My webpage

Keeping with the theme of new media - here is my new webpage.

Final blog prompt - Next Media?

I think that the direction that media is going has the potentially to have a reverse effect on what is expected of it. What I mean to say is that right now it is seen as something that will push people apart. That it has the potential to pull people together in person, rather than push them apart. It has been proven to work in regards to the music industry - advertising shows through the internet tends to improve the amount of attendance. This is due to the fact that it is quicker and easier to spread words-of-mouse instead of word-of-mouth. The text is always there and available to be reread and double checked. Also, most e-vite programs and even the event feature that is embedded in FaceBook allows for the host of the event to send messages and updates to all of the people that they or their friends have put on to the guest list.This ability to arrange events and even coordinate dinners and lunch plans makes it easier for people who otherwise are too busy to both schedule things and actually have time to go to them.

Another reason that this is most likely going to serve as a tool to further unity and connections between people is the communities that are available online. It doesn't matter your global position, your physical appearance, the connection that tend to be made are on a deeper and less superficial level. Granted there are still the creepy people and the people that are going to judge others - but the number of people that we are able to connect to has increased exponentially.

The internet also allows for people who wouldn't otherwise open up to have friendships and relationships that others who can manage them in person think of as trivial or fake. This potential, this ability to connect with people on a deeper level because of the lack of barriers that sitting in front of a computer creates.

So, to the bigger question - what do I think will happen in 10? 20? 50 years? I think that the planet will gradually become connect through this universal language that allows us all to connect, to widen our scope on what life can be. Soon, the economies will level out, perhaps with a common currency - the realization that the reality in front of us is a planet of people. That the separations that we put between us are there because we haven't taken the time to let people show us who they are, rather than assume who they are.

I think that the status of celebrity will lessen. We'll be able to see that everyone around us is talented in their own way and deserves our praise, support, and encouragement. The struggle to be seen will lessen, while there is the risk that we'll all want to be able to have alone time and our privacy - at least everyone to be on the same page. We'll be able to assist developing countries and realize that the people in them aren't the ones that are developing - they are already imbued with the same level of knowledge and potential that everyone else on the planet it. People will learn that to live simply means to be - the desire to impress will lessen, while the desire and drive to be ourselves will become more common place. I think that with blogs and social networking sites that people will gradually become more open-minded regarding being open with each other, with realizing that they have the right to speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in, while still respecting others around them. There is moderation in all things, so I doubt that we'll have chips implanted, or have computers and the internet physically integrated into our physical beings.

However, I am fairly certain that it, or some evolution of it, will remain integrated into our daily lives and the things that it will allow us to do, to bring forth, will prove to be worth it in the end. These are still the infant stages. The internet isn't even a toddler yet - as it grows, what it will offer and how it will shape the world around us will grow and change with it.

Prouduct placement continued...

Since that last post, I've noticed more and more product placement. Some of the shows that I've been watching have been able to successfully pull it off without me giving more thought to it than "Wow! They always drink that same brand of bottle water in this television show, even while making reference to the per verbal water cooler." Other shows that I've watched have been a little too obvious with their introduction of the items - the number of these shows is far less, and I think it annoyed me, since I was forgot I was looking for it and it jolted me back from the plot line that had dragged me in. Its far less annoying than commercials - I'm curious now whether or not its more cost effective for all parties in the long run? I'll get back to "you" on that...

Product Placement in Television

I thought that Professor Macek's comment about product placement in television shows was interesting, since there have been shows like 30 rock that even made fun of product placement through using product placement to make fun of using product placement. Aiyee! Evening though it can be annoying - like the "Stride" episode of Smallville - other times I would prefer that to having to sit through sets of commercials that break up the story lines.

Response to politicial blog prompt

I think that this generation, the digital generation, does allow for its members to become better informed about the candidates and the political debates that have been taking place over the course of the past year (roughly). I even remember back during the elections in 2000 that there was a site that allowed you to fill out a questionnaire to see which candidates was better aligned with your own personal views. This wasn't one of those "quiz" sites though, it was an official and as far as I knew unbiased site that pulled all the details into one location to make it easier to catch up on election news.

I'm not quite sure why the site died and wasn't revived for the next election in 2004, but I guess there has been plenty of other sites that have popped up since then that provides a myriad of different views and positions on the candidates during the primary elections that are taking place now. I think that because of the prevalence of blogs and videos, both parody and serious, that a lack of even seemingly useless knowledge seems impossible. If you go online to look at or participate in even unrelated activities, there seems to be groups or comments about Barrack vs. Hilary, or the age of John McCain.

With shows, and their respective websites and print media, like "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" cater to college students and keep them up to date with political and social issues. This is also done through using a voice that this generation is more likely to pay attention to, because of the wit and criticism of the world that we see falling apart around us. For me, the increase of satire regarding these issues has sparked an interest in reading more about the topics. I think that the associate of fresh humor and critique of events breathes new life into various arenas of the presidential election that would have otherwise remained flat and uninteresting.

Without shows like these, sites like hotrantsmedia, that the amount of time it would take a student to look for all of this information would be too great to allow them the time to research candidates in between classes and work. Because of the organization and the availability, which I am sure if due to the presence of the digital generation (otherwise there wouldn't be that target market), this allows for the circle of cyber culture to continue.

Long time coming

So I know that I should have posted more sooner than this, but a funny thing happens when insomnia becomes full-blown - even though you are up for more hours it doesn't mean that your brain will function during those hours.

Ok, on to the blog post....

Since there is no blog prompt up I thought that I would comment on the articles and sites that we visited during class and then talk about things in general that have been going on these past few weeks, since my life seems to involve new media non-stop.

I like knowing about hotrantsmedia now, since it leaves the wandering around looking for articles to someone else who has the time to track things down. Since I don't belong to any political party and fall under liberal for some topics and conservative for others, its nice to have a range of articles to chose from.

One thing that did disappoint me though was that all of the topics of the articles seemed to be focused on past events and speculations based on financial information. I mean I agree that these things are important, but I just wander how many times things will get talked about before people realize thats all that they seem to be talking about. Granted its still useful information to know when considering who I want as the next president, but when we're still listening to primary election coverage in other states then its twice as much information that is useless that is bombarding you. And we wonder why US citizens aren't as politically active. It would be a whole lot easier if we could just get things done and over with quicker. A person's character and stance should be known without having to be said, so all this parading around is getting absurd.

As for the interesting things that are going on, I've been researching more and more flash websites and have found that they aren't as well laid out as I used to think they were. Its interesting how the more that you know about some the less things seem impressive. I'm not saying that I'm not in awe of some designers or that I don't think that it takes skill to develop and publish flash sites. Rather what I am talking about it the prevalence of overkill and "underkill" when it comes to design. Unfortunately at this time, since I am yet again staying up later than I am supposed to, I don't have links to the places that I wanted to reference, so instead take this as an "announcement of a coming post".

To try and be able to process information in the morning, I am going to go and read through other posts and comment, to make sure that I keep up to date. Night!

HAHA!

If you've never visited icanhascheezburger.com, I highly recommend it.

Children's Safety on the Internet - Blog Prompt Response

So I got to thinking about the idea of "child-proofing" the internet. I can see the good in it and I can also see the harm that it might have for the adults that use the internet. Now, I know I would rather not come across "adult" themed sites when I search for something as mundane as a disney cartoon character. Yes, yuck, its gotten that bad.

But what happens when sites word things too close to something less tame, so that filters remove it form a search? Does that mean that there is more of a chance that safer searches will result in less results? Oh does it mean that per chance site will start catering their sites to be more family friend to save face when it comes to business. I am not saying that all porn related activity online will stop, because it is unfortunately too lucrative a business venture for that to happen.

Granted that is the first thing that I think of when I think of what we have to safe guard against when it comes to the internet. However, because this has become a playground for the sexual uncontrollable (no offense meant, but I mean come on and learn to control impulses already - its part of growing up). Since this is something that is accepted by society it leads to the possibility and reality of more deviant behavior - first branching out to child pornography and then sexual predators, though really the two seem to go more hand in hand as time passes by.

Whether or not people feel that these things are connected are up to them. But so long as businesses are able to keep their sites family friendly I don't see how there could be issues with the internet going more child friendly.

Now there is the "but" to all of this. It would drive me insane if the internet turned into a child's playland. Parents should take responsibility for their children before the rest of us are made to sift through dumbed down and flowery (literally decorated) information that has been pulled together by designer who are focused on making eye-catching designs that suck up the budget that don't allow for good copy-editing. So perhaps its the neurotic part of me that wants people to return using real language - words that are longer than two syllables would be an amazing achievement, especially if you understand them.

Ok, enough of being off track and ranting.

I think that making the internet safe for children is a priority. I also think that, as with everything, there is also moderation with everything. To take precaution with the changes that people do to their sites, so that that safety procedures that they take don't leave open loop holes that make the changes entirely usually.

I think that I've gone on too long. Good night.

Week Four

So I've been trying to think of what I would want to post about for this weeks blog post. I don't do a lot of surfing on sites relating to things other than art and art supplies and even those are places that I have been able to visit much recently with my class schedule.

There is one thing that I have found interesting recently that should allow me to expound for the minimum numbers of words, though I know that isn't and should be the main focus. Here goes.

With the increasing price of gas, food, and pretty much everything under the sun, I am finding fewer and fewer people that tend to have cable, satellite TV, or pretty much any sort of provider that gives them anything more than the internet and a land line (and even the land line is extremely rare). There are however - or maybe its just because I now have no money or no brain power and thus time to kill to be able to manage to write things that make sense - an increase in sites other than YouTube that offers television programs to people that either live in a country other than where the program runs, or somewhere financially where people can't afford to have cable.

Some people, like myself, do it because I also don't like to hassle with the commercials that air between the shows. I've found that after being able to watch programs online at a couple different sites, that I get the shows that I want to watch when I am able to watch them. Now there are still shows that I pay for, since I like the clean quality of the iTunes versions, as well as the fact that I'll always have access to them, but those are also worth the cost since I don't have to worry about commercials.

So hopefully that all makes sense, since I just sort of went on a long winded cirlce without meaning to, but now I have to go to the dentist or decide what I want to do about it, so I'm out.

Sites to try if you want to see shows and movies on a college kids budget?
Try Here
And Here

Follow-up to last post

So I was thinking last night as I was falling asleep. If you think about the digital divide from an international level and end up allowing more people in more countries to access the internet that it could play a large role in stimulating the US economy. Think about it. With the value of the dollar being so low at this point, it makes sense that other countries who exchange rates make them wealthy state-side could purchase items from US companies and still be saving money even with the customs fees and taxes. Now I'm not an expert on this sort of thing, so it might not work out in the long run, but I think it's at least an interesting idea to explore.

Response to Digital Divide

Okay. So we had talked about the digital divide in class. We kinda of went over pros and cons of the program from a national level, which was interesting to hear, since there seems to be a relatively diverse group of students in the course when looking at it from an economic and profession angle.

I can see as a future educator and artist how it would make the work that I do in the future more accessible to the world. I can in the same thought though, see how it might hamper how things work as well. For people who have not been exposed to the internet as much as American consumers have there are some tips, tricks, and risks that they might encounter without someone giving the warning that they need to be careful.

By this I mean scam spam and such, as well as the hope that there are really get rich quick schemes that could bring their family out of poverty. There is also the whole fable that if its published online its true. With this there is a whole 'nother can of worms that can be opened - I already know of relationships that have been ruined, etc. because someone has chosen to believe what was in type rather than the words coming out of their best friends mouths.

I digressed, I apologize. I'll get back to the real question/issue at hand.

Back to looking at it from the idea of equality, I think that over all it is a wonderful idea that the entire world be connect. That regardless of a person's nationality (and thus location) or their financial status, they can connect with like minded individuals across the globe.

Even though fear is hindering the sense of global unity, I think in the long run it is going to be for the best and that by allowing people who wouldn't otherwise afford it to feel like they belong - then I don't care how much more I have to give, so that others can benefit. Wouldn't you want someone to do the same for you??

Tiffany Brown Interview Response

Reading the interview with Tiffany Brown, I was able to pick up several valuable techniques that she uses while blogging. Well, I take that back, they aren’t really techniques, but rather insights into the people that read and blog. The idea that there is a lose of identity, or that a person can have a fresh start through the Internet, is an interesting concept to me. I had never thought of the fact that it makes our brains work harder, since we don’t have a person in front of us to read and form stereotypes about. The lose of knowledge regarding race, gender, class, etc. that we get from face to face time leaves the comments and communities that can be formed on blogs more up in the air than other methods of communication. Obviously, as Tiffany discussed, there are certain sites, like blackfeminism.org that are for certain groups, so tend to attract similar people into its folds.

However, this is not entirely guaranteed to be the case. She also talks about discussions that tend to get heated, since there are gender-based attacks even on a site like blackfeminism.org – this to me was extremely intriguing. I think that what we tend to over look in person is shoved back into our faces because of the lack of a physical being giving us hints and clues about who they are, all we have to go off of is there words. My apologies for digressing…

Tiffany’s discussion of how blogging has changed her writing style to one that is more conversational in style made me sit back and think about the effect that blogging as a whole has had on my life thus far. I tend to be more open and “type-ative” on my blog than I am in person, since I have a chance to type out and read over my feelings before sharing them with the world. I thoroughly empathize with her though when she discusses being burnt out and having to step away from the blogging community for a while, especially when her posts tend to be more emotionally charged. I tend to write two or three short updates throughout a week that goes smoothly, or one long post for several weeks if things get especially emotionally trying.

Enough about me though; To recap the interview, allow more time to write up a post that has links in it, share with the world while understanding that its made up of a variety of people and their opinions (and yours isn’t anymore or less important), blogging can get you opportunities and your name out there or the world to see, and no worries if you forget to post or are too busy, since sometimes that’s just the way the ball bounces.

First Post

Welcome!

So this is the blog that I will be posting to for the Introduction to New Media course that I'll be taking this Spring term, my last and final term here at the illustrious institution that is North Central College. Oh, how the sarcasm drips.

I'll be posting, per class requirements, regarding readings and various media outlets that we'll be examining. I'm looking forward to being able to share the information that I learn, as well as my opinions that are formed off of the readings - no holds barred.

Happy reading!