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Tech Collapse: Computer Glitches Cripple Travel and Trading

A creepy sequence of events

Jul 08, 2015

Tech Collapse: Computer Glitches Cripple Travel and Trading

So this morning you probably used your iPhone's alarm to wake up, scrolled through your Instagram feed, and turned on your TV to this morning's news. What if this all wasn't possible tomorrow? Did you ever stop to take a moment to realize just how reliant our world is on technology?

What would happen if our World Wide Web completely disappeared? What if our signals were hacked, our lives placed on dispay? Not able to access huge forms of transportation, like airplanes? I regrettably inform you that the day technology crashes might be upon us. Did you notice the strange sequence of events that happened today?

7:00-9:00am: This morning unsuspecting Subway passengers were stalled on the tracks for hours at a time, in silence, without any word from the outside world. The system as they knew it was down, and they were stranded.

Around 9:00am: United Airlines experienced a computer glitch that resulted in the grounding of flights across the nation.

(yimg.com)

11:32am: New York Stock Exchange abruptly haulted trading as a result of an internal tech blackout. Sketchy much?

(reutersmedia.net)

11:50am: The Wall Street Journal website inexplicably crashed this morning. Although this only lasted about 2 hours, it created quite a buzz among those attempting to access the site.

(politico.com)

12:30pm: "FBI Director James Comey states the Islamic State terrorist network is using Twitter and encryption to recruit thousands of English-language followers and send out kill orders" according to Dustin Volz, National Journal reporter. What does this mean? It means that even with the most elite troupe of computer science experts and cryptographers, we cannot create a system that has enough manpower to crack the encryptions programmed by ISIS.

(www.slate.com)

1:00pm: Over 2,500 people in DC mysteriously lost power.

Additional events of 7/8/15: In a study released today by New York Daily News, the technology danger that we face has a price tag: The site states that "the report outlines a scenario of an electricity blackout that leaves 93 million people in New York City and Washington DC without power." Although they claim this is unlikely, they also make sure to outline the potential financial risk that could total to "$243 billion and could rise to reach $1 trillion." This could be devastating for our nation.

I'm not saying that I'm a crazy conspiracy theorist or anything of the sort, but this is a little scary.. don't you think? The very thing that keeps us alive could end up collapsing the world as we know it. No transportation, no food, no power. No productivity. Would we even survive?

Although I have yet to formulate a concrete conspiracy theory surrounding this sequence of events, it has definitely been a strange day thus far. To think that all of these events have already happened today makes you question the possibility of a worldwide technology crash.

I'm not saying there's need to panic, but the events that took place this morning have yet to sit well with me.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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