My Very Own Ted Talk!

I did have some difficulty finding my Ted Talk topic, but after some consultation I finally found it! After our last project we have all gotten to use the booming social media site, Twitter. Through the usage, many of us got to see the pros and cons. In viewing Twitter in such a way, I pondered the ethics of Twitter use. One of the positives is that we no longer need to be television news anchors or newspaper reporters to pass on the news. However, this positive can quickly transform into an ethical dilemma in my opinion. Since anyone can tweet whatever they want, it is very easy for false allegations and stories to be seen as truths. So, is it ethical to spread false tweets as valid news? Should tweeters be held up to the same responsibility that we lay upon newscasters to ensure truth? Or should tweets be taken with a grain of salt, since some say Twitter will never attain the trust factor that many have with more traditional news sources? All of these questions and more will be answered concerning the ethics of Twitter…I’m excited!!!

How Celebrities and Their Fans Can Connect...TWITTER!!!

One of the most intriguing thing about Twitter is that fans can talk to their favorite stars. It is a platform like no other that allows people to interact with others, who they would never get a chance to talk to in real life. The social objects make this interaction possible. The following video is a story of a fan and celebrity that fell in love after conversing on Twitter!

Jyri Engeström...I Guess He Knows What He's Talking About?

Ok, so there's no denying the fact that Jyri Eneström is a social media genius. However, as I watched his speech in Friday's class, I couldn't help but be confused because a lot of it went over my head. Was I the only one? I hope not, but I think I made a breakthrough. Earlier today, I re-watched the video and did some research on Eneström, which I think made me grasp the concept better.

Jyri Eneström three main points of his talk are social objects, social peripheral vision, and nodal points. Most importantly concerning our Communications class is the topic of social objects. He has some interesting things to say about it. Eneström says that if you go on a social website and can;t find the social object (object that connects people through social networking, the shared interest) within seconds, then the website is a failure. I totally get his point here. Each social website needs to have an object, basically the thing that connects people. The more personal value an object has, the more successful the website will be. Flickr's social object are photos, Deli.icio.us's are bookmarks, YouTube's are video clips, Twitter's are status updates, etc. All these sites are successful because they have a conspicuous social object, as well as a social object that allows people to exchange meaningful information.

But what really struck me was what he said about texting, something we all do. Firstly, he says that whenever we get a new species of social objects that emerge, there is usually a huge opportunity to buils a social service around it. So the technology of the cell phone, and in-turn texting, inspired microblogging, from which we get the social objects of updates and statuses. I never thought of that, but it makes a lot of sense. A text is a short dialogue on a one-on-one level, but microblogging expanded this into a dialogue available to all members of the social media site.

From social objects, forms verbs. The verbs are the what the user does to perform upon an object and leaves traces on the web. Commenting, updating, posting, tagging, etc. Lastly is social peripheral vision, which I'm not sure is as important as Jyri says it is. He says we have to have the ability to detect what's happening in the peripheral of our vision, meaning being aware of others' intentions so we can make plans. I don't feel like this is a necessity, just a perk. I mean it's nice to know that my friend is going to a party tonight or my cousin is going to the Phillies' tailgate, but is it necessary? I really don't think so. Even though it could affect me, it kind of makes me feel nosey to an extent, like why do I know all these things about a persons' life?

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that Jyri does know what he is talking about. All social websites should follow this model if they want to be successful. I'll leave you with something I found of relevance, a list of the ten principles for social object design.

How Social am I?

Honestly, today in class when everyone was naming these websites that I have never heard of, I realized that I wasn't taking full advantage of the social media that is easily available to me. In class I could barely think of a social media website that I go on, but now I realize that every time I go online I check at least three social media websites periodically throughout the day. They play a big role in my life, maybe too big.

My favorite social media website (and I'm sure it's probably yours too) is Facebook. Of course it is, isn't it every college students'? In all seriousness, is there anything better than opening up your Facebook to a number of notifications and friend requests? I think not, well at least for me I get awkwardly excited. I get the feeling that someone loves me...weird. It goes away fast once I realize that all the notifications are just people commenting on some picture I'm in from forever ago. Whatever, those few seconds of curiosity as to what your notifications are about still makes me anxious and excited, even after a year of usage.

Mostly I use Facebook as a way of keeping connected with people that I graduated high school with. Since graduation I still see my close friends, but Facebook is my way of staying in contact with the girl in my Latin class since 8th grade or the guy that I played basketball with for three years. It is a great tool for that, but it also sometimes gives TMI-too much information. I don't need my news feed to be overtaken with what my high school English teacher did with her boyfriend last night...that's not alright. But that's neither here nor there. Overall, Facebook does a great job of connecting people, but it does cause many to become obsessed. I check about three times a day, which I don't think is too bad. My friend has to incorporate "Facebook Time" into how long it will take her to do a random task because she can not go an hour without updating her status, looking at pictures, etc. I hope I never get to that place, no offense to anyone who is already like that...

My next most visited social media site is Twitter. Now although I don't actually "tweet," I do have an account that I check periodically throughout the day where I follow about 70 people--celebrities, news outlets, athletes. Basically friends in my head that I feel the need to know what's going on with them throughout their day. It's sad because in reality I will never know any of these people on a friend-to-friend basis, yet I know where and what they ate for lunch. I constantly ask myself, "Why do I care?" I can never answer that question, but the truth is I don't care why I care because I'm going to continue following them anyway.


The last social media website that I use regularly is YouTube. I don't post videos, but I view many a day. I love talk shows and I do this thing called college which makes me miss my favorite shows. If there is an interview that I missed and really wanted to see, I just go onto YouTube at night or on the weekends and nine times out of ten they have the video. It is such a great resource, I don't know how I could live without it. Eventually I would like to begin posting videos and share it because I think its amazing that one post to website can be seen all around the world. I'm just getting caught up with one of my favorite talk shows, Live! with Regis and Kelly. They just had an interview with Jane Krakowski, whose on one of my favorite shows, 30 Rock. Check it out, they even talk about Twitter!



Of course these three sites aren't the limit to my social media activity, just the most visited. I also use Wikipedia, because even if it's not an academic source, it has information on everything. I also follow a number of blogs that I leave comments on, so I think that counts for social media. After thinking about it, the world would be so different without social media because I feel like we depend on it so much now for news, keeping in touch, being creative, and many other things. I don't think it's a bad thing, just something to think about.

Final Draft of Our Video Project :)

Rough Draft of Our Video Project!

Drum roll please...well it's not finished yet, but so far so good, right? Lauren did a great job with the editing, it far exceeded my expectations. Now we just need to add pictures, add Lauren's and Jess' "why we came" pieces and then all of our "why we stayed" clips. We're going to change the music in the beginning, as well. Enjoy!

Our Xtra Normal Video!

Progress Feels Good!

So after meeting with my group, I feel a lot better than I did before. I was really intimidated with this project. The only video I've made was in my friend's backyard in tenth grade for a Latin project...we reenacted the Aeneid. It turned out looking nothing like the Aeneid, so I knew this project would be a lot of work for me. Plus, I've never used a Mac, so I'm glad I have a group who is a little more proficient than me. We've changed topics a couple times already, but I think we have a good one now.

Today my group and I met in the Communications lab (aka our classroom). We already had our topic and a basic storyboard. On Tuesday our "homework" was to outline our answers to our dramatic question and pick some pictures that visualized our answers. Today, I think we got a lot done. We decided, for the most part, what would happen in every scene in the movie--words, pictures, videos, and sounds. The only thing I'm worried about is the time and if we'll be able to incorporate all of our creative and good ideas within the time constraint.

We also decided that next Tuesday we'll begin filming. Overall, I feel a lot more confident about this project. I'm actually excited to start filming, and can't wait to see the final product!

There's More to Editing than I Thought!

As soon as the director yells, "That's a wrap," the movie making process is over, right? Wrong, it's actually just the beginning. There is a reason why we have to wait months and sometimes years to see a movie after it has been filmed. After a movie is shot, the most important process begins...post-production, which includes editing and other final touches.

We get a glimpse into the world of a renowned editor through Walter Murch and the words of his friends, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola in the book The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaajte. There was a lot of good information, I just felt like a lot of it either confused me or didn't appeal to me because I have never seen any of the movies that were addressed. Although, I loved Murch's quote, "...what we think of as normal is largely a question of what we are most often exposed to." This is so true about editing, but also about life in general. Things that we see as normal can seem strange to others who have never been exposed to it. If everyday as a kid you read comic books, that would be normal to you. But of course to others who have never read a comic book, you would be a weirdo to them.

I also never realized how much power editors have. They ultimately decide the way the characters and a movie as a whole is perceived. After all, Murch says that when he's working on editing a movie, he knows the characters extremely well and makes sure to edit so that the audience can hopefully gain the same knowledge. I always found it humorous when a reality show contestant/star blamed their ridiculously stupid, embarrassing, and unflattering television portrayal on "bad editing." I mean for the most part it is clearly that these people act like idiots for screen time, but I can see how certain editing tactics would be able to make them appear worse than they truly are. Just from the first chapter I've grown to appreciate the art of editing and how important it really is!

I'll leave you with the trailer of my favorite movie that Walter Murch worked on, Ghost. It is also a very fitting tribute to the late and great Patrick Swayze...Rest In Peace.

My Blog...Take 2!

Don't get me wrong, I still have work to do, but I definitely think it is an improvement from a few days ago. It took some time, but right now I'm pretty content with this fledgling blog!

So the first and probably most notable change was my template. I used to have a really wild and colorful background, but I decided it was was too noisy so I chose this very calm and seasonal one. I love it, but I'm still not sure if it's just "too plain." Also, I changed the fonts and colors to compliment the new template and emphasized certain sections by bolding them or choosing a stand-out color. Then I elaborated on my About Me section. I still haven't come up with an engaging title, but I'm working on it. I also came up with a tag line, though I'm not sure how long it will last.

As for images, you can tell that I figured out how to post them finally. It's really easy and I think it adds so much to the post, so I'll definitely be doing it a lot more. I also posted videos that we watched in class in the posts that talk about them. I also fixed my broken link in my previous entry!

At first I thought my old blog was scannable, but in reality it really wasn't. Therefore, I went through my old posts and broke up the long paragraphs so it was more appealing to the eyes. I still think my blog gives off an amateur vibe, but I think it comes across as organized and easy to navigate, which is important. Hopefully my blog is now more user-friendly than it was two days ago!

Is My Blog Usable?!?!

Sadly, according to the the Usability Test this blog is not as usable as I hoped. The good thing is it's my first time blogging and now I know the areas which I need to improve, so I can have a usable blog in no time!!!

My lack of images, videos, and clickable links definitely contribute to my failing grade in the images department. Until now, I never actually thought to add pictures or videos to my blog posts, but I know I should because they can visualize and add to your ideas tremendously. And about the links...I tried posting one but it ended up being broken so I should probably work on that.

Is it scanable? I would say yes. I don't have that many long entries, but for the ones that are I feel like I divided them in an appropriate way so that it is still scannable.


I think the most trouble I have is with design. I still haven't found a template that I love, so I keep switching between some. But I think the fonts and colors compliment the template and don't create "noise." If anything, there isn't enough "noise" because nothing seems to pop. I definitely think I need a more engaging title, but hopefully that will just create itself in time. I'm also lacking a tag line and about an section. Although I don't think it looks sloppy or disorganized, I think that the appearance of my blog does give off an amateur feel...the truth of the matter is I am an amateur blogger. But there are definitely things I can do to professionalize it.

Overall, I really liked this exercise. I feel like I zeroed in on the main weaknesses of this blog and can now improve in those areas.

Who Knew There Were Awards for Cool Websites?!?!?!

In class on Wednesday I was familiarized with the Oscars of web sites...The Webby Awards! Who knew that there have been awards for websites since 1997?!?! And why not? People designing cool websites deserve credit too!

Anyway, in class we took a look at the winner for the category of best visual design--aesthetic. Quite deservingly, in my opinion, the winner was the Turbo Gene Test. Basically, it's an amazing quiz that uses your answers to describe your personality and therefore assign you the perfect SAAB for your life. Does it really know whish SAAB is best? I really dont know, but who cares because it's thoroughly engaging and entertaining...a quiz that someone actually enjoys taking. The sights and sounds are advanced and pleasing to the senses, but most importantly don't create the "noise" that Krug describes. Your eyes are amazed, but never confused.

One of the most important aspects of the quiz is that it really is personal. SAAB is able to ask questions pertaining to your lifestyle, but in a sleek and innovative way. Instead of asking how many people are in your family, they ask how many people do you sit with at the breakfast table. Ultimately, you walk away correlating the sleekness, creativity, and innovation of the website with the sleekness, creativity, and innovation of the SAAB. That my friends is a success, so it's no wonder why it won the Webby!

P.S. I was a 9-3 convertible, what Saab were you?!?!

Creativity

I was first presented with knowledge of the TED conference when I was watching my favorite television show in the summer of '08. On this episode of "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List," Griffin made a visit to the house of her friend Rosie O'Donnell. After sharing information of Kathy's new relationship with Apple co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak, O'Donnell proceeds to beg Griffin to use her connections with "Woz" to get her into the exclusive TED conference. In the end, he worked his magic and was able to get O'Donnell admission. I remember watching this episode and thinking, "TED conference? I wonder what that is...must be pretty cool though if it's invite-only." But ultimately that was the last I thought of it, until this class.



After watching Sir Ken Robinson's and Elizabeth Gilbert's TED talks, I can say that I was right...they are cool. Not only do they present amazing and novel ideas, but they caused me to think in-depth about the subject on hand, creativity. Robinson really raises some valid points about the destruction of creativity.

I can honestly say that I am one of the people he described in his talk as fearing being wrong, and therefore lacking creativity. It's because in school, I was either scolded or embarrassed for a wrong answer or wrong-doing and ultimately decided to only express myself when I was 100 % sure that I was correct. I was educated out of creativity and that is such a horrible transition to make. Luckily, I feel like I have found my creative side once again while in college, but not all students are as lucky.

I definitely agree on what Robinson was getting at, "a rethink(ing) of the fundamental principles on which we educate." If we don't, just think about how many authors, actors, dancers, musicians, and other creative professionals who will never pursue their dream out of fear of being wrong.


Although I enjoyed Robinson's speech very much, it was Gilbert's that struck a chord with me and inspired me. Why is the book following a NY Times Best Seller so publicized, as well as the movie following an actor's Academy Award, and the season after a Super Bowl win? It's because generally people want to see if you can top it because the odds are definitely against you. As Gilbert says, that puts an enormous amount of unnecessary pressure on the creative producer. That is why we do hear so many stories about people's great fall from success, which is sad.

I love her alternative to the pressure. Let's suppose that someone else, a distant source, instills in us or creativity, therefore it's not our fault if it turns out bad and we can't take all the credit if it becomes a masterpiece. It sounds peculiar, but I think it could work. How many times has something just come to you? Whether it be an idea, a song, or a story it has most likely it has happened. It has to me! This is why I feel the idea that creativity is being loaned to you will not only take pressure off the creative, but open up a gigantic door for all those afraid to be creative.

My Fav Blogs

When I first open up my internet, I open up 7 different tabs to my favorite sites--and according to alltop.com, 4 of them are blog sites. In an attempt to satisfy my hunger for entertainment, pop culture, and news, I always read CNN, E! Online, NY Times, and Perez Hilton.

CNN, Cable News Network, fills me in on what's happening in the world. As soon as you get to the site you are informed about the latest and breaking news with about 20 headlines that you can click on and learn about more in-depth if you so choose. I wouldn't put this site in the blog category, but it came up on All Top...so that's good enough for me.

I am a creature of habit and I habitually watch E!, so I also check out their website, E! Online. It's your usual celeb gossip, nothing special. It's just a way to totally forget about your life and become creepily obsessed with complete strangers that you swear you share a bffl status. Normal, right?

Also, I love the NY Times. A lot of stories are the same information as CNN, but I just admire the writing styles of the Times' journalists. Also I feel more intellectual after I read a post from their web site, even though the feeling has no validity.

Lastly, and probably most shamefully, I read Perez Hilton periodically throughout the day. Even though he is mean, rude, and vulgar at times...he has really juicy stories about celebrities and it's a good site to go to after a bad day. I usually laugh at at least one post of his in the day, and who can complain about a little laughter?

Class Videos 9/2

So I just re-viewed the two videos from class, "Epic 2015" and "The Future of Communications," as well as "Did You Know 2.0." It made me realize how dependent our society is on technology now, and it can only grow. I mean I'm no exception to the dependence, but it's kind of creepy to think that the time is quickly approaching for when the computer is our only outlet of information.



Anyway, a lot of the content in the videos I found to be believable. It is truly only a matter of time for a completely digital society, where Google and Amazon rule the world, and there is a computer application that lives your life for you so you don't have to--sounds cool, right? Not to me! In the "Did You Know" video, it said that many people in college are being taught skills and such for jobs that won't exist until after graduation. I think it's neat and interesting that we can foreshadow technology to determine what will happen next.



There is no doubt in my mind that the world would be a worse place if we hadn't made huge strides in technology over the past few decades...but I do wonder if we are reaching the point of too much of a good thing?

First Time :)

So this is my first time blogging. I'm kind of nervous, but here goes nothing. I am a sophomore English major at St. Joe's University. I plan on minoring in Communication Studies and Spanish, as well. Basically I'm really interested in language and the ways people communicate, so it seemed like the ideal major/minor combo.

I've always wanted to write a blog, so I'm kind of glad that it was an assignment. It gave me that extra push. I guess I was always too self-conscience to put my thoughts and ideas out on the web for anyone to see. Nevertheless, in an attempt to pass the course I decided to put my fears aside and let my fingers do the talking.

My purpose, or goal rather, is to learn and develop ideas, thoughts, and skills needed to help me land a job in the print or broadcast media world. Media is one of my biggest passions, which is probably why during my free time I;m either on a computer, watching television, or reading a newspaper/magazine/book.

My internet identity will be that of a college sophomore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's pretty straight forward and boring, so hopefully my identity can ultimately evolve with time.

My audience will be my fellow classmates of Com 2001 and whoever else stumbles across this page.