Since starting this blog I've tried to determine what kind of contribution I wanted to make to the Internet universe.
For me this blog is my way of sharing interesting, creative and unique ideas and occurrences whatever they may be. I always stumble on cool things on the Internet and it is enjoyable, even fulfilling for me to share these websites. But e-mailing seems so limiting because I can only reach my friends. So this blog was created to share my cool finds with the world! I guess its my way of democratizing information. But I must admit I haven't been connecting with other bloggers as much. I think it's because I'm afraid that readers won't find my posts interesting. But I can't hide forever. This is the Internet and people are bound to read what I'm writing.
So...this week I will attempt to step out of my comfort zone and connect with a blogger! Come back soon to hear about how it went!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Just a thought
There is a general notion that the Internet has allowed us to share more and be more open with the world but consider this. When we type an e-mail, send a text, post a blog we are writing our thoughts in a text editor. This gives us the ability to edit and manipulate what we say and how we say it. Combined with pictures and videos what we present on the world wide web is this censored version of ourselves. On the other hand when we engage in a conversation it is much harder to edit what we say. Is what we post electronically the truth or an overly managed portrayal of ourselves?
Are we really sharing that much with each other?
What do you think?
Are we really sharing that much with each other?
What do you think?
25 Questions
In order to help you get to know me a little bit better I've decided to post that 25 questions survey from Facebook on here. I know I know its soooo last week but I figure it would help us get to know each other! So...here goes 25 random things about me!
1. I feel guilty because I'm not much of an animal person. Is it wrong if I don't have feelings for animals?
2. When I was a baby my grandmother would insist that I sleep on my back so that I would develop a flat head. This was supposedly better for ponytails and therefore desirable. I kind of resent her for that.
3. I had my first piece of cheese when I was 8.
4. I hate watching dramas because I become too involved in the story. But some of the best movies of seen were ones that I was forced to see.
5. Generally speaking I prefer hanging out with guys. I think girls are too complicated.
6. I enjoy chopping vegetables. I think it's very soothing
7. I think pigeons are plotting to take over the world. Notice how they aren't afraid of people anymore. They don't even move when you walk towards them. That really scares me.
8. Birds creep me out. I hate pigeons especially because I try not to run them over on the road but they won't fly out of the way.
9. I've shot a machine gun in the jungles of Vietnam. Its the only gun I've touched.
10. I want a dancer's body and I think that if I danced I would get one.
11. Engrish always makes me happy.
12. After I watch foreign film with subttitles I always feel like I can speak the language.
13. My goal is to have traveled to all 7 continents by the age of 25. I still need to go to Australia, Europe, Latin America, and Antarctica.
14. My brother is nine years younger then me so sometimes I still feel like an only child.
15. I hate driving and am a big fan of public transportation.
16. Forest green is my favorite color.
17. It's been so long since I've read a book.
18. I love the way a library/book store smells.
19. I like going to yard sales because its always an adventure you never know what you are going to find.
20. Liechtenstein is my favorite country in the world because I did a report on it in Middle School.
21. I like standing on my head.
22. I've never had a pet.
23. I don't like to take medicines. I always give my body the opportunity to fight it first.
24. I've tried donating blood every year since high school (almost 6 years) but have never been successful because of travel restrictions.
25. I think airplane food is the best part of flying.
1. I feel guilty because I'm not much of an animal person. Is it wrong if I don't have feelings for animals?
2. When I was a baby my grandmother would insist that I sleep on my back so that I would develop a flat head. This was supposedly better for ponytails and therefore desirable. I kind of resent her for that.
3. I had my first piece of cheese when I was 8.
4. I hate watching dramas because I become too involved in the story. But some of the best movies of seen were ones that I was forced to see.
5. Generally speaking I prefer hanging out with guys. I think girls are too complicated.
6. I enjoy chopping vegetables. I think it's very soothing
7. I think pigeons are plotting to take over the world. Notice how they aren't afraid of people anymore. They don't even move when you walk towards them. That really scares me.
8. Birds creep me out. I hate pigeons especially because I try not to run them over on the road but they won't fly out of the way.
9. I've shot a machine gun in the jungles of Vietnam. Its the only gun I've touched.
10. I want a dancer's body and I think that if I danced I would get one.
11. Engrish always makes me happy.
12. After I watch foreign film with subttitles I always feel like I can speak the language.
13. My goal is to have traveled to all 7 continents by the age of 25. I still need to go to Australia, Europe, Latin America, and Antarctica.
14. My brother is nine years younger then me so sometimes I still feel like an only child.
15. I hate driving and am a big fan of public transportation.
16. Forest green is my favorite color.
17. It's been so long since I've read a book.
18. I love the way a library/book store smells.
19. I like going to yard sales because its always an adventure you never know what you are going to find.
20. Liechtenstein is my favorite country in the world because I did a report on it in Middle School.
21. I like standing on my head.
22. I've never had a pet.
23. I don't like to take medicines. I always give my body the opportunity to fight it first.
24. I've tried donating blood every year since high school (almost 6 years) but have never been successful because of travel restrictions.
25. I think airplane food is the best part of flying.
Online Class 3: The Evolution of Internet Use
I remember when I was in elementary school I hated typing up reports on the computer. I thought it was really tedious and that it took forever. That was before I knew how to type fast. And then came AIM and my relationship with the internet and computers completely changed. Next came Yahoo Mail, Shockwave games, Xanga, Livejournal, and Kazaa. Once I entered high school my internet usage evolved beyond entertainment. I began doing research on Google Scholar and online databases, and I shared documents via Google Docs. I found my way around town using Mapquest and started downloading through Mytunes.
Today theres a whole mess of programs and softwares I use on a daily basis: Pandora for music, Yelp for reviews, Constant Contact for work, Google groups for my thesis writing group, and the list goes on. I can't believe I once dreaded writing reports on a computer and now I couldn't imagine handwriting anything! What a change I have experienced in just ten years!
But having what seems like having the world at my finger tips does have its consequences. While I have been able to share all sorts of information with people all over the world, I still dont feel CONNECTED to people. It seems that the internet has brought us closer together also kept us apart. I think there is real value in having in person experiences where we can engage all of our senses. Perhaps thats where the internet is headed in the future. As users demand a more realistic human experience over the internet we may see the development widgets built to enhance our tactile senses. Wouldn't that be something?
But for now I would be happy with a more integrated internet. Lucky for me I'm not the only one! Check out this cool new tool from Mozilla.
Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.
Check out the Mozilla blog post about it here.
Today theres a whole mess of programs and softwares I use on a daily basis: Pandora for music, Yelp for reviews, Constant Contact for work, Google groups for my thesis writing group, and the list goes on. I can't believe I once dreaded writing reports on a computer and now I couldn't imagine handwriting anything! What a change I have experienced in just ten years!
But having what seems like having the world at my finger tips does have its consequences. While I have been able to share all sorts of information with people all over the world, I still dont feel CONNECTED to people. It seems that the internet has brought us closer together also kept us apart. I think there is real value in having in person experiences where we can engage all of our senses. Perhaps thats where the internet is headed in the future. As users demand a more realistic human experience over the internet we may see the development widgets built to enhance our tactile senses. Wouldn't that be something?
But for now I would be happy with a more integrated internet. Lucky for me I'm not the only one! Check out this cool new tool from Mozilla.
Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.
Check out the Mozilla blog post about it here.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Revel in RIVES
I'm not terribly fond of poems. I just don't get most of them. I don't want to guess at what your saying I just want you to tell me.
Then along came RIVES. Here are some examples of his genius.
Oh how I wish I could make words work for me!
Then along came RIVES. Here are some examples of his genius.
Oh how I wish I could make words work for me!
Speaking of Blogs
This blog post is about blogs. First a video: the essence of blogging explained in twenty minutes, a TED speech by Mena Trott.
Note: the speech drags after about five minutes.
For the beginner:
Problogger's Crawl before you walk: 6 Step-by-step Instructions for Starting your First Blog
Problogger's Starting Your First Blog? 29 Tips, Tutorials and Resources for New Bloggers
More blog resources to come. Do you have any favorite blog related resources?
Note: the speech drags after about five minutes.
For the beginner:
Problogger's Crawl before you walk: 6 Step-by-step Instructions for Starting your First Blog
Problogger's Starting Your First Blog? 29 Tips, Tutorials and Resources for New Bloggers
More blog resources to come. Do you have any favorite blog related resources?
Songsmith Rocks!
Microsoft Songsmith allows users to make their own music and write songs. Essentially the program generates musical accompaniment that matches a singer’s voice.
The real beauty of Songsmith however is that it has taken off as a viral hit, partially because of Johannes Kreidler, who used Songsmith to create melodies from stock charts. Check it out:
Gotta love the internet!
The real beauty of Songsmith however is that it has taken off as a viral hit, partially because of Johannes Kreidler, who used Songsmith to create melodies from stock charts. Check it out:
Gotta love the internet!
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