Life as a Grown Up

So you want to know what I will blog about in the future?

2006-05-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is my last academic blog posting. I have been asked if I will continue to post on my blog. I am not sure. My knee-jerk reaction is to say no, because I do not really have a lot of extra time to devote to this practice. After I think about the question a little more, I have to say maybe I will. There are times when a current event provokes me to express myself and being able to write about those events in a blog may help me compose my arguments before I discuss them with others.

For instance, yesterday in the news there was a story about a 4-year old boy in India who had run for 40 miles. The “talking heads” of the news networks were saying this is India’s “Forrest Gump.” The child was sold by his mother (for 800 rupees=$20) when his father died and she could no longer take care of him. When his “new father” enrolled him in judo classes, the instructor noted that this child had a natural talent for running. The news left out the part of the story that included this child collapsed 2 kilometers short of the finish line. Doctors say the child should be limited in his running because he is at risk of cardiac enlargement. The government stated they will be monitoring the boy and watching for mistreatment. They have also stipulated that the boy cannot participate in long-distance races without medical clearance. To read this story, see http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060502/od_afp/athleticsindprodigyoffbeat_060502093103.

The story of this little boy highlights the problems faced by children living in poverty. Although this child was not sold into slavery, he is still being mistreated. He is FOUR YEARS OLD! He cannot possibly understand the implications of participating in these races or make any decisions about racing. He mother has told the press she is proud of her son’s new found fame. The bottom line is that he was sold for $20, just like so many other children in the Third World. He is just “lucky” that he is not in a sweatshop or in the sex trade. It is certain that the adults in this child’s life are and will continue to take advantage of him for the rest of his life.

Blog to the Future

2006-04-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

Until recently, I had not even heard of the blogosphere. I thought that blogging was for people with essentially no social life or for hard-core computer geeks. I think now that blogging just snuck up on me. Therefore, now that I know what blogging is all about, I am compelled to participate in one way or another. The only way for me to judge when blogging is mainstream is when my husband or my parents begin to have blogs of their own.

I am not sure how many people would actually be compelled to create a blog…the use of the blog depends on the user. The computer user may feel intimidated by the technology or just inadequate when it comes to writing. On the other hand, the ease of creating and using a blog may spark interest and creativity related to computers in places where it never existed.

In the future, blogging could diminish the flood of e-mails we all receive from well-intentioned friends and relatives. When I have more time, I would like to create a blog of these types of e-mails and send the URL to everyone I know. Oh, this special blog would be filled with chain letters, sympathetic tales of faith and devotion, crude humor, and general information read along the e-mail grapevine. I would keep this blog totally public, and whenever I update it, I would send an e-mail update to everyone in my contacts list, so they to could see their influence on my life.

After the exposure to blogging this semester, I am interested in reading more blogs. I will have to focus my searches to find material relevant to my needs. Maybe bloggers should be required to provide information about their expertise in the subject matter, or make notations to their blogs when all they are offering is opinion.

Blogs are definitely here until a new technology replaces them. Their evolution will be continuous as their popularity grows. Maybe we will even have TV shows about them.

Paper 4 Freewrite

2006-04-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the absense of a snappy title. I do not have one yet. I am relying of divine inspiration to hit me as I write this or during revisions.

The act of blogging is becoming a mainstream activity for internet users worldwide. Blogs are becoming a source of communication that apparently few can live without. They are used to share news, politics, stories, pictures, propaganda, and anything else you can think of writing. One of the most perplexing forms of blogs is the personal journal. The personal journal gives the reader an inside look at a stranger’s life. It is the chance to be a voyeur without looking through a peephole. But the personal journal is filled with contradictions. On one hand, it is filled with private thoughts much like a diary under lock and key. On the other hand, by being published on the web, it has been made public to a global audience. That audience includes the people that are not intended to see the diary. The appeal of writing on the web can provide the writer with a narcissistic satisfaction. The writer can instantly become an active participant in the internet.

Teens who blog are creating a new disagreement with their parents, well maybe not new. They are angry with their parents for reading their blogs on the internet. They apparently feel that this is the same invasion of privacy as if the parent had snooped through their room and read their diary.

Adults who blog are finding that their as their private lives become public, they are missing out on opportunities for jobs. The employers feel that they are just as entitled to read blogs as they are to do drug testing, criminal background checks, and run credit reports.

Our Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech is challenge not by the audience, but more by the reader. We now have the audience almost demanding a Freedom to Listen.

Self-censorship can limit the creative process, but is it really creative for a college student to write about their exploits at the most recent party? The people who post on blogs need to take responsibility for what they write and who they let see it. Many of the blogging sites allow the blogger to place limits on who reads their blogs.

The new media has given internet users a new way to communicate, without a set of rules.

A Word for All Reasons

2006-04-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Neologism…now that is a word I have never heard. I must look it up. As I pull the dictionary from the shelf I am slightly amused that I did not just Google “neologism.” According to The American Heritage Dictionary, the definition of neologism is:

“1. A new word, expression, or usage. 2. The creation or use of new words or senses. 3. Psychiatry. A meaningless word used by a psychotic. 4. Theology. A new doctrine or a new interpretation of scripture.”

I particularly enjoy psychiatry’s use of the term. Perhaps the participants of the new media are a bit psychotic. But as I read the definition, and think back to “Google,” that word is also a neologism. The new media has led to not only the creation of so many new terms, but also the meanings of standard terminology have changed. The image of a tan Adonis riding the waves on a plank is no longer what we think of when we hear “surf;” we all think of any individual at the computer viewing web pages on the internet. The “web.” Charlotte wove messages into her web, but she did not have pages and pages of information stored in her web.

In some of the early readings that were required for ENG 206, we were treated to history of the term “blog.” From what I can remember, it started as “web log,” then became one word “weblog,” pronounced “we blog.” From there it became shortened to “blog.”

The new media’s creation of terms and meanings is no different from any other sector’s creation of terms. I am sure that we will continue to see more changes in the lexicon as technology and communication evolve. We are so lucky to be able to create our own words and have them enter a global language.

Who Is In Control of the Information?

2006-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

In our class we spend a lot of time discussing whether or not ideas and discussions on the web will be permanently archived for others to view. Before taking this class I had not given much thought to the subject.

As computer users, most people believe whatever they choose to save onto their hard drives will only be there until it is deleted or wiped out by some malignant virus. For the most part, I believe that to be true. As computer users gain more experience with file maintenance, they have begun to realize the importance of performing regular backups of their information. Well, this activity can be extrapolated to larger servers and the internet. Both brick-and-mortar and e-businesses know that a loss of data can cause a significant loss of revenue, so they perform regularly scheduled back-ups. Some companies even save information to servers outside of their facilities, via the internet.

As people post to blogs, their information is essentially saved to some server somewhere. As the author of the blog, one can go back and continuously edit an original posting. This activity is ill-advised though, as it chips away at the author’s original work. Imagine if all the news we received was posted onto blogs. Authors could delete or change stories at will. So, if on 6/25/2006 a major news organization posts that the world really is flat, they could go back and change it if they were proved wrong and there would be no record of the original story existing.
That example is pretty extreme. The people who run the servers for blogs archive the posted information and the information could be retrieved with some effort.

The blogosphere provides an excellent method for facilitating communication across all types of boundaries. Until something different and better comes along, I think the blogosphere will continue to provide influence on the way we receive news and other information. Even though we think we have control over our posts because we create them, they are maintained by someone else.

P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-I-O-N

2006-04-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

You could say that I am a procrastinator and you would probably be right. It is 11:20 am and this 300-500 word post must be published by noon today. I do not particularly enjoy waiting until the last minute to finish my work, but I have to admit, I kind of get a little bit of a rush from it. Oh, it is not like the euphoria one feels from riding a roller coaster if that is what you are thinking. It is more like finding the perfect pair of shoes that will go perfectly with a special outfit (at the last minute:-)).

Maybe this week I am not really procrastinating. I could say I have been "prioritizing." Since returning from spring break I have had to do 2 major projects, 3 midterms, and a paper. Since this blog posting is due about 2 hours before the paper, I am finishing the blog and will work on the paper after.

About those projects, one project that was due is actually an ongoing one. I have to keep a diary of current events from the Wall Street Journal. I think I did 4 weeks of diary entries in about 8 hours. The flood of information related to the economy has been so overwhelming, I am already about 2 weeks behing on the second half of the project because I cannot bear to even touch another issue of the WSJ.

I really should not complain about the amount of school work I have; I am doing this voluntarily. I already have an associate's degree and could get a job fairly easily. No, I am trying to better myself. I am one of the lucky ones...I do not work. When I first went to college, I thought just working or just going to school would be easier than trying to do both. Yet I find myself amazed at all of the things I have to get done at home. In fact, my house is probably the cleanest just before a test.

In order to combat my procrastination, I have tried some of the following:
-prioritize
-minimize distractions
-limit how much time I spend doing any one thing

But the same interruptions always seem to find me. Bills, phone calls, TV, and the dog are just things I cannot ignore. Maybe I will reevaluate my procrastination and it will not be a negative. I like the idea of calling it prioritization instead.

Too Much Time on Their Hands

2006-03-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

Poetry has never been my “thing.” I can appreciate some of it, if someone points out the meaning to me. When I read poetry, I often wonder “Why don’t you just say what you want to say?” I do not understand the rhythms (I do not dance) and maybe I do not appreciate the lyrical use of the words. Some poetry just seems too abstract for me. Now I am introduced to “code poetry.”

From what I can infer by reviewing some code poetry websites, the authors start with a conventional poem and add hypertext links to various words in the poems. These hyperlinks send the reader on a convoluted journey through the author’s “cybermind.” Some of these code poetry websites seem like another way to waste time on the internet, especially the reader.

I appreciate their creativity. Being able to incorporate the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic senses into a multimedia application is to be applauded. The code poets require the reader to interact with the website by choosing and clicking the links, not knowing where they will go.

While reviewing these sites, I have to wonder what the traditional poets of the past would have thought of this form of poetry. Would they have embraced it? I do not know.

When I look at some of the websites, I am reminded of the intro to the movie Seven. Some of the poems have a frantic quality that is somewhat disturbing. Some of the poems seem like games, and some are downright boring.

What I am trying to say is that some people have too much time on their hands.

What would your mother say?

2006-03-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

The blogosphere has grown by leaps and bounds and is becoming an important tool for many Americans, especially teens and college students. When I discuss my English class with friends and family, they are surprised to hear how much we discuss this form of communication. They do not believe this has become a credible communication form. Some of my friends have only had experience with the "MySpace" blogs and have no idea there are serious blogs out there. As blogging has become widely used for self-expression, rants, social commentary, etc. blogs are making themselves known.

During the class session, we discussed the situation of a college professor whose tenure was denied because of his blog postings. The postings were not the raucous postings typical of college students, but they were more on a professional level. Although the initial reaction to the story was that the professor was treated unfairly, we found out that he gained tenure at another university because of his blog.

Everyday I am amazed that people are so willing to share themselves with an unlimited audience but those same people will not share the same thoughts with their friends, family, and coworkers. People seem to take offense that there is the possibility that someone is reading their "private" online journal and making judgements about them.

Take for instance the recent story on Good Morning America by Tory Johnson, "Dusting Your Digital Dirt." She discusses how Googling potential employers has become an tool for preparing for interviewing. She also discussed how college applicants are being "googled" and being denied admission to college because of their blogs. Honestly, I was not surprised that this story has made it's way into the headlines. For years, the private lives of employees have become more public to their employers. When people receive a job offer, they know their references will be checked, they will submit to drug tests, and even have their credit checked. For some jobs, FBI and criminal background checks are also done. Yet there is a new background check of sorts...the Google check. Employers are now "googling" potential employees and even finding their blogs. How dare they ;-)!

Why on Earth would anyone with a shred of common sense believe that anything they post on the internet is "private." If a person is going to take a job in a conservative field, it is expected they have a fairly conservative lifestyle. They should not be posting pictures of themselves at wild parties, or publishing tales of rowdy partying. We have a saying in Las Vegas, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." That phrase may be useful for college grads entering the job market. Maybe it is a good idea to clean up the "digital dirt" before starting a job search. A little bit of self-censorship may be all it takes to keep our private lives private.

My Childhood

2006-03-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

We can all sit and fondly recollect memories from childhood :-). But it is more fun to reminisce about the tragic ones ;-). U know, the ones when you made a fool of yourself :-).

For instance, 1 of the most embarassing moments was participating in the school concert. The first mistake was that I was playing the violin. The second mistake we can blame on my mother, She insisted on putting me in a sweater. Well, the violin became caught on my sweater and the whole performance was delayed. I think there was laughing :-D. It is safe to say that was the last time I played the violin.

Another time, I went >;;;;)>ing with my dad. When I finally caught a >;;;;)> I dropped the pole in the water. Luckily I was about 6 years old 8:-), so the consequences were minimal. I have only been fishing one other time. Looking back, dropping the pole was probably smart. Dead fish are gross -p.

Speaking of dead >;;;;)>, what kid doesn't want to feed the animals at Sea World. I remember seeing the := in the pool and everyone throwing >;;;;)> at it. My parents bought some fish, but I would not touch it. Then I was sad that none of the animals came to see me :-(.

This was supposed to be a blog about a memoir worthy event posted with emoticons. I could tell you more, but these emoticons are driving me crazy %-. I appreciate the concept, but I am limited with using them.

Writing out of the Margins

2006-03-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

“Margins, margins, margins!” That is what the teacher in A Christmas Story complained about when her students turned in their themes. It was not the ideas or development of their papers. From the student’s perspective, not much has changed with the teaching of writing.

As we have discussed many times in the classroom, writing online and writing on paper have different qualities. We have always been taught in school to write with proper grammar and have had conventions placed upon the formatting of our written work. The English 206 experience has allowed us to experiment with our writing styles and to express ourselves using blog posting to turn in our work.

In almost every English class, students succumb to every whim or pet peeve of the instructors. Expletives, passive voice, first person, and comma splices are some of the major annoyances that plague student writers in composition classes. Document formatting is even a different story. Sometimes students can be confused about what format to use. Some students are lucky enough to have their instructors specify a preferred format, such as APA or MLA. Other times, instructors will be vague about their preferences and contradict formal formats.

Students want to write well, but become discouraged with rigid deadlines and requirements. One thing that has been reinforced this year has been that not only do people have different learning styles, but also writing styles. Such rigid “guidelines” become the focus of the assignment to the student. And why wouldn’t they be, when the student does not want to lose valuable “gimme” points before the paper is even graded? As a result, I am sure instructors have seen everything in the papers turned in by students.

Moreover, I am sure every writer has had the experience of believing that every word in your paper conveys their ideas brilliantly, only to be discouraged when someone else reads the paper and does not have a clue as to what is the meaning of the paper. (“It sounds perfect in my head, so the reader must be an idiot.”) As students doing peer review, we do not want to hurt the feelings of our classmates or we do not know enough about grammar and style to help our classmates.
The act of writing for our blogs has allowed us to ignore some of the formal writing conventions and get our ideas out on the web. We write these blogs as a conversation with the audience. We are allowed to use the first person, contractions, and whatever else we want when we write. By doing so, I think my writing has improved in other classes. Thinking of writing as carrying on a conversation with the audience has taught me more about organization and flow of my ideas…without worrying about the margins.

Reading: Work or Enjoyment

2006-02-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like sitting on a beach reading the latest novel. I think that act is one of the single greatest pleasures in life. Others may disagree. Some people may think reading in the bathroom is the most stimulating. All I know is that reading a great novel is difficult to do online.

Reading online can be fufilling in certain formats. I enjoy reading the news and the latest Hollywood gossip when I log on. I think I enjoy it because I can move through the news quickly by scanning the headlines and choosing what I want to read.

As much as I enjoyed Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, I don't think I could have ever finished it had I been reading the book online. Part of the enjoyment I get from reading is the relaxation it provides.

However, as I continue on in my education, I am reading more materials online. I become annoyed with the act. On one hand, I don't have to "kill a tree," but I can't carry the materials with me or take notes directly on the materials. Even if I use my laptop, I am limited by electricity. It certainly is frustrating to be engrossed in online material and have your battery die with no power in sight.

Art and Technology- a Freewrite exploration for paper 2

2006-02-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

Technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of Americans’ lives. The pace at which technology changes is so rapid, that consumers no longer repair the broken pieces of equipment but replace them. Being able to produce documents on the computer and accessing the internet have become essential activities to American families. More households own computers than ever before. Because of this, new software is being developed that allows anyone to become a graphic artist, photographer, writer, or even a musician. The ease at which one can post their creative products online has allowed amateurs and professionals alike to share their work with the world.

User-friendly software, such as Garageband by Apple gives musicians the tools they need to mix and produce music at home without the expensive equipment that professionals use. (What does Garageband do? Who uses Garageband?) Once musicians had to audition their music, get an agent, get played on the radio, now all they have to do is set up a home recording studio and they can share their music via podcasts or even on their own websites. They can even advertise their music on their websites and blogs. [May want to insert link to Garageband website].

Not only are musicians taking advantage of the increasingly available technology, so are other artists. With the rise of digital photography, people can take pictures, edit them on their computers, and easily post them online. Websites such as www.cafepress.com even allow people to have their artwork printed on t-shirts for a low-cost. The graphics programs available, such as Adobe and others also allow amateur artists to create artwork in a nontraditional sense.

Even writers are finding a new audience in e-books and other online writing opportunities. If they are willing they can post a novel online for anyone to read. The medium provides for an interesting opportunity for the amateur writer who might have difficulty entering the corporate world of publishing.

With all of the new opportunities that the internet and related software provide for sharing art, will consumers continue to demand traditional art forms? At this time, the technology is still two-dimensional. People continue to want the experience of seeing and appreciating sculpture, and handiwork. Traditional art is appreciated not only for the image, but also the use of the materials. The traditional folk artists, such as the American Eskimo continue to use natural resources to create fantastic pieces of artwork. Their sculptures and carvings are difficult to appreciate in the two-dimensional form. [Picture of mask, etc.]

Audience preferences also limit the credibility of the artist. For instance, a novelist who struggles to become published may actually be a horrible writer. Publishers of traditional novels would not dare to publish that author. But this author could gain a following on the internet.

Financial incentive has long motivated many artists to strive to produce better artwork. It has also provided a means for people to want to be creative. [citations, examples].

[ Develop conclusion]

From the campaign of Jane for President

2006-02-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

From the campaign tour of Senator Jane Smith for President, 2008-

The beginning of election season is always exciting, especially when it is a presidential election like this one. Not only does it mark the end of this president’s term, there is no incumbent fighting to stay in the Oval Office.

The campaign to elect Senator Jane Smith, the idealistic democrat from Nevada, is proving to have its share of trials and tribulations. Not only is she running against the powerful and popular Senator Tilly Minton of New York, she is campaigning in the first election with two female candidates for president.

At the most recent campaign stop, Senator Smith drew a large crowd of supporters and people who wanted to learn more about this relatively unknown candidate. This is what they learned.

Senator Smith, a native Nevadan, has long supported women’s rights and the social initiatives supported by the Democrats. She has strong local support from the people of Nevada, and support for her is growing from the population of the nearby state of California.

Senator Smith has promised to continue to work toward improving education opportunities for all in her state. Because of her initiatives, Nevada’s public school system has moved from being one of the worst in the nation to being one of the best.

Not only has she supported women’s rights and improved education, she has also been successful in stopping the storage of nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain. Her stance on environmental issues is strong. She supports tax incentives for building “green” residential units, and she even drives a hybrid car when she is at home.

For those that question her ability to serve as Commander in Chief of the armed services, Senator Smith went to college on a navy scholarship. While in the Navy, she became a pilot and few missions to transport injured soldiers from the battlefield to military hospitals. Her exemplary service record proves she can do the job.

Senator Smith has been married for ten years and is the mother of two small boys. She will support initiatives to improve the lives of all Americans. A vote for her will bring America back.

Sometimes an email is just an email

2006-02-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Electronic communication has allowed people to exchange ideas more quickly than conventional letter writing. As such, writing in a casual manner has become accepted when using email. Although email is typically written casually, there are still some conventions that are similar to traditional letter writing.

When people write a traditional letter, they follow a format that includes the date, a heading, a salutation, a body, and a signature. In this way email is similar. Email contains an address, a subject line, a date, and a body.

Traditional letter writing typically uses more formal language and grammar. A traditional letter usually states the purpose for the letter and introduces ideas in separate paragraphs. A formal closing summarizes the letter and asks for response. On the other hand, spelling and grammar errors are generally overlooked in the email. Since email is usually written quickly, it may contain only one idea.

Since email communication is done casually, some people tend to write more like they speak, and may send their messages hastily. Hasty communication has consequences for the writer. As we are seeing more news stories of people losing their jobs over what they write, email communication should become more formal, at least in the business world.

In addition, the advent of electronic communication has made casual communication between family and friends easier. People who would have never taken the time to put pen to paper now send email in the form of jokes, sympathetic stories, chain letters, pictures, and general minutia. How many times have you opened your email inbox to find “Fw:fw:fw:fw:” in the subject line?

Electronic communication has become just as important as traditional letter writing and phone calls. Eventually it will evolve and people may not use this communication form so casually with spelling and grammar errors.

Politics in the New Media

2006-02-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

The 2004 election has long since past, but we continue to live with its effects. Thankfully, we did not have a need for the Supreme Court to become involved with the electoral process this time. But even without vote-counting conspiracies, the election did have its share of excitement.

The democratic party had it's chance to support a strong candidate. The two major candidates, John Kerry and Howard Dean seemed to be poised to go head-to-head with the George W. Bush. Although John Kerry received the nomination from the Democratic National Party, Howard Dean had grassroots support.

The wide-spread use of the internet helped Dean gain the grassroots support for his campaign. Even today, his website and blogs continue to be an example for running a grassroots campaign. Although today he is not using it to promote himself, he is using it to provide a forum for people and candidates who support his platform in other levels of government.

When visiting the Democracy for America website, visitors find information about the organization, the candidates the organization supports, read the blog, and find out about events sponsored by DFA.

Dean's use of the internet and blogs has led to growth and support of other blogs. While doing a search for political blogs, I found www.watchblog.com, a blog site that provides commentary from not only republicans and democrats, but also third-party groups. The most recent blog posting for each group is posted on the home page, side-by-side. This allows users to read opinion from all sides and determine their own opinions.

The growing use of blogs should have a significant influence on the next presidential election. Not only are grassroots blogs popping up on the internet, but also blogs from established news organizations. Amateur blogging participants may be lured to those sites that are sponsored by such newsgroups as CNN or Fox news, and will continue to find the status quo. With a little searching however, they may find that other groups are out there and have a different perspective on the election and the candidates.

This brings me to the question of how to balance being open-minded versus being skeptical about what is posted. The available technology allows people to have professional-looking blogs. Users may have a difficult time deciphering which blogs are legitimate. Who can say if the blogger is really a stay-at-home mom or a professional campaigner? With one's identity being difficult to establish online, we can expect to see the onset of more insidious blogs.

One can be sure that the blogs have entered the political landscape and are here to stay. They have become another source of information that people will be able to become more informed about politics and the world.

Plagiarism in the New Media (working title)

2006-01-26T09:38:00.000-08:00

Plagiarism

The evolution of the new media has been fast paced. Many of the more traditional conventions of grammar, language, and etiquette have not been able to keep up. More importantly, the rules of copyright and plagiarism have become nebulous. Writers and readers of the published information on the internet have to become more critical of what they read. The technology has become so widely available that anyone can publish anything on the internet.

With so many people contributing to the internet there has become an abundance of information. The communities that have popped up have developed some of their own rules of etiquette as they apply to hyperlinks to other sites, but there are no hard and fast rules. Rebecca Blood and others have proposed guidelines to giving proper credit to others. These guidelines are similar to those of the traditional APA format. [Define similarities].

The weblog community is a democratic society. Anyone can post whatever they want. Does the junior high school student follow the guidelines established by Blood and the weblog pioneers? The “My Space generation” uses the technology, but are they aware of the guidelines? The My Space generation has probably grown up without ever remembering life without computers. The practice of downloading media, whether legally or not has become an accepted practice among this group.

However, the weblog community spans across not only social and economic classes, but also international lines. According to Ede and others, plagiarism is an accepted practice in other countries. [Give examples].

Other countries may not be accepting of our copyright laws. Our intellectual properties are frequently bootlegged and available for sale on the streets of other countries. [reference/ examples].

As of yet there is little regulation of the internet. The internet lacks a centralized regulatory body and several organizations police for different things based on their own interests. [who are the bodies that enforce laws as they relate to the internet?]

So what defines plagiarism on the internet? It has become standard practice to copy and cut text/ art and use it for personal use. Does the end use define plagiarism? What about economics? If the end user gains financial incentive, does that constitute stealing?

These are some of the questions and ideas I plan to address in the paper due on 2/9.

Bloggedy Blog Blog

2006-01-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

A freestyle posting for ENG 206...

Since starting the course "Composition, New Media, and the Blogosphere," my spouse and I have had several discussions about blogs. He does not understand what a blog is or for what purpose they are used. Therefore, he has banned the following words from our conversations:

blog
weblog
we-blog
blogosphere
posting
blogging
and anything else that refers to this new media format.

I have tried to explain blogs to him. He seems to understand that blogs are a publishing format with similarities to a journal, but continues to question me on why a blog is different from a traditional website. I keep telling him that the major difference is the manner in which blogs are published. The ease of publishing blogs has encouraged many people to post the mundane details of their lives for the world to see. But then, I am questioned further..."Why would I want to read blogs? Why would anyone put their thoughts and personal information out there? WHY? WHY? WHY?"

My spouse and I were born before most of my college classmates. We remember when the internet started. We remember the 5 in floppy disks. We remember life before e-mail and cell phones. So dear reader, you can understand his trouble in accepting this new media. I am sure we will just have to get used to blogs. They are no longer for the computer "geeks" and Generation Y, they are for everyone, and they are not going away any time soon.

I plan to learn more about this new media and pass my knowledge to family and friends. My goal in blogging is not only academic, it is to get people to stop sending the gratuitous holiday letters. As for the banning of the blog in my house, all I have to say is Bloggedy Blog Blog.

My Top 10 Pet Peeves about driving.

2006-01-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

1. People who don't put shopping carts in the "corral".
2. People who "pull-through" parking places so they don't have to back out of a spot.
3. People who steal parking places.
4. People who stop to make a right turn.
5. People who make wide left turns.
6. People who stop in the middle of turn-abouts.
7. People who drive 10-20 mph slower than the posted speed limit (usually on their cell phones).
8. People who cross over 3 lanes of traffic to make any turns.
9. People who look terrified to be driving.
10. People who park in the reserved "take out" spots at restaurants for their eat in meal.

What types of blogs are out there?

2006-01-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

As part of the course requirements for “Composition, the New Media, and the Blogosphere,” I am required to explore the different types of blogs. According to Rebecca Blood, in her book, “The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog,” there are four types of weblogs based on their purpose. The purposes she outlines are: self-expression, keeping in touch, information sharing, and reputation building.

The use of a blog for self-expression can have multiple purposes. This type of blog is primarily used by people who want to share their craft (writing, art, etc.), or their thoughts or beliefs. The ease at which bloggers can publish onto the internet and the feedback they receive appears to make some bloggers more eager to express themselves online. Another form of self-expression is keeping an online diary. Caution needs to be used with this type of blog. Some people will keep this type of blog private from friends, family, and work by using pseudonyms and by not giving the URL to people. People using their blog for this purpose also need to be cautious about what they choose to say online.

But those people who want to share their daily lives with friends and family may also choose to use their blog to “keep in touch.” They will post pictures, stories, and tales of their daily lives. Sometimes they will send their family and friends e-mails to let them know that the blog has been updated. If more people did this maybe we would not get so many repetitive e-mails and chain letters.

The third type of blog is the information sharing blog. This type of blog is used by people interested in news and current affairs. They find stories that interest them and will further research them. Sometimes information sharing bloggers will also post links to other noteworthy sites and provide commentary.

The last type of blog is the reputation building blog. These blogs contain information that is researched and reliable. Sometimes writers of these blogs will become known as experts on their subjects. Reputation building blogs are becoming more reputable and large companies will have their own blogs. Even reputable news agencies will have blogs.

I have not chosen a specific type of blog to use. I have a feeling it will have elements of all four of these blogs. Right now, I think I will use it for personal expression and some assignments for ENG 206.

My first blog...mom must be proud.

2006-01-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

Life is full of firsts...first step, first words, first love, etc. Even as adults we continue to have memorable firsts. This posting represents blogging debut. I guess this makes me a blog-utante?