"Wiki" was a word I'd never heard before this lesson. I'm sure I would have associated it with Wikipedia.com, or maybe only thoughts of Hawaiian beaches would have been induced, but the concept of it was completely foreign to me. I believe Wikipedia to be the only website featuring wiki software that I have encountered, but I'm sure I will be much more aware now that I have learned about it.
It appears to me to be a very useful concept, as I could identify plenty with the "Wikis in Plain English" video. In terms of planning events and organizing efforts it is much more efficient and organized than email or instant messaging. All the information needed is in one location rather than spread out over several, and the fact that this information can be edited by its users makes it even more of a convenience.
As of right now, I don't see any immediate need for me to use wikis. However, in the not to distant future I do foresee an instance where it would be handy. Several of my brothers and I are trying to plan a trip to Hawaii with some people next Spring, and doing thing the wiki way would be an excellent way of coordinating our plans concerning flights, hotels, etc..
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tiny Minds
www.tinyminds.com
-This is a current event humor blog that, as the title suggests, pokes fun at the stupidity of others.
-It has a right-sided slant, with just a hint of sarcasm.
-They were good at citing sources, when actual sources were used.
-This is definitley not comparable to a newspaper, but I thought it had sort of a "Daily Show" quality to it that could be appreciated.
-This blog was entertaining and surfaced a laugh or two out of me, but, as with anything like this, it can only be handled in small doses. However, a smalldose of humor can go a long way.
www.tinyminds.net/2009/02/06/cher-republican-rule-almost-%e2%80%98killed-me%e2%80%99/
-This is a current event humor blog that, as the title suggests, pokes fun at the stupidity of others.
-It has a right-sided slant, with just a hint of sarcasm.
-They were good at citing sources, when actual sources were used.
-This is definitley not comparable to a newspaper, but I thought it had sort of a "Daily Show" quality to it that could be appreciated.
-This blog was entertaining and surfaced a laugh or two out of me, but, as with anything like this, it can only be handled in small doses. However, a smalldose of humor can go a long way.
www.tinyminds.net/2009/02/06/cher-republican-rule-almost-%e2%80%98killed-me%e2%80%99/
Talking Points Memo
www.talkingpointsmemo.com
-The general subject of this blog is politics and current events. The name suggests that they try to find "things worth talking about".
-I couldn't detect a political slant to the blog, but the cover story speaks negatively about a Republican Senator. However, anyone would be disgusted by this man no matter what their political preference.
-It seems like the blog was fairly good about quoting their sources.
-This blog is definitely more commentary based than a newspaper. The facts are only given to benefit an opinion.
-This blog was fairly informative and interesting. While it contained a good amount of commentary, the editors did a good job of keeping up with current and news worthy events.
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/08/north-korean-leader-appears-frail-in-rare-public-appearance/
(linked to from this blog)
-The general subject of this blog is politics and current events. The name suggests that they try to find "things worth talking about".
-I couldn't detect a political slant to the blog, but the cover story speaks negatively about a Republican Senator. However, anyone would be disgusted by this man no matter what their political preference.
-It seems like the blog was fairly good about quoting their sources.
-This blog is definitely more commentary based than a newspaper. The facts are only given to benefit an opinion.
-This blog was fairly informative and interesting. While it contained a good amount of commentary, the editors did a good job of keeping up with current and news worthy events.
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/08/north-korean-leader-appears-frail-in-rare-public-appearance/
(linked to from this blog)
Daily KOS
www.dailykos.com
-The general subjet of this blog is politics.
-It has a left-sided slant of the politcal playing field. This is obvious with all the pro-Obama speech.
-They are good at citing sources.
-I found it to be compareable to a newspaper, but more slanted. However, there are many newspapers that are slanted in one way or the other, even if only subtly.
-The formality of the blog is good and is less commentary based than "Talking Points Memo", but it becomes a bit dry after a while.
www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/8/751312/-just-an-old-fashioned-George-Wallace-kind-of-summer
-The general subjet of this blog is politics.
-It has a left-sided slant of the politcal playing field. This is obvious with all the pro-Obama speech.
-They are good at citing sources.
-I found it to be compareable to a newspaper, but more slanted. However, there are many newspapers that are slanted in one way or the other, even if only subtly.
-The formality of the blog is good and is less commentary based than "Talking Points Memo", but it becomes a bit dry after a while.
www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/8/751312/-just-an-old-fashioned-George-Wallace-kind-of-summer
Monday, July 13, 2009
Feed Reading
I found the google feed reading feature to be really interesting and fun. The convenience of it I would say is it's biggest advantages. I know how big of a pain it can be to visit every site on your list to check for updates. This can take longer than desirable, especially when one has a busy schedule. Being able to access one convenient website for all the updates is a really inventive concept. Maybe ideas like this is why Google is prospering so well.
I've never used anything like it before, and it's probably something that I will continue to use since there are many websites that I check occasionally for updates. This will be especially good for me if I'm taking a quick break at work to surf the Internet. I can check for website updates in a manner of minutes rather than spending half the day slacking. :)
I've never used anything like it before, and it's probably something that I will continue to use since there are many websites that I check occasionally for updates. This will be especially good for me if I'm taking a quick break at work to surf the Internet. I can check for website updates in a manner of minutes rather than spending half the day slacking. :)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Blogging & Journalism
Blogging is no closer to being journalism than shooting a gun is to being in the military. Shooting a gun might make you a gun shooter, but it doesn't make you a marine. It's the same with blogging. Writing a blog might make you a writer, but it doesn't make you a journalist. First of all, let's look at the obvious. For the most part, journalists have to go to school to become journalists, while anyone with internet access and a keyboard can become a blogger. Journalists work under a system of accountability and standards; bloggers can say whatever they want and remain anonymous while doing so. Accountability is one of the main issues I take with this subject, because while a blogger can anonymously write a blog that is void of reputable facts and full of lies and twisted truth, a journalist who produces a published article in the same way would suffer much harder consequences, including losing their job.
In both of the situations given, I take the side of the journalist. A blogger should not receive the same protection as a journalist. For one, a blogger can be anybody. It doesn't matter if it's someone that has been writing for years or some ten year old with a new laptop; a blogger is a blogger. The law should not look at who the individual blogger is but at what a blog is. A journalist working for a reputable newspaper or magazine that has a reputation of delivering quality news, on the other hand, should be taken more seriously. As an example, Joe Smith who has been keeping his own blog at www.joesmithblogspot.com (not an actual site) for years, or a veteran reporter for the New York Times. Both have been writing for years. Both write well. But only one has the reputation and name of a major newspaper to back him.
Is this fair? Is it fair in the second example for the journalist to gain press credentials while the blogger doesn't? Absolutely. Imagine if you were a singer songwriter. You record your own music, make a few CD's, create a website, play some shows, and maybe even have a moderate fan base. Would it be fair if you were seeking a gig at a major venue but you were denied and instead of you they chose an artist that was signed to a major record label? This may not seem fair, but really it is. The other artist worked hard to gain the backing of a major music label and because of that is now reaping the benefits. Those in charge of the venue chose them not just because they knew them and their quality but because they knew the reputation of the record label. It's the same with this second example. Why would I, if I were a fashion designer, choose a blogger from SoCalGalsFashionTrends.com (again, not a real site) over a reporter from Vogue magazine to cover my fashion show? Furthermore, I believe it would be a literal slap in the face to hard working journalists who have been working hard for years to provide legitimate, factual news and stories to have their jobs threatened by people who sit at home in their pj’s writing for their own personal blogs.
A well known journalist from National Geographic could decide to quite his job and instead start his own blog on the Internet, but in doing so he should not expect to receive the same opportunities or respect as he did while working for the magazine. Because, in my opinion, it is not as much the writer as it is who the writer works for that determines credibility. However, in expressing this I am not trying to take away from the importance of free speech and free expression that blogging and the internet has provided. It IS amazing that anyone with a computer and a keyboard can have their writings view by potentially millions, but bloggers should not expect the same rights and privileges as journalists, because they are (though not less importantly) just bloggers.
In both of the situations given, I take the side of the journalist. A blogger should not receive the same protection as a journalist. For one, a blogger can be anybody. It doesn't matter if it's someone that has been writing for years or some ten year old with a new laptop; a blogger is a blogger. The law should not look at who the individual blogger is but at what a blog is. A journalist working for a reputable newspaper or magazine that has a reputation of delivering quality news, on the other hand, should be taken more seriously. As an example, Joe Smith who has been keeping his own blog at www.joesmithblogspot.com (not an actual site) for years, or a veteran reporter for the New York Times. Both have been writing for years. Both write well. But only one has the reputation and name of a major newspaper to back him.
Is this fair? Is it fair in the second example for the journalist to gain press credentials while the blogger doesn't? Absolutely. Imagine if you were a singer songwriter. You record your own music, make a few CD's, create a website, play some shows, and maybe even have a moderate fan base. Would it be fair if you were seeking a gig at a major venue but you were denied and instead of you they chose an artist that was signed to a major record label? This may not seem fair, but really it is. The other artist worked hard to gain the backing of a major music label and because of that is now reaping the benefits. Those in charge of the venue chose them not just because they knew them and their quality but because they knew the reputation of the record label. It's the same with this second example. Why would I, if I were a fashion designer, choose a blogger from SoCalGalsFashionTrends.com (again, not a real site) over a reporter from Vogue magazine to cover my fashion show? Furthermore, I believe it would be a literal slap in the face to hard working journalists who have been working hard for years to provide legitimate, factual news and stories to have their jobs threatened by people who sit at home in their pj’s writing for their own personal blogs.
A well known journalist from National Geographic could decide to quite his job and instead start his own blog on the Internet, but in doing so he should not expect to receive the same opportunities or respect as he did while working for the magazine. Because, in my opinion, it is not as much the writer as it is who the writer works for that determines credibility. However, in expressing this I am not trying to take away from the importance of free speech and free expression that blogging and the internet has provided. It IS amazing that anyone with a computer and a keyboard can have their writings view by potentially millions, but bloggers should not expect the same rights and privileges as journalists, because they are (though not less importantly) just bloggers.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Flickr & Diigo
Flickr and Diigo are very similar in that they both utilize social software to share information. Flickr gives you the opportunity to share pictures and Diigo allows you to share Internet bookmarks. I thought they both were really interesting and do serve a useful purpose other than personal enlightenment. Both would be useful for researching information. Say, for example, if you were interested in visiting Rome you could look for link to websites about Rome on Diigo or search for pictures of places to see on Flickr.
The only other sharing website I have used that is similar to these is PhotoBucket, but it does not have the search ability and user options that Flickr has. Unless they have changed since I last used them, they only offer the option of storing and posting your pictures for others to see. They don't the social networking aspect that Flickr has.
I'm not sure how much I will continue to use Flickr and Diigo. If I do use one, it would probably be Diigo because there are times when I am researching things online. Diigo would be a great resource for this.
The only other sharing website I have used that is similar to these is PhotoBucket, but it does not have the search ability and user options that Flickr has. Unless they have changed since I last used them, they only offer the option of storing and posting your pictures for others to see. They don't the social networking aspect that Flickr has.
I'm not sure how much I will continue to use Flickr and Diigo. If I do use one, it would probably be Diigo because there are times when I am researching things online. Diigo would be a great resource for this.
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