug exist?

There is a very simple explanation. Game apps on phones are commonly free. But the people developing these games need money. Other companies want exposure. They pay these game developers to expose them on their apps that reach thousands. The developers do it. Money is made, business is gained, and everybody is happy. (Except for the people who just want to complete one simple crossword puzzle without watching a 30 second ad every time they successfully find a word.)

4.  Knock-off iPhone charging cables

Once upon a time, I thought that by getting a 5-pack bundle of off-brand iPhone charge cords off of Amazon would be a better bargain than spending a whole paycheck on a real Apple-certified one. Boy was I wrong. They break after a week’s use, the cords fray, and the chances I have of probably getting electrocuted go way up.

Why does this bug exist?

 When *certain companies* charge a premium for their products, most consumers try to find a way around spending that money and opt for cheaper, seemingly similar versions of the real deal. But you get what you pay for, and these cords are only so cheap because they are so cheaply made. You get what you pay for…

5. The parking situation at UF.

Let me get this straight- I could do a whole bug list just on the UF Transportation and Parking Services department and how they have so many times screwed me over. However, I feel as though this would take away the original purpose of this assignment…so I will leave it to just one bug. There are never enough parking spots for the amount of cars needing to be parked, nor is there ever a lack of a TAPS officer who tickets my car when I park at 4:29pm somewhere that becomes a free-for-all at 4:30.

(This one time, I got a ticket on my scooter for $20 because someone moved it out of the lines of the space a few hours after I parked it.)

Why does this bug exist?

UF didn’t map their parking plans all too well, and the number of cars on campus well outweighs the number of available spaces. Also, of course they will give a citation to every car that they can. It makes them money, and the appeals committee almost never actually approves your appeal. There’s $35 down the drain.

6. Study Edge Video Buffering

I pay upwards of $50 a month to subscribe to this service that offers online tutors and videos to help me learn the easy-peasy subject of organic chemistry. It is a worthy investment as I don’t think I would pass my hard STEM courses without study edge. However, their videos love to do this thing where they pause in 45-second intervals and take forever to load.

Why does this bug exist?

Believe it or not, I am not the only student at UF taking hard classes, and on any given day, there are most likely hundreds, if not thousands of students using study edge to help them learn material and prep for exams. Because of this, videos with high watch volumes take a while to load and buffer, and I’m stuck on the receiving end.

7. Traffic on University Ave after 5pm

I live a few miles from campus, so after every day I have class, I have to drive a way to get home. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I end up driving on University Avenue around rush hour, and it adds at least another 45 minutes to my drive.

Why does this bug exist?

There’s a million other people like me who leave their classes or jobs at the same time each day, hence the term “rush hour”. So, with such a high traffic volume and such awful lights going all the way down University, it’s no wonder it takes so long just to make it a few miles.

8. The radio signal when I’m stuck in traffic on University Ave after 5pm

My car was made in 2004- too recent to have been equipped with a cassette player, yet too old to have an aux port. Therefore, I have to resort to the radio for musical entertainment wherever and whenever I drive. So you can imagine the frustration when I get a static remix every time I drive under a tree on University Ave.

Why does this bug exist?

Either the stations I have my car tuned to don’t reach where I’m driving, or my radio antenna is just there for decoration. The radio signals in Gainesville have much room for improvement.

9. Hulu’s “one person at a time” rule

When you share a hulu account with 4 other family members, it’s hard to find a time where you wanna catch up on a show and there isn’t someone else that had that idea an hour ago. You can’t stream more than one thing on one device at a time, so it’s pretty frustrating when I finally have a free moment and can't watch something on my computer because my brother is too busy watching his true crime documentaries.

Why does this bug exist?

Hulu has an option to “add more screens” so more people can watch what they want simultaneously- for a higher price, and that’s how they turn a bigger profit. So that’s definitely a bug that, unless I want to pay more for my subscription, will likely stick around.

10. The iPhone’s battery life

It always starts at a strong 100%. After listening to a few songs while showering, it goes down to 90%. Quick call from my mom, 83%. Checking my email while waiting in traffic, down to 75%. Listening to music while walking from my car to class leaves me at 60%. And all it takes is opening snapchat or instagram for 10 minutes before it just completely croaks.

Why does this bug exist?

Did you hear about Apple using cruddy batteries to make new phones so customers would have to come back and spend money to buy more batteries? 

11. My toaster making my toast too toasty

Even on the lightest setting, a “1” on the scale on 1-5, my slices of bread still come out looking like they fell asleep in the sun.

Why does this bug exist?

The toaster we have in my apartment is old and not that high-tech. So, maybe when it was manufactured, the toasting technology just wasn’t advanced enough to customize the amount of toast we want our toast to be toasted.

12. My hair straightener burning my hand

Sometimes, it’s too early in the morning to be using a hot tool near my face in a safe way. Sometimes, I accidentally bring my flat iron on a 380 degree heat setting a little too close to my fingers. And sometimes, I’m just not that coordinated.

Why does this bug exist?

Flat irons get hot because that’s their job- I just happen to be the idiot that combs through my hair with my fingers instead of using a hairbrush when I’m just too lazy to get it out of the drawer. It’s totally and completely my own fault.

13. “Shock” animal collars

Don’t even get me started on this one. There is absolutely no reason why anybody should ever subject their pet to a shock collar.

Why does this bug exist?

These collars provide a surge of electricity to a pet’s neck when then reach a certain perimeter of an invisible fence set up around someone’s yard. Therefore, the owner doesn’t have to watch their pet play outside without being afraid that the pet will run away. It is a seemingly easy solution to a common problem, and these consumers obviously don’t care about how their pet feels- as long as they can put their feet up on the couch for a little while longer.

14. Unsolicited Canvas notifications

I know, I know…I have an assignment due at 11:59pm tonight that I haven’t started yet. Thanks for reminding me.

Why does this bug exist?

For some reason, no matter what I select as my push notification preferences on my iPhone, my Canvas app continues to hit me with a notification every time someone comments on another person’s post, contributes to a discussion, adds an assignment…I know Canvas just wants me to succeed. But it’s gotta stop breathing down my neck!

15. Using any Microsoft software, made for PC’s, on my mac.

They are so unintuitive it’s incredible.

Why does this bug exist?

Most professors prefer that assignment submissions be sent in a .docx, .xlsx, or .ppt format. However, this doesn’t help those students who may be attuned to using pages, keynote, and numbers. Making the conversion has been, well, trying. The versions of these Microsoft programs that were designed for mac users are confusing and misleading and so unorganized! That’s just Bill Gates really sticking it to Steve Jobs.

16. When my roommates use up the rest of my milk

Writing my name on the top of the gallon seems a little extra, but I don’t know how else to solve this problem!?!?

Why does this bug exist?

Roommates are hungry. They go in the fridge. Decide to have something with milk, but don’t want to buy their own. A simple yet inconsiderate solution? They just use mine.

17. People who clap on the offbeats of songs

It’s 2 and 4, not 1 and 3. You’d think people would get it.

Why does this bug exist?

A lot of people aren’t very musically inclined, and you can’t expect them to know how to read music or mark time. But you’d think everyone is born with at least a little natural rhythm…

18. Trying to fold a fitted sheet

Has it ever been done successfully?

Why does this bug exist?

Elastic doesn’t like to make 90 degree angles. It’s not science. But trying to figure out how to fold a fitted sheet so that it doesn’t just look like a wrinkled lump is a science in and of itself. Once it comes out of the package, there’s no way it’s ever going back in there.

19. Phone calls from solicitors waking me up from naps

That feeling when you are jolted awake only to see an 800 number on caller ID…

Why does this bug exist?

I don’t actually think I’ve ever understood the point of soliciting phone calls. Maybe I’ve just won a lot of Caribbean cruises and I don’t know it.

20. Attempting to come up with 20 different things that bug me.

This was really hard. I feel like I probably complain a lot about a number of different things, but somehow coming up with 20 to put on paper was so, so challenging. Also, explaining why they exist isn’t something I am used to, and it made my head spin trying to find the reasons behind some of these ticks. Hopefully I did an okay job, though.

Just a Bit of my Entrepreneurial Experience

One time in my life that I was exposed to entrepreneurship was in the Creativity in Action class that I was enrolled in this past Summer 2018 semester. I was paired with a team of four other students, and we were tasked with coming up with a particular “innovative” product/service that would revolutionize the realm of biodiversity in an area that is struggling. However, this was no simple startup process- we only had about three weeks to come up with our innovation, design it, make it tangible, and market it. At the end of our deadline we were to present our product to a board of higher-ups at UF so we could receive feedback on how we handled both the inventing process and professional debut of our product. 

And did I mention it was all for a grade?

Essentially, to someone who had never been on Shark Tank, I had no idea where to start. The only ideas I could come up with that had to do with improving biodiversity had already been invented by someone else. 

The only advantage I had on some of these already existing entrepreneurs was my ridiculous empathy for animals that a lot of strictly-business-people don’t possess. Being a biology major with plans to make it to veterinary school, my first thoughts when posed with the “what can you do to make the world a better place?” question are how we as humans can change our actions to allow animals to thrive. What most people don’t realize is that animals are directly affected by most of our environmental actions- and usually for the worse.

Therefore, I found a cross section between both animals and a struggling aspect of biodiversity that I cared about- manatees. The effects that our boating habits have on the wellbeing of these glorious sea cows are often well overlooked by marine communities. They are injured and killed by boat propellers of all kinds, by people of all kinds, that don’t care to take any precautions before partaking in activities that could be fatal to other organisms. I pitched to my group that we design some sort of silicon glove/cover to put over each individual boat propeller blade that would not only lessen the blow when manatees come in contact with them, but not impede on the boating experience so much that consumers are hesitant to buy them.

We went through the whole “entrepreneurial process”. We got our prototype approved by our teacher (after much opposition- he really didn’t like our idea), mapped how and where we’d get the various supplies needed to bring this idea into the physical world, and worked on the pitch we’d be presenting to our “investors”. It was a struggle and I didn’t find it very enjoyable.

But, when the time came to present our project to the world, the response was great. Everybody that saw our poster and heard our pitch really appreciated the innovative nature of our product. Plus, nobody can really hate anything that has to do with a big, clumsy and cute marine mammal. My group ended up winning the “bright idea” award, giving us the recognition I feel like we really deserved after putting in all the hard work that we did.

I’m taking this course as it is required by the University of Florida to complete my Innovation minor. I’ve never much thought of myself as an entrepreneur, but maybe after I take this course I’ll be able to see a little bit more of that characteristic in myself. I’m sure the skills I take away will be helpful when trying to open my own veterinary practice in the far future, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can learn over the course of the next semester.

Test Post!

Testing, testing...

I hope this works and I look forward to having enlightening discussions with everyone! 😁