Web Site Project Reflection

I am not and probably will not be a frequent web writer, but I kind of enjoyed this project. At the end, being able to look back and know that I created this, made me proud of myself. I am glad that we were able to choose our own topics. It made it more enjoyable and you were able to put your own extra personality into the project. Compared to the hypertext collage, this project had more freedom, and thus I wanted to do more with it. This project was meaningful for me in the sense that I was able to share what I think is interesting. I was able to pick my project based on what I liked and I did not have boundaries holding me back. The biggest problem I had while doing this project was when I was linking my pages. I forgot that I could not link it with the file name shown on my computer (because it was looking in my C drive) and it was frustrating to have to go back through all of the different links and correct it. I also enjoyed being able to work on this project in class. Being a brand new coder, writing a web page seems like a daunting task, it was helpful to be able to spend time in class working on it and have you as a resource if I had questions.

Retirement

I wish that one day I will become my parents. They are now both retired and in a financial state that allows them to travel the world. Currently they are in Australia. What fun. They enjoy a lot of vacations together and because of it are really living it up. They even host our family on a trip every year. This year over Christmas we are going to Hawaii. I feel lucky to be a part of a family that is able to spend so much time together and do so many memorable things together. I think I can actually say that I hope I grow into my parents.

Amazing Science

It is amazing to think what science can do these days. This girl was born in India two years ago, and now has been able to have surgery to remove her 4 extra limbs. In the past, if someone was born with such an anomaly, they probably would die and kill their mother during birth. Even if they did survive that, they would be permanently debilitated for the rest of their life. After her surgery, they reconstructed her hips so that soon she will be able to walk and lead a normal life. History is filled with stories of "circus freaks," but nowadays, they are instead seen as an opportunity for wonders of medicine to shine.

Thanksgiving

Over the summer I used to work in a nursing home. Most of the residents have basically been abandoned. They rarely had a family member come visit let alone even a phone call. Seeing the sorrow in some of their eyes makes me afraid to get old. My grandmother recently became ill with Shingles. The main part of the disease is over, but she now has debilitating pain that is preventing her from being able to take care of herself. Before any of us realized how bad the situation was, she had lost 15 pounds and her kidney function was deteriorating from the lack of nutrition in her body. 15 pounds doesn't seem like much, but to a 100 pound lady, that's quite a bit. Knowing that she needed help, we of course hired a nurse to come in daily to ensure that she is getting the care she needs. My family has also made a rotation of visits so that she knows she is not being abandoned during such a hard time for her. I am going out there during my fall break. I talked to her today to tell her my plans and she was so excited, but all i can think about is the thousands of grandparents in our world that are forgotten and do not have a family that is willing to make that extra effort to show their compassion. So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful to be a part of a family that stands by one another, and will always be there.

HONEYMOON!!!

So I'm getting married next summer, and amongst all of the planning, I did the most important part this weekend, I booked our honeymoon!!!!! We decided that we wanted to go on a cruise, so that we could try to avoid any possible stress that we may encounter having a honeymoon during hurricane season, and we finally picked one out. We decided to go with Carnival Cruise Lines. They seemed to have a lot of entertainment on board and they were reasonably priced. We read a lot of good reviews about them as well. We leave from Texas and go to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel! So far we decided to go swimming with sting rays in Grand Cayman and scuba diving in the reefs of Cozumel. I'm not sure what we will be doing in Jamaica, but I'm sure it will be awesome! We cant wait!

Peaches

I used to live in San Antonio, Texas about 10 years ago. I can still remember my mom's fresh peach cobbler. We lived in an area where we had all sorts of fruit trees and every year we would pick hundreds of peaches. My mom would freeze most of them, but with some, she would make peach cobbler with it. I remember it being such a treat, and I only have happy thoughts when I think about those afternoons when I would come home to a nice warm piece of heaven. To this day, I still make my mother's recipe, but it was that much better when she made it from peaches that we had grown.

Brains!!!!

So I am in a human gross anatomy course and today we were dissecting the brains. I always knew what brains were and what they were supposed to look like, but when you are holding what used to be the entire mind, personality, and being of a person, it is incredible to think what these little nerve fibers are actually capable of. This gray lump of goo can make decisions, feel pain, show emotions and compassion, and makes up what we consider to be "human." Even while you are reading this, your brain is doing so much to keep your body alive and to actually comprehend the words on this page. So how can all of this be controlled by mushy gray tissue? Amazing huh!

Readings

The series of readings highlight various tips for writing. From how to get started on what seems like an endless task, to developing your own style. Lammot talks about just letting yourself write; Not to worry about what you are doing yet, and instead to let the creative juices flow. She says to not be afraid to write a crappy draft and to not take on too much at a time. I think her advice can be utilized by writers in all stages of life. The authors seem to have good tips but personally, I think good writing is in the eyes of the beholder. I get the impression that the only "good" type of writing has to be out of the box. That may be true for many, but frankly coming from a scientific background I hold different standards to my writing and what I read. There is more than one type of writing and I don't think they should be compared to one another. Oranges and apples are both fruit, but who is to say one is better than the other? Writing should be judged upon how well it satisfies its purpose, no matter what it may be.

ROCKIES!!!!

I have never before been a baseball fan, but hey, if its working, roll with it! The Rockies used to be a nobody and now they are in the playoffs, how cool is that! It seems like one of those Cinderella stories where they came from nothing and now are ready to take all. I used to think that baseball was the least athletic sport out there and because of it I was never a supporter. I started watching the Rockies and I have to give those boys props. I could never hit something that was going 90 some miles per hour. They have some serious hand eye coordination. I never thought I would see the day when the Colorado was known for the Rockies, but hey, good job boys.

Fort Collins Drainage?

So is anyone else worried about the drain systems in our fair city? It seems like every time there is substantial rain the streets are flooded! I'm not talking a couple inches, there are streets where the water rises higher than the sidewalk along the street. The last major rainstorm a few weeks ago I actually saw people blow up rafts and set sail down plum! It looked fun, but really, after a history of flooding you would think the city would want a more efficient system.

Dateline "To Catch a Predator III"

I used the Dateline series as one of my main sources for my personal essay. Actually, it is quite entertaining to read or even watch if you caught the episode on TV. They add in the actual conversations of when these criminals are caught and what they say or how careless they are is humorous. Chris Hansen, who is the main correspondant for this story, has dedicated his time to catch these monsters and raise awareness for the community. Hats off to Dateline for their hard work!

To the south!

At this time of year, every year, I yearn to grow wings and join that mass procession of down and feathers to a warmer climate. You see, the cold and I do not agree. I am one who is infatuated with the warmth and color of summer months. The cold, its persistent needle sticking of frigidity is right around the corner. This weekend belayed its most obvious clues in the forms of leaves rustling and cool temps. I know many enjoy this time of year and for those people I ask how? How can you rejoice when you can barely operate your hands enough to lock your bicycle, much less remove your hands from the lock after locking it? How can you smile when the action leads your lips to their own cold rock hard cold frozen state? Please, if merry during cold weather accept the quick flutter of my eyes as acknowledgement of your greeting. I am not a Scrooge, I merely wish to keep my digits intact!

diploma dot com?

It came to my attention earlier this week that Cal Tech (yes the same Golden Bears who beat us earlier this year in football) have begun to offer videos of complete class lectures of some of its courses. Youtube is hosting the videos free of charge making them available to the international community at the click of a button. Upon further investigation, I found that Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, similarly posts professors notes to a significant amount of both undergraduate and graduate courses. Again, one of our nations and worlds leading intellectual bases is offering vasts amount of knowledge to anyone on the world wide web. I find it encouraging that these institutions have begun to offer this ability. Many may ask why? I, for one have no answer and also believe that the institutions themselves do not either. It is an interesting experiment, the results of which may lead to fascinating and innovate educational reform. I believe that humans have not the capacity currently to truly realize the potential of cheap and instant international communication. MIT and Cal Tech are attempting to exploit this fact and I believe that it will further our international knowledge through collaboration. I am proud and excited to be one of the generation that will attempt to utilize a great resource in order to further the society of man. Keep up the postings Cal Tech, MIT, and others, you are providing foothold for what may someday change the world!!!

Are we losing our minds?

I read the article from Wired Magazine, "Clive Thompson on Human Memory and the Outboard Brain." I feel he is making some claims without looking at the entire scenario. He claims that because of the Internet, we now longer are can remember as much as our elders. Some of his claims are I think have other correlations however that can account for the statistics which came up. Thompson says, "When Robertson asked his subjects to tell them a relative's birth date, 87 percent of respondents over age 50 could recite it, while less than 40 percent of those under 30 could do so." In our day, the popularity of online calenders and Palm Pilots have eradicated the need to put dates like this to memory. At the touch of a button, we can find out this information. I don't think that it is that we cant remember the facts, I just think that since we don't need to remember it, we don't put the time into trying. Thompson also says that, "And when he asked them their own phone number, fully one-third of the youngsters drew a blank." With the way cell phones are made, we no longer have to enter in the actual phone number of who we want to call, often times we have phone books within our cell phones which store the numbers for us. So unlike our elders who had to repetitively enter in phone numbers, we just don't have the repetition practice they did. I'm not saying that we aren't getting lazy, I'm just saying that we should look at the other factors involved before we make claims saying our memory is withering.

Dog Olympics

So I was walking my dogs today at the City Park off from Mulberry and I came across the Dog Olympics! Okay, so I was pretty excited. They had all these different events including speed, agility, and special trick competitions. We stopped to watch this competition to see which dog could stay the longest. Some of these pups were impressive, perhaps I am just biased because I have beagles and listening is not in their vocabulary. These dogs were able to stay with treats being waved in front of them, and the judges trying their best to distract them. I don't think my dogs would have lasted longer than about 2 seconds with the attention span that they have! It was a pretty cool event though, so if you have a well behaved dog, you should think about it next year, if nothing else, it was cool to watch all of the other dogs. Oh and here is a picture of Jake, I can't brag about one and not the other!

10 Criteria for a good website

1. Be sure to edit what you your website - Having grammatical and spelling errors is not only annoying to read but also loses the credibility of your website. It's not that hard to read over what you have written, and it makes a big difference to the readers.

2. Add pictures and figures in moderation- Graphics make websites more entertaining and often can add to the general message of what you are writing, but when you are making a website, you have to take into consideration how long it will take the average computer to download the image. If a reader has to wait too long, they won't stick around to read what you have to say.

3. Know your audience- It is difficult to read an article or about a subject when the vocabulary is over your head. It is also not credible to be reading about an academic subject and see incidences of slang throughout the text. When creating a website, be sure to cater the voice and vocabulary of the writing to the audience.

4. Make it user friendly- If a reader can easily jump from page to page and read about what they are interested in, they are more likely to explore the website. The use of links and proper organization encourages readers to further explore and keep them from getting bored.

5. Use appropriate text- Crazy fonts are great for getting the reader's attention, but if you are writing a 10 page essay, in order for a reader to get through it, the text needs to be easy on the eyes. An understanding of the purpose of the webpage will aid in the selection of text to best suit the reader.

6. Keep it short!- Readers tend to like to skim through long pages of text. If you want your point to get across, you need to keep your writing short and to the point. Another strategy is to bullet your text. This allows the reader to be able to pick out the most important points.

7. Extra Links- It is important to give your readers the ability to learn more about the subject. By providing a list of extra references, you not only increase your credibilty but you are also more likely to keep your readers happy.

8. Use attractive colors- If it is hard to look at, it will probably be hard to read from. Be sure to use colors that go well together and do not strain the eyes to look at. You also may want to consider what you want the mood of the webpage to be. This will decide whether you want brighter colors, or a more toned down scheme.

9. Be sure to have a focus to your site- It is important to have a reason for making the website. whether it is for research purposes or just for fun, being able to portray the purpose of the site is important. It is also important to stick to that subject so that you don't lose the interest of your readers.

10. Let your readers know who the author is- I am not saying to give out your personal information, but if an author takes credit for his/her work, the reader is more likely to believe that what is being said is credible.

Examples:
Good Website- Yahoo.com : This website is easy to navigate and gives links to various subjects. There are pictures to entice the readers and all of the articles are credited to an author.
Bad Website- http://www.angelfire.com/super/badwebs/ : This website basically shows you how mistakes can go wrong. It is hard to read, the graphics are distracting, and they use motion that makes it hard to focus.

My Boys

I have 2 pups! They are named Charlie and Jake. This is Charlie when he was a 2 pound puppy. I think getting my dogs was the best thing I have done for my college career. People may think that having a pet merely weighs you down and that you will not be able to concentrate on school, but I think it is the contrary. They are like me two little best friends. When I come home they are so excited to see me, it makes me forget about my day whether or not it was a good one. They don't care what's going on in the outside world, they just want to be pet and sit on my lap all night. Even when I have to stay up studying, they won't leave my side until I am finished. They are able to relieve all of my stresses and frankly I think they are the only reason why I have been able to stay sane throughout my college years. They even have a role in keeping me active. They love to go on hikes and be outside playing. Perhaps the best part of them is that they are a great distraction. Not necessarily to the point where I am unsuccessful with my classes, but more to keep me happy and not always thinking about school. I guess I am trying to say that I love my pups, and wouldn't change anything about them.

Free Write for Personal Essay

I think it is interesting the way that crime has changed shape with the use of the internet. I think I already wrote all I had to say at this time. One of the most interesting topics to me is how people can be manipulated into thinking someone is who they aren’t. they can pretend to be a friend or even change their gender or age to match what they think would be able to trick their victim. Then they can convince them to go and meet them somewhere or even just decide to stalk them at that point once they have enough personal information about them. I have actually read a couple of books where online crime is the main event. Someone is kidnapped and then the book centers around trying to recover that person. I would look through old news articles and other specific examples to use and some of my sources. I also think it would be good to include ways that our society is trying to combat these criminals.

5 Things

1. Be sure your font choice fits the purpose of the paper or web page. It would be unprofessional to use funky characters in a research paper, and would make it difficult to read.
2. Don't plagiarize, its not cool, and not to mention illegal.
3. Make sure to edit your pages. Seeing typos and misspellings drastically lowers the credibility of the page and may take away from the focus.
4. Use colors that are not only easy on the eyes, but fit in the mood of what you are trying to portray. If somebody can't see the words because of the color choices, they are going to have a hard time enjoying what you had to say, and they may not even read it in the first place.
5. Images can be used as great accents to web pages. It is boring to look only at text. Just keep in mind not to overdo it and take away from the focus of the page.

My Rant For The Day

Okay, so when I take my dogs on hikes, I am expected to pick up whatever they may leave behind and cart it with me to the end of the trail, which sometimes doesn't even have a trash can. But what have I noticed on the trails lately? Horse poop. What's up with that. My 20 pound dog, which I can be fined for not cleaning up after, makes far less of a mess than a horse. I have never seen a horseback rider clean up after themselves and frankly I am sick of it. One pile can take over the entire width of the trail and I'm sorry but stepping in it is not pleasant. So if your going to ride your horse on a public trail, please clean up after yourself.

TV Links Baby!

So I found the website TV Links about a year ago, and frankly it is awesome! I am not sure how it has stayed active for so long, considering I can't imagine how much about it is illegal, but I'm not complaining. I have been able to see movies which are still in the theaters! I do feel a little bad about not financially supporting the entertainment industry in America, but hey, I'm a college student, aren't we supposed to be thrifty?

Life Without Computers

So I was imagining life if we didn't have computers, and honestly, it would suck. First of all, one of my jobs wouldn't exist! I work in a computer lab on campus and lets face it, there would be no use for the labs if they didn't have computers in them. Without computers, the ease of our lifestyle would be shot. I am able to communicate with members of my family, friends across the country, and even my professors without having to make an appointment through email. Not only does it save money, but I can respond to people at my own convenience. I even just checked my bank accounts. If we didn't have computers, I would have to drive down to Colorado Springs to do anything with my bank account and that would really be a pain and would probably force me to find a new bank. I think I could live without the social sites such as facebook and myspace, but the rest of the programs on computers have become ingrained in my life.

9/10/07 Questions

What are your general thoughts about the use of technology in education—plagiarism, computers in the classroom, hybrid or online classes, e-reserves, online discussion forums, email, etc? What concerns you about it, what do you find useful?
I think that technology in the classroom is a positive thing. With the way society is headed, if education did not gear towards its technological resources, students coming out of the educational systems would be at a severe disadvantage. In K-12 classrooms, I believe that computer use should be monitored and regulated. Kids are still learning and may not understand what would be appropriate online. On the college level, I believe it should be up to students to use their time wisely. They are paying for their education and if they decide to waste it by reading their email in class that is their own choice. I also think that it is good to see discussion forums and online classes within the college campus. If we have the technology to do so, then why not. Now people who work in the day can take courses online during their free time and 200 people courses can hold discussions where students aren't afraid to think their mind. I am concerned about privacy issues, but I feel if people are educated about how they use the Internet, that should be able to be controlled.

What changes have you noticed in the use of technology in education in the past five years?

I think the biggest change in technology is the resources for research. Instead of having to go to the library to find information, there are thousands of websites and databases at the mere click of a mouse. It makes the information more readily available and increases the ease of access. As long as you can identify valid information from what is unreliable, you can do an entire research assignment without opening a book.

What is expected of you as a CSU student in terms of computer literacy, (if we define it as “the knowledge and ability a person has to use computers and technology efficiently”)? What do you have to be able to do with computers and technology in order to be successful in your education?

At CSU being able to use the Internet is a must. Professors rely on RamCT to assign homework and even give tests and quizzes. Students come into the university expected to understand how to use and access these programs. Typed assignments are also a must. No longer is it acceptable to turn in a hand written paper. If you do not own a computer, you are supposed to understand how to use the computers on campus. Classes also often communicate important information through email. Basically, if you do not know how to use a computer, it will be difficult to succeed at CSU.

Based on what is expected of you, develop a set of criteria for computer literacy, specifically what a university student needs to know and be able to do upon entering college and/or the work force.

• How to use email
• How to use the basic Microsoft Office Applications (or a similar program)
• How to navigate the university's website
• How to use the Internet to find resources of information
• How to type
  

In terms of the criteria you’ve developed: is this type of computer literacy something we should teach at the high school or university level, or is it up to students to learn on their own?

I believe that these criteria should be taught throughout school. Most of them are taught at a young age either through default, seeing a family member doing it, or in a specific class. By the time students reach high school, most all of them can type, email, and find resources online. I think this is something that is learned by being in our society and our university assumes once we come to their school, these skills are already acquired.

Is it important to try and narrow the "Digital Divide" (accessibility and usability)? Are you concerned about this issue? Why or why not? If so, how can we narrow the divide? Does the "Digital Divide" affect you or anyone you know? In what ways, specifically?

I think with the way society depends on the Internet and technology, it is important to narrow the digital divide. I think that offering free courses to people who may not understand how to use technology would be helpful, and since they don't have to pay for them, they would be more likely to attend and then catch up with the rest of society. I think it is an important issue, otherwise people who do not grow up with the same access to technology may not be able to be successful members of society. I know that my that my parents and grandparents are affected. Trying to teach my grandmother to use instant messenger is a nightmare. Although this isn't necessary for her to survive, it is merely an example of how people who are used to their old ways, have a hard time adapting to the advances of technology. My parents have come a long way in the years. They used to have problems emailing, or checking their bank statements online. Today, since they have adapted to technology and made an effort to be a part of the community, they can use the Internet with ease.

In "Societal Implications and Ethical Choices" David and Jean Farkas argue that "[s]lowly, and in ways we cannot predict, the Internet is changing literacy—how we read, write, and in some ways, how we think" and go on to suggest two possible outcomes:

1. From the perspective of Douglas Rushkoff who "looks to future generations who are better able to synthesize knowledge from many sources and who are more successful in dealing with complexity and change" (118)

OR
2. "Because the non-linear nature of the Web accustoms us to navigate freely among short chunks of information, the Web may further the erosion of essential literacies. Already we are a restless culture that is increasingly pervaded by the summary and sound bite. If large numbers of people become unwilling to read or even listen to lengthy explanations and arguments, how will society as a whole carry out complex affairs…"? (118)

Which do you think is more likely? Why? What have you read, observed or experienced that makes you so sure?

I think that the first scenarios is more likely. Just because or reading materials are generally virtual instead of on paper, doesn't make us illiterate. Instead, I believe it does in fact better prepare us for change. Over the past few years, more and more programs have come out the have taken the place of the previous. Whether it be for typing, university databases, or even social networking, our generation has had to adapt to the "new" many times. I feel that we understand things are changing and aren't afraid to adapt to the future. Our generation knows that it is coming and because of that is ready to embrace it.

Reading Log

"Think Before You Share" by: Brock Read
"Facing the Facebook" by: Michael J. Bugeja
"The Decline and Fall of the Private Self" by: Carlin Flora

Summary: These articles look at the privacy issues which have aroused from certain Internet sites and blogging. Whether it is students being caught by police from facebook photos, to a young girl being abducted and killed after being an active blogger, the way people are using the Internet is posing various risks to their well being.

Response: You always hear about how dangerous the Internet is but until individual stories actually hit home, I don't think people actually realize of the risks that they are taking. I remember my parents were the ones who taught me not to go into chat rooms, and not to put my personal information on the Internet. Perhaps their warnings are what have kept me away from the "social Internet" web sites. I don't have a myspace, and I check facebook maybe once a month to keep up with my friends who have gone to schools out of state. I definitely wouldn't call myself a regular though. Don't get me wrong, I feel terrible for the people who are victims, but did they not know the risks they were taking when they phone number on the Internet? Why didn't their parents teach them how dangerous it really is?
The idea of facebook acting as a "big brother," however detrimental, is to be expected. People may not have realized it at first, but it is a public site, meaning anybody can look at it. I know that I don't post any pictures or conversations which may cause employers to look down upon me. Frankly, I think it is a risk, it is public, and the people who get caught for doing illegal things because of it, or who may not get a job because of their secret lives, shouldn't be complaining about it. It's a gamble. In Las Vegas they don't give you your money back when you don't win. You made that bet knowing that things may not turn out in your favor and because of that you have to face the consequences. Now I think police should have better things to do then cruise through facebook for the latest party, but at the same time, if you don't want to get caught, don't incriminate yourself on a public site.

Reading Log

"Are College Students Techno Idiots?" by Paul D. Thacker

"Techno idiots, huh? Then we have our work cut out for us" by Christopher Dawson
"Digital Divide" from Wikipedia

Summary: These articles talk about how the young adults of today may have the ease of using the internet, but they lack the ability to use it wisely. Thacker's article shows actual studies which have been done to show that high schoolers and recent grads are unable to pass an information and communication literacy examination

Response: Being a young adult myself, I can agree that we don't always know what is legitimate and how to find reputable sources for different areas of research. I think the reason this problem exists is because of our education system. When we were in elementary school, we were still using the card catalog and the classes that are supposed to teach us how to find information were geared toward the library. As we aged and the technology advanced, teachers assumed we knew how to find information since all of their previous classes had been able to do so with the information that was available, a library. Now that the internet was more popular, we were unfamiliar with how to access valid information, but since the teachers we had had never before had to teach it how to find information, they were not about to start. So our generation had to learn on the fly. Of course we use Google. It is fast and convenient, and hey, isn't that the motto of our new world. Most of the time what is useful websites comes up on the first hits of a search, otherwise they wouldn't be so popular. So its not fair to knock us for using the websites that are most popular and often have the most legitimate information. We do what we can on the internet. Our generation was the one who transitioned with the technology, and even though technology still advances, the younger generations are taught in grade school how to properly use these resources. So give us a break, we do the best we can.

CSU FOOTBALL!!!!

So I went to the football game this weekend, and frankly I think we look pretty good. Look at the performance of our defense, in the past you could have counted on major breakdowns in the fundamentals leading to lopsided and preventable loses. Yet against the number 10 team in the nation with at least one definite Heisman candidate, the Bears had fewer total yards and first downs than the Rams. Kyle Bell was his reliable self accruing 100+ yards in a demoralizing ground attack. Another point of contention, Caleb Haney demonstrated another remarkable performance. Yes, he made mistakes, but he is still recovering from last year when he had to hoe the road alone. Our receiving core continues to outperform expectations derived from their diminutive size. We have lost two close games, each one more the result of bad timing than anything else. What does the future look like? If they maintain their current level of competitiveness I foresee tough games at TCU, BYU, and Wyoming, but the possibility of going undefeated the rest of the season. It's a shame about Kory Sperry but I look forward to seeing him dominate next year. Good Job Boys!

Crazy Connections

People talk about the internet as a communication tool. Many articles we have read talk about how harmful the internet is on society, but I see it differently. For the past couple of years my brother has been in Iraq. Of course he is never able to call and writing letters is not only expensive but takes time which he doesn't have. With tools like email and instant messengers, I am able to talk to him a couple times a week. We can have an actual conversation with one another. Now I'm sure everything we say is monitored, but thats ok because I still get to talk to him. Who knew that one day you could talk to someone on the otherside of the world instantly, and for free!

Reading Log

"Technomania" by: Steven Levy
February 27, 1995

Summary: Levy looks at the new advances in technology and presents some of the controversies which may arise over censorship and monitoring.

Response: I enjoyed reading Levy's article. Instead of just raving about how horrible the internet is or how people are crazy to think of what it might evolve into, he looks merely at the facts and points out some of the controversies that may arise. Levy brings up privacy as an issue. Is it better to watch what people are doing and be able to catch terrorists and kidnappers or to give people their privacy. I can see where people become afraid of the government playing big brother on the internet, but at the same time, i would rather them know who I email if that can save the life of a few kids who wont be kidnapped by a predator they were able to just catch. Levy also brings up the issue of censorship. I feel if the government were to do this then it would be an infringement on freedom of speech. People should be mature enough to censor what they look at and read on the internet. Just because somebody puts it into cyberspace, doesn't mean you have to read it. Levy did a good job on this article. It was thought out and seemed well researched. It was a nice change from the articles of people who just rant about their opinion on the internet.

Reading Log

"The Internet? Bah!" by: Clifford Stoll
February 27, 1995

Summary: In this article, Stoll discredits the internet and makes claims that it will never become what other internet enthusiasts have claimed.

Response: Reading an article written 12 years ago is quite humorous. Stoll makes claims saying the internet will never be a part of a classroom, and online shopping is just blasphemy and will never work. Apparently he hadn't seen Ebay at that time. Not to mention you can earn entire college degrees without stepping into a classroom because of the advances in the internet. Stoll says, "Computers and networks isolate us from one another." On the contrary, people from all over the world now have means to communicate with one another. There are chat rooms and other posting sites where people can talk to one another and even form relationships. A friend of mine met a girl over the internet from Argentina, and ended up marrying her. Not to say that all internet relationships end up this way and that there is not risk involved, but so many doors have been opened by the internet. While reading this it seems that everything he was saying would not happen, in fact did. I makes you think twice about what the internet is predicted to do in the future. What is impossible now, may be reality in 10 years.

Reading Log

"We Are the Web" by: Kevin Kelly
August 2005

Summary: In Kevin Kelly's article he takes the reader through history and basically outlines how the web evolves. He then predicts what the web will be in the year 2015 based upon the changes he has seen it make.

Response: Kelly does a good job showing how the internet has become today what people 30 years ago thought was impossible. It is amazing to think that some guys idea to hyper link different pages together has evolved into a everyday necessity for most. The idea proposed by Kelly which outlines how the computer will become "better" than the human brain is a scary concept. To think that a machine may in fact do our thinking for us seems like a scene out of a science fiction movie. Movies like Gattaca, and I Robot depict worlds in which technology has run a muck over our lives. It may seem impossible to have computers as brain enhancers, but when you take a closer look at where history is evolving us, it is not all to impossible. I just hope our world knows when to stop.

Reading Log

"Time's Person of the Year: You" by Lev Grossman
December 13, 2006

Summary: This article talks about the world, as a collective force, coming together and making something that could be great. We are now shaping what the future will bring.

Response: Grossman's article was a nice change of pace. Instead of writing about the horrors of the recent web, he considers it an accomplishment. He praises the human race for coming together and being able to share ourselves with one another. I agree that it is an accomplishment of commonality between mankind; however, some of what is available needs to be taken with a grain of salt. If someone makes a YouTube video of the end of the world, there is no need to go hide in a bomb shelter, but rather praise their creativity. As long as people have an understanding of what is credible and not, the world is not at an eminent threat of destruction by the Web 2.0 which others fear.

Reading Log

"Internet Smackdown: the Amateur vs the Professional" by Tony Long
June 21, 2007

Summary: Long writes an article in which he looks at a main issue which is brought up in debate by Andrew Keen: an amateur blogger is not the same as a professional journalist.

Response: Although Long agrees with what Andrew Keen has said in previous articles, his does so in a more tasteful manner. Instead of writing in what seems rash and demeaning, like Keen, he presents the issue like a true journalist. I agree that there is a distinction between being a journalist and an online blogger, and with this distinction should be the appropriate credentials. Journalists work hard to learn the craft of their trade and because of this are able to write what our society considers good articles. Even though bloggers may not have formal training, they do have opinions and should not be discredited merely by they're lack of academic qualifications. People may be trained to look at events in different ways and because of this may have a worthwhile opinion. Long sums up the idea quite nicely, "They're bloggers. No shame in that. Just don't confuse blogging with journalism."

Reading Log

"Web 2.0 The second generation of the Internet has arrived. It's worse than you think." by Andrew Keen
February 15, 2006

Summary: Keen's article basically shares his point of view how the temptation of using the internet and the new Web 2.0 revolution has consequences on our society that users are unaware of.

Response: After reading a few of Keen's articles it seems like he has a serious vendetta out for the modern internet. Talk about a glass half empty kind of guy. He can present decent arguments about the reliability of sources diminishing, but some of his other claims seem to have illogical reasoning. Keen claims that, "We will lose our memory for things learnt, read, experienced, or heard" without the influence of what he considers credible sources. Just because we read our news off of a computer screen rather than a piece of paper does not make it any less reliable or mind stimulating. On the contrary I believe people are more informed. Never before could you look at the New York Times or Boston Globe within seconds of each other and compare different points of view on similar issues. Since reading the news is now more convenient, people will be more apt to do so. Keen also compares us to Kafka's work stating we are "incapable of thinking deliberately" with the newfound developments of the internet. On the contrary though, since people now have an outlet to express their thoughts, they are more likely to do so and actually generate their own ideas. Just because you can read about someone else's opinions doesn't mean you are incapable of making your own. If Keen is going to claim this then he might as well go as far as saying that anyone who considers another's opinion, whether it be reading their book or listening to a speech, will no longer be able to come up with the own opinions and is a forced into the same beliefs.

Reading Log

"Reflections on the First Decade of Blogging" by Dan Farber
February 25, 2007

Summary: Farber gives his thoughts upon blogging and the controversial reliability of the internet. He uses Andrew Keen and his opinions introduced in his book "The Cult of the Amateur" to show the dangers of the internet to our society. Farber also defends the common bl0gger and gives ideas to how the system can be improved.

Response: I liked the way at which Farber considered the issue. Not only did he give the pros and cons, but also gave ideas on how to improve for the future. Farber said that many bloggers are informed specialists and do in fact know what they are talking about, we just need a better way to distinguish them. I agree with him. Not everything about the internet being ruled by the common person is bad. Look at how fast we can find information. Instead of having to search through books, as long as you are an informed user, you can in fact find reliable information. It is when people are ignorant and are unaware of what truly can be used as fact is when problems arise. Atleast since Farber was presented both sides of the story I feel I can consider what he is saying. He doesn't seem to be overrun with bias and opinion, but instead is presenting valid arguments for both sides allowing the reader to make their own opinion.

Reading Log

"The Cult of the Amateur" by Michiko Kakutani
June 29, 2007

Summary: This article shows the more negative side to the new age of the web, Web2.0. Kakutani uses Andrew Keen's book, " The Cult of the Amateur" as his main defense. This book claims that the web is being dominated by unreliable sources and because of the threatens to change the traditions of the web. One example used is that people are more likely to use Wikipedia which is run through anonymous authors who may or may not have knowledge on the subject, than an established Encyclopedia written through scholars.

Response: Keen brings up good argument for the fate of our internet. As the popularity of "fad" sites increase, such as myspace, youtube, and facebook, slowly the main interest of our internet is being created through the common person. Learning about one another is not the bad part of this new age of internet, what is threatening is the line between fiction and reality is slowly disappearing. No longer will we be able to determine what is based upon fact rather than merely one's opinion. If other people start to basing their thoughts and decisions on only limited or inaccurate information, our society may not be able to run as we know it. Sites are slowly losing their credibility and many of the people using these resources may be unaware of their decay.
Even though the information of Keen's which Kakutani presented seemed to be credible, he made a statement in which he lost not only his credibility but also respect. Mr. Keen says, "history has proven that the crowd is not often very wise." He gives examples comparing slavery and infanticide to the war in Iraq and Britney Spears. His article did not have any facts to justify the statements he made about our military. Not to mention that claiming the support of our troops is unwise is quite demeaning to this country and the people who are fighting for it. It is uncalled for to compare such a serious and debatable issue with something as horrifying as slavery or infanticide. If this was merely his attempt to voice his thoughts on current issues, than perhaps he should be using the internet sites which he was previously bashing for being supported without fact to voice what appears to be a comment from merely his own opinion.

Introduction

Hey,
my name's Lindsey and I'm a senior biology major. I won't lie, the reason I'm in this class is because it sounded a whole lot better than speech, not to mention if I actually make it to Med School one day, advanced writing is required. Even though this isn't my first choice of subjects, I figure I will make the best of it while I'm here.

Hey Guys!!!

This is my first blog posting, I'm sure I'll have more to say later...