The resolution of the Supreme Court Case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette was a landmark decision reached by the court, which stated that the right of freedom of speech provided by the First Amendment legimated students to refuse to salute the US flag or to spout the The Pledge of Allegiance of the flag if they attended a public school. It is therefore not mandatory, and more important, not considered a criminal offence to refuse to perform publicly patriotic demonstration acts.
The court victory was achieved by the Jehovah's Witnesses who, due to the prescriptions of their religion, could not salute or pledge to symbols. The Supreme Court ruling decided that the state should not have the power to oblige citizens to express themselves in a certain manner. Therefore, it is a clear defense to the right of speech, and it proves how the legal and judicial instruments guarantee it for citizens.
An electronic calendar would be an example of software. The remaining things which you've mentioned in your questions would be examples of peripheral devices (so mouse, scanner, and monitor :)).
The “blank check” is an infamous episode in the history of the First World War; the first truly fatal error made by Germany – a promise of unconditional support for whatever action Austria-Hungary might take to punish Serbia.
