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This project has been a true learning experience this semester. Through the steps of the project I have seen different viewpoints on an issue that I have grown up knowing existed, but I did not know the true extent of the problem until this project. Each interview opened up a new idea to what the problem is and how it affects different people throughout Austin, and also made us think how the problem could be fixed to help our stakeholder. Personally, I did not realize the things the towing company faced in Austin was affected in the ways it is, some things were common sense, but other things that affect them were truly new and interesting insights I learned. I do think a question our research brought up would be about how the issues at hand can really be fixed… We came up with alternatives to using the proposition one money, but that obviously cannot really happen, so what could actually happen to fix some of the issues around transportation? I still think that transportation is Austin is a much grander issue than what people think it is, but at the same time there are small, simple things that could be done to work towards fixing it. Though proposition one is meant to help fix this wicked problem, I do not think it will… There will always be problems, and unfortunately the wicked problem of transportation will be around for a long time to come.

The final project brainstorming format that was shared with us on canvas was quiet helpful in determining what there was still left to do and what we already had planned for our final project.  Though it was helpful, it did bring the question to my thoughts of when we will actually get together to work on it, and how the proposed ideas for our final project will work out and not potentially overlap in any ways. Another question I have about the final project after this brainstorming would be about how we are going to present it, because if my memory serves right we never really discussed a definitive final project presentation type yet. My feelings about the wicked problem of transportation in Austin really have not changed much for the better, if anything I feel I hate the issues surrounding transportation even more. Especially after my interview I find the issues even more of an issue and that much more of a problem that is continuously growing.

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Reflection on interview

I interviewed a towing service that is based off of Howard Lane in Austin, and some of the results were quiet shocking while some were more expected. I asked about how the issue of transportation affects their job and about some of the things they see wrong with the transportation system in Austin. I learned that even though there is no control over traffic, when the towing service is called to pick up a vehicle by DPS they can be penalized for not arriving on time. Also the towing service is sometimes reported for reckless driving when they are just trying to make it to a pick up on time. The view of the wicked problems around transportation that I understood from the interviewee was that he strongly dislikes how the system is set up and how when there is an attempt to fix or change something, it never seems to work or be finished before it becomes outdated or not necessary anymore. I would say I agree that the issue is a large one and that most of the ways the try fixing it, really do not work out as planned.

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Picture story

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This story shows the process of how a wedding cake was made, and how when the traditional ceremony of marriage is fulfilled as it is supposed to, it is truly a beautiful thing. The story begins with the cake uncooked and progresses to show the cake cooked and being prepared for the decoration. There are 5 colors used for the decorations, and each color represents one of the 5 f’s of marriage: faith, family, finances, friends, and forgiveness. When these five things are combined they come together to show a beautiful thing.

Proof of my guardian angel

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The day that my grandmother died was one I will never remember, but not only because it was the day I lost my grandmother. After she passed the sky lit up in such a way that I will never forget, but occasionally the sky lights up in a way similar to that night. When I am in a rut in my life is when I see these beautiful skies, and they remind me that though she is gone she is still watching over me. These are some of the skies that make me realize my grandmother truly is watching over me and is my guardian angel. I am very happy with these images, they remind me that when the going gets tough there is still something good in life. If I did this assignment again I would try to take a picture of the sky without some of the obstructions in the view.

Reflection on Dr. Kennedy’s lecture

The lecture from Dr. Kennedy was very enlightening, though being in his linked class I have heard some of what he has said already, he brought new questions to the lecture that made me think. One of these questions was when he asked, “Where is the meaning coming from,” and it made me realize that no matter what you try to show as a meaning of a photograph, the meaning is determined by the viewer, an “immutable reality.” A very interesting thing I found of his lecture was that the first photograph from Niepce is on display next to the Gutenberg bible here in Austin, as well as some of the photograph he has taken.

Photography is a wicked problem because it only shows one frame of a subject and sometimes this frame is the “good side” of an issue, as well as photos are easily manipulated in current times and could be showing something that is inaccurate.

Visual representation of thinking and learning of transportation

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I made a mind map type of visual representation from what I researched and learned about transportation. The mind map has a centralized theme of transportation, and the 4 branches that stem from the central concept are modes, infrastructures, networks, and flow. The branches that go off of modes are the different types of transportation available in Austin, the branches off of infrastructures are some of the different types that are in Austin, the branches off of networks are general thoughts of how networks are set up, the branch off of flows describe a couple of things that are thought about when road designs are planned. The branches that are in pink (although they are hard to see, there are a few there) are the different people or organizations that are involved in different aspects of transportation. Each of the red branches are possible issues or dilemmas that could arise with each aspect of transportation.

Week 4 reflection

Taking the linked course, the problem with photography, will be beneficial because it aids in the knowledge of how certain wicked problems are shown to the public as well as serves to be its own wicked problem. I believe I will be able to serve the group project by using the knowledge of how photography has evolved, shaped what the public sees, and how pictures can tell a store yet not all of the story. In the FSTY 1321 class we are going over how a photograph and its technologies have changed and evolved, which will be helpful in seeing some of the changes in the way a wicked problem is represented and displayed for the general public, even in places other than the location of the wicked problem, to see.

Austin CAN Presentation on September 12

I never expected that the Austin CAN would have so many partner organizations with such a wide variety of organizations, but yet it makes sense for them to have so many partners as to help accomplish the goals they have. Another thing that surprised me from this presentation is some of the statistics, like how the health rates, it surprised me that the rates of obesity were higher for blacks and Hispanics rather than for whites.

After hearing Mr. Alvarez’s presentation I feel even sadder for society, because there are events and other matters that could easily be fixed in Austin, but there may not be enough recognition of the problem or the proper resources to fix these issues. I know there were problems and bad things in Austin, but I never imagined they would be as there were presented by the statistics and data in this presentation.

It is so important that the wicked problems are explored so that there is a hope to help the people they effect and we can see how our actions also effect other people and our surroundings.