The Gains and Pains of Blogging

Ready. Set. Defend.

In our hostile world, one person's phrase or sentence can be taken out of context. Michael Berube's "Blogging Back at the Right" is an eerie example of how powerful but dangerous blogging can be; the more people it reaches, the higher chance of aggravating a reader. Berube learned the hard way when his "snippets of text [were] taken out of context and batted around the Internet like beach balls in football stadiums."

Unlike a newspaper, it allows the writer and reader to instantaneously duel through the confines of cyberspace (instead of waiting until the next issue). And Berube agrees that is one of the advantages to writing on the Internet; labeling his blog a "rapid-response device."

But blogs are way too formal! I agree with Berube when he says that, "[his] is also an outlet for all kinds of whimsical, satirical, and occasional writing--from musings on the paradoxical status of autonomy in disability-studies debates to parodies of contemporary political events and discussions of popular music and film..." Blogs are better suited to be the writer's own personal soapbox so he/she can speak about a variety of topics -- almost like an Op-Ed section in a newspaper; NOT the actual newspaper articles themselves!

Assignments for Feb 1

3 Blogs
Choose One at Dr. Sapp's blog (available this evening)
NYTimes: Connecticut In-state Blog (Stagweb)
Story on Conservatism in a Classroom (Stagweb)

Neuromancer Reading Guide

1. I feel that I am being assigned this reading because William Gibson, the author of Neuromancer, possesses the unique ability to describe the surroundings with great eloquence and detail. His writing style allows the reader to feel as if he/she is truly inside the book. And because Neuromancer invites the reader to step into a very alien world filled with unfamiliar jargon, this sense of immersion is crucial to the enjoyment of such a story.

2. The existence of the science fiction genre allows the reader to step into a fantasy world that possesses some origin or influence from the actual history of the world as we know it, and puts a massive spin on every element within that fictional story. To make things clearer, lets take a brief look at Star Wars, a story about good versus evil that involves humans, weapons, and space. These entities found in Star Wars can also be found in real life with one common difference: their characteristics have been altered and exaggerated--humans have supernatural powers, the weapons are not projectile but rather energy based, and the story does not take place anywhere near Earth but rather in a "galaxy, far, far away."

Neuromancer is an example of science fiction because it takes elements that we see in our everyday lives, such as the common references to company names like Sanyo, Sony, Toyota, and Mitsubishi and incorporates it into the actual story. Real-life cities such as New York and Atlanta are each portrayed as a metropolis filled with vast technology.

3. The science fiction genre influences our daily lives because it allows inventors to conjure up an actual products that were once only found in imagination. Even with our use of language and attitude towards technology, popular culture has been impacted by science ficiton in many subtle ways that are not readily apparent. Take a look at palm pilots and cellphones, two commonly used pieces of technology that were first seen on the cult classic Star Trek. Even in Neuromancer, the term "microsoft" was used to label a small black chip that held information; little did Gibson know that two decades later, Microsoft is one of the most prominent technological corporations in the world. And that the term "cyberspace" (as first seen in Neuromancer) can now be found in America On-Line's advertisements.

4. Case can be considered a "hero" because although he was a computer hacker who stole data, he is using these skills for the sake of the good. For example, he linked with Molly and helped break into Sense/Net's computer in order for them to steal the Dixie Flatline's construct; a character who was murdered but whose thoughts were saved to a computer chip of sorts. The evil that he opposes is simply the society around him e.g. the large corporation Sense/Net that is very dominant in technology who tried to stop him.

5.

6. Cyberspace - can be described as a large construct of virtual reality (at least in the Gibson world)
Matrix - the data network that links all of Gibson's "cyberspace" together
ICE - Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics; a security defense that protects crucial, valuable data from intruding viruses (such as the "Mole" in the story)
simstim - a technology that allows for one person to simulate a telepathic link to the stimulus of another person
coffins - a cheap man's motel where you pay and sleep in a coffin
virus - a program that has the intension of sneaking onto a system to cause harm
zaibatsu - a large Japanese conglomerate that possessed alot of political power and control in Gibson's world
meat - the "human" that was within the artificial exterior shell
microsoft - a little chip that can be inserted into one's head that contains a plethora of database information
artificial intelligence - the act of programming a computer to mimic that of a human brain
subliminals -
puppets -

7. Seeing as how this novel was written 25 years ago, it is very prophetic because the world we live in today is quite similar to the one described in the story. For example, people are now starting to have chips embedded into their skin. Case's pancreas had to be replaced and they patched it up with technology. Our real world is coming close to achieving such magic as seen with stem-cell research. The existence of a cyberspace where residents within Gibson's world were able to escape into can be found in today's video games where thousands of players join the same world and compete with/against each other. And I do believe it is cynical in a sense that the technology can be abused, no matter if it is 1984 or 2004. Take a look at all of the electronic credit card thefts that exist today. Now take a look at Neuromancer when Case had to trick the cameras within Sense/Net in order to bypass and fool security.

Writing for the Web Isn't So Much Different After All

"Anything makes a good subject, as long as you take your time and crystallize the details, tying them together and actually telling a story, rather than offering a simple list of facts."

That is just a bit from one of Dennis A. Mahoney's many tips on "How to Write a Better Weblog." As someone who has experience writing in a variety of media, I will have to admit that there does not seem to be as much of a difference as I had once thought.

Let me preface by saying that it is ironic I am writing this entry from the first-person perspective (hence the use of "I"), whereas the connoisseur of blogs, Mr. Mahoney, recommends against using it unless absolutely necessary. I have maintained my own blog for almost half a decade and also read other authors' blogs for a longer period of time. And although I agree with restricting the use of self-perspective, I deem it is necessary to do so in order to hone and critique Mr. Mahoney's tips.

His tip in regards to the inclusion of detail in web writing (as listed above) proves to be quite accurate and usable in other media as well. Take for example, I am a newspaper reporter who has just been assigned to cover the fire on Main Street.

If I am not to include specific details such as the number of casualties, how devastating the fire is, etc., then I shouldn't be surprised to find a pink slip on my desk. In any reading, it is the effort placed into the details which keeps the readers enticed by the captivating literature.

I wholeheartedly disagree with his tip of amusing the readers. I respect his opinion as a fellow writer and as a human being, but it is illogical to believe that "everything is funny." Mahoney cites one's race and sexual orientation as being humorous, and that making light of a serious situation does not have to be disrespectful.

I rebut with this question: what if you are maintaining a blog for MSNBC, a well-respected news site, and you make light about the eternal debate over abortion. Granted, Mahoney says that blog authors should be able to "expect both rational and irrational criticism" but I personally do not believe the employer nor a good amount of readers will be too pleased with tasteless humor.

To claim that the blog is only for the author's own use is an illogical statement in itself. In my opinion, the blog is a *public* soapbox which allows the author an opportunity to share his/her thoughts with people worldwide. If the author truly wanted to generate content only for their own use, he/she would not post it on cyberspace, but rather on a saved Microsoft Word document or a traditional pen and paper.

And to say that blogs lack style or approach is also another illogical statement, as I believe every literate being possesses his/her own approach to writing; whether it's through the computer or with a pen in hand.

I feel that Bernstein would agree with my point of view since he backs up the common writing style of an amateur claiming that the unnecessary amount of "un-profound" content is due to the overexposure of our society's many sources of information. With the large amount of information available at a click of a button, it comes as no surprise that the average reader would want their voice heard too. After all, Bernstein says that "you've got this absolutely batty opportunity of instant global publishing. Publish!"

Gizmodo, A Haven for Nerds and Non-Nerds Alike

There is a reason why Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog is the 6th most popular blog according to Technorati, and that is because the author(s) are able to intertwine a variety of elements such as sex with technobabble, allowing for a broader appeal audience. The requirements associated with the enjoyment of this particular blog is not steep by any means. Readers are not forced to be in-the-know when it comes to the latest technology and gadgets, but rather are required to have a sense of humor.

Take for example, the author(s) made an undated entry regarding a new musical instrument which requires six different musicians playing it at once. The instrument closely resembles a guitar resonating a unique sound because all six musicians are responsible for his/her own product. The title of this entry? "Six-Man Guitar Orgy"

Another amusing entry is entitled, "There Was a Text Messaging World Record?" The entry details the story of a Singaporean businesswoman who won $10,000 for breaking the Guinness World Record of words tapped in a certain amount of time (26 words in approximately 44 seconds). But in reality, the first thing that catches the reader's eye is a photograph of someone's cellphone displaying the words, "Hey idiot."

Even the layout of the website is appealing to the reader. The background of the site is white, a neutral color which allows for the best punch in terms of the text's visibility. A sans serif-based font was used to display the text which also adds to the ease of reading. Most entries are accompanied by a photograph which either makes the reader go, "oooh," or "haha." The language used is neither overwhelming nor trite. And like coffee, the author(s) of Gizmodo are able to find the perfect blend between serious technology-related news with things that are not-so-serious, allowing for excellent readability.

Christine...Bolton?

It isn't everyday that you meet someone whose been enlightened by Michael Bolton's wisdom of love. But today, I was given the pleasure of introducing myself to Christine, a senior at Fairfield University who personally received love advice from the popular singer Michael Bolton during a Fourth of July party at the "O-Bar" in Westport, Conn. "Men don't want to be tied down until their late 30's" was one of the pieces of advice Mr. Bolton gave to Christine after praising her for not having wrinkles on her skin (not realizing that she is in her early 20's).

Christine has also trekked outside the realms of the bubble we call Fairfield County. Just today, she came back from her Campus Ministry service trip to Ecuador. She said that instead of helping the poor, she often found herself asking Ecuadorians about what their thoughts were on topics such as dollarization; a contributive effort towards her International Studies Research Capstone project.

Besides International Studies, Christine is also double-majoring in English (which is probably why she's in this class right now). She gets the opportunity to see Dr. David Sapp more than once a week as she is also taking his Business Writing course. And just to wrap things up, she's the only sibling in her family and lives at a beach house called, "The Mall."

Assignment for Wednesday 1/25

Three Blog Posts

1. Gibson (see Dr. Sapp's blog for Questions -- http://enw350.blogspot.com )

2. Assigned Article (see Dr. Simon's blog for Questions -- http://jsimonfu.blogspot.com )

3. Find an interesting blog using a search engine (see Dr. Simon's blog) and write a description and response to it. Pick a serious topic, please.

Numero Uno

First posting ever!

Just a random entry trying to get a feel of how Blogger is compared to other blog services that I've used in the past.