Online Reading

The Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-dissidents

I feel foolish writing about this now.As I believe this handbook will be something I will be picking up again and again even well into the future and each time with new understanding and stronger skills.In these early stages,to be honest, the appeal immediately lay in the early chapters that to me cover a well rounded introduction to Blogging, Blogging terminology, blogging tools and basically all aspects of getting started.I am still reading and re-reading these though. So forgive me if my research is not reflected in my writing yet.

If I was to attempt to summarize the entire handbook within this 100 word blog..(Ambitious, I know!) I would say that it is an effective tool for reference on how to set up , how to get noticed, How to produce a quality Blog that is also credible and most importantly how to avoid getting in trouble!

I did find the "personal accounts" from Bloggers around the world inspirational and after reading those was looking forward to using this communication tool more effectively.

At this early stage of understanding and experiment.I would say, it was an immensely useful handbook for anyone with a passion to communicate with the world.

But I think this blogger in training better re-read again (when it is not in the middle of the night) to try and improve!

Desiderata

You Only Live Twice

WHO DOESN'T WANT A SECOND LIFE?

A virtual world where people can create a life..A new life.Where your online presence can be more impressive than your offline presence.Some where you can take the risks and test your desires without any real consequence, If you don't like the way your life is panning out you can simply shut it down and start again.Who wouldn't want to have that?

Aside from all this the documentary covered a fairly insightful orientation into this world.
Like the world we live in this included such subtopics as currency, real estate, shopping/retail, nightclubs, Sex, governance,tax,stock exchange, general frustrations, psychology and debate.

I saw a new way to interact with and conceive digital information.It does not appear to be another virtual world site or game but a strong link in the evolution of information and the overall expansion of the net.

Its user generated content is what appeals to me most and obviously those on this Documentary who have already seized a lucrative opportunity through marketing,advertising and retail.They are aware of its potential for further growth.

I want a Second Life.

Desiderata

It's all about me

WEEK 1

NEW COMMUNICATION TECH.

When I was at school, the computers were of the prehistoric large kind and students lumbered cases of floppy disks around.The only students allowed near them were those of the scientific and mathematical species.Being of the artistic species I could only stare in wonder outside the newly built computer room.Since then, I have always had a fascination for technology and gadgetry.
I am self taught and type terribly but could not live without my laptop.An ex partner once fought with me over wanting me to swap my Mac for Windows...Needless to say that relationship did not work out.Ironically I now run both...but on my Mac! My precious, darling Mac, but I digress..
As an artist I have observed that in most areas of art,literature and music there is no real NEW ground to cover.Just an endless circle of re-invention.No matter what you produce someone always compares your work to someone of yesteryear.Phrases, chords & paint strokes, although will always be vital for expression/communication have been technically exhausted.
New Communication Technology is one area where opportunity for completely new ideas and frontiers are open to discovery and I find that very exciting.That is one of the main reasons why this fossil has come back to university.

Desiderata

P.S
I noticed that alot of the people in my class expressed [ in this first tutorial ] the desire to work in Film and Television.I have worked in this industry since I left school.So in the spirit of blogging, I thought I would share a video that has been circulating lately around my film industry peers.There are strong elements of truth in it...

True or False

Week 2
Overview

Enjoyed the Tutorial today.Set up Blogger.com, heard the analysis of the survey from the week before, learnt there was a space on the drive that I can save with my student number & discussed "opposing" New Communication issues and had to sheepishly admit that I occasionally reference Wikipedia even though I know it is not an accurate source...and finally,discussed the topics raised at the Lecture related to the question "is email dead?" which I will summarize to the best of my ability :

• Phishing or fishing?
  
• Scams or Spam?
• Politics or Propaganda

Discussion Questions Raised in Tutorial Post Lecture:

1.Are Bloggers Journalists? ( I dated a Journalist blogger Once ?)

Link for an example of a journalist blog = http://nymag.com/news/features/44454/

2.How accurate are their sources? (Hmmmm....As a blogger, my current source is my fellow classmates, which means if statistically they take away 10% of the lecture [as quoted by Chris Mamozelos] then my breakdown would be lucky to cover 2%..interesting)

3.Are there ethics or morals involved? (Have read about this, but believe that it is all a matter of perspective, and depends, despite basic rules of conduct, if the Blogger himself has these attributes it also would depend largely if money was involved.)

4. What is true and what is false? ( In this particular case...There is honesty involved in this blog, however, it is based on false or misleading interpretations! )

Desiderata