Presentation Peer Reviews 2

Meredith:

Argument – Photo manipulation can change our perception without us even realizing it. Present day lives rely heavily on editing to attain beauty; we should focus on natural beauty and natural appearance.

Strengths – Great photo manipulation – really shows the difference between before and after

Improvements – Once entered into a PowerPoint, really establish and clarify a specific argument, there are many that can be made and I’m not sure whether or not you’re for or against photo manipulation, or both.

Olive:

Argument – There are a lot of different places in America with different features that hold history and unique stories, the audience should be interested and visit them.

Strengths – Good Color Contrast, Visual Interest is Unique

Improvements – Add borders around states maybe? Effectively Utilize White Space/ Develop Concrete Argument.

Kim:

Argument – There are delicious creations that the audience should buy.

Strengths – Well organized & easy on the eyes, creates an easy route throughout the site

Improvements – Maybe make a little more use of the whitespace, Maybe create a little more in-depth details. Watch the title placement, make sure audience knows about content below first glace.

Katelyn:

Argument – I’d imagine the argument is something about informing the audience about the presidential campaign for 2012. (can’t read it)

Strengths – Visually appealing, intellectually relevant and intriguing

Improvements – Clarify your argument more specifically -- I think what you’re getting at is that they’re very similar and there is not much difference, but I am not sure what your final stance is.

Courtney:

Argument – Challenge yourself to write a novel in the 30 days of November, at least 50k words.

Strengths – Looks very clean, I like the color scheme. I like the font choice as well.

Improvements – maybe utilize the white space a little more with some photos, maybe of some past winners? Is there any incentive for the audience to write a novel? Any competitions any rewards?

Devin:

Argument – Though campus cafeterias are convenient, they are overpriced and essentially ripping the students and whoever else eats there off.

Strengths – Good visual layout/format for your argument. I like the way the site is simple but compelling. I like the idea of the info graphic

Improvements – Establish a set clarified thesis statement, and make sure you have a conclusion to bring closure to the subject.

Hannah:

Argument –  It is a blog about Hannah’s sister, arguing that her blog posts are inviting and inspiring.

Strengths – I like the fun creativity that the fonts represent and also the colors represent

Improvements – It is a little too bright, is there any way you can mildly dim down the background?

Jane:

Argument – We are a generation of millennials, and we have been brain-washed to think in a non-humble way, but if we use our generational skills we can achieve great things.

Strengths – I like the medium in which it was produced, I enjoyed the pop of text with the picture background

Improvements –  make sure you align the text properly where it needs to be, take a look at the music, and slow down some of the slides/credits.

Janna:

Argument – Call Halonen Landscaping to get a free estimate on premier in lawn & garden care

Strengths – Visually appealing ( I like the pop of green )

Improvements –  Maybe emphasize the argument a bit more

Presentation Peer Reviews Part 2

Julia:
Main Argument:
The main argument is that horoscopes and astrology are falsehoods disproved by science, and have an overall negative impact on society.
Strength:
The piece is very informational and claims seem to be well supported; the design and color pallet are both appealing and well related to the theme overall.
Development:
Break up arguments into different pages or use anchor tags to simplify navigation of site; also make sure format is uniform throughout site.

Meredith:
Main Argument:
Photos can be edited and manipulated to make the subject appear completely different, and possibly more socially acceptable; this manipulation has changed our view of social norms.
Strength:
Photo manipulation is well done and proves the point very well; I thought it was really easy to see the argument even before you explained it.
Development:
Having an explanation of how this argument relates to society as a whole and why it is important will make the presentation much stronger; putting it into context will clarify exactly what the argument is and make it more relatable to viewers.

Olive:
Main Argument:
All of the 48 contiguous states have images associated specifically with them; these may be natural scenes or landmarks that have been built there; it also encourages the audience to travel the United States.
Strength:
The design is interesting and visually appealing; the contrast provides depth and diversity within the image.
Development:
Finish up editing so that all states are aligned.

Kim:
Main Argument:
This site is a place to both advertise and sell "UP Unique Creations," an assortment of products made in the UP.
Strength:
Site is easy to understand, tabs at top are easy to navigate.
Development:
Clarify exactly what is being sold from the start; maybe include something at the top of the page. Also, make it easier to see that there is more to scroll down to.

Caitlyn:
Main Argument: Candidate image in the presidential election is extremely important, almost to the point of being ridiculous; they must pay attention to image as much as they do policy.
Strength: The argument is clear; images are entertaining and appealing to the viewer. Each point seems well defined and expanded on, it is very informational.
Development: Even planning for a larger size, the text still seems a little small.

Courtney:
Main Argument: November is national novel writing month and you should participate by writing a novel.
Strength: Color scheme/contrast is good, very informational, argument is easy to see. Minimalist design supports argument.
Development: On last page, consider switching the "congratulations" and "don't worry" sections so that congratulations is on top.

Devin:
Main Argument: Michigan Tech's meal plans are more expensive than simply buying food and preparing meals off campus would be; also, preparing your own food is a better option overall.
Strength: Very informative, and well supported by student surveys.
Development: Clarify some of the images with text descriptions.

Hannah:
Main Argument: Hannah's sister has interesting opinions and an inviting place for audiences to view them.
Strength: Background and layout is very visually appealing; it is personal and inviting.
Development: More whimsical font for post titles would tie in better with font of post itself; make "Everyday Effervescence" more visible.

Jane:
Main Argument: We, as millenials, have traits, skills, and beliefs unlike any other generation and must find a way to use them to our advantage in finding jobs and success overall.
Strength: The video is relatable and the main argument is clear; the images relate well to the content.
Development: Fix sound/music

Jana:
Main Argument: Halonen Landscaping is the best lawn and garden care firm and you should use them for your own landscaping needs.
Strength: Very clear argument, appealing visuals, very simple design conveys point well
Development: Shadow on "Premier.." makes the text seem a little blurry

Woah say what?

So it seems to me at this point I have my entire project figured out. I just have some fine tuning and details to mash out and it'll be 100% complete! Which for me right now is super exciting! I didn't really expect to be this far along, especially with all I have to do on my plate right now!

For those of you that don't know I am making a website for my Mother's new business.

The biggest problem I had in the beginning of the assignment is not knowing what I was doing. I have never even seen a line of code before this project! How did I expect to create something that is going to attract customers as well as get me a good grade on this assignment.

I found a website called Wix. Quite honestly I found it really helpful and allowed me to create a website that was better than the one I tried to create on my own. It helped my project an unbelievable amount! I am really exicited to finish this project. I still have to jump through hoops (finishing an online store without going over budget for example) but in the end I think that this assignment will turn out to be something I can be proud of!

Now woah...say what? Finally having a project I am not totally stressing at the last minute? I think I can deal with this!

Change.

    This seems to happen to me every single time I am working on a big project. I get some idea in my head that I'm really passionate about, put up walls around it, and dive headfirst without thinking ahead whatsoever. I originally picked Commuter Parking on campus, because it is an issue I face everyday, but even though it is a topic I am passionate about, I was coming up dry everywhere I looked for information. I wasn't getting any good ideas for a good digital media solutions, and I literally couldn't get myself to sit down and work on the project. Ever. I decided I need a new topic, something more attainable, especially because I knew my project on commuter parking wouldn't influence a single mind, they have been working on that issue for eons, and only seem to make negative changes, nothing for the better! So, here goes, I have a whole new topic and a stream of ideas behind it. It's crunch time!

A few more revisions!

So after thinking my project over some more and sleeping on it, I realized it may be too big for me to handle right now. This morning I came up with a revised topic and media...

Instead of examining all generations of the 20th century, I will simply look at the Millennials, or the "Next Generation," aka the young adults of today. I plan on looking at how technology has influenced our personalities and perhaps how this may affect our lives in the workplace when/if we get jobs.

And I also acknowledged the fact that I lack a fair amount of artistic skills, so I'd rather not struggle with an infographic. Instead, I plan on creating a short video since I have quite a bit of experience with it.

Yup. That's all. Peace.

Most Inspirational Video Ever.

For Formal Sorority Recruitment this year, we played a video the night FSR kicked off made by the National Panhellenic Council. This video outlined why girls should give sorority life a chance, and why we wanted them to join. It's not an overly complex video, it's really just words sliding across a screen; the music played in the background, however, is probably the most inspirational music I have ever heard. Watching the  video, I felt like everything it said reaffirmed all the reasons I joined Greek life. The only way to describe it is moving, so turn your volume up nice and loud, and watch it: Our Potential: Your Move. This video is the perfect example of how every part of your project counts, as the music just makes the video, and it forces the viewer to feel what they are saying. So that's my schpiel, and I hope you watch the video!

KSO "From Russia with Love"

    Last night I had the opportunity to usher the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (KSO) and their performance "From Russia with Love."  The show featured pieces by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Shostakovic, all Russian composers with very different composition styles.  Overall the performance was a wonderful experience and left me entranced in the haunting melodies of Tchaikovsky and inspired by the almost satirical styles of Shostakovic.
     Though all of the pieces were performed extremely well, the mixture of back-story and execution of the Shostakovic made it stand out from the other numbers.  Raised in in Russia directly following World War II, Dimitri Shostakovic wrote musical numbers for the government and the Communist Party.  After expressing strong feelings of dissent towards the Communist Party, most of Shostakovic's music was banned from Russia.  In response to this ban, Shostakovic began to compose musical pieces that would start with strong, militaristic movements shortly followed by weak, almost cartoon-esque endings.  This was emphasized in the KSO by having the brass section play loud, oppressive notes (representing military oppression) and following these sections with high, quickly resolved chords by the strings and high wind instruments. 
   Though all of the movements were performed well, I feel the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra did an especially fantastic job on the Shostakovic movement.  I look forward to seeing more performances by the KSO, and would recommend the shows to anyone who appreciates good orchestral music or is interested in them.  If interested, you can get tickets with your experience tech fee with no cost if you pick the tickets up early.  Hope to see you there!
-Charlie

panopticon (Foucault)

http://foucault.info/documents/disciplineAndPunish/foucault.disciplineAndPunish.panOpticism.html

Anticrastination

9GAG is something that every procrastinator (or anticrastinator, they probably have more time) should know about, if not known already. You have homework to do, but you're really not ready to do it... there must be something else that you need to do before you begin, right? Maybe not, but we often wish. It happens to the best of us.

Anyways what I'm really saying is that you should check out 9GAG. It's full of funny stuff to make you giggle when you should be doing productive things. And it uh... keeps you connected with what's going on in the world? Sure, yeah, let's say that. Like this Creative Water Bottle Raft (in Thailand). I can honestly say I never would have known of these cool happenings in Thailand if it weren't for 9GAG keeping me up-to-date. Or maybe you will be come across something inspiring, such as this man pumpkin rafting, that will give you new ideas. Pumpkin boat races for homecoming!

That is all.
Goodbye.

Amazon Prime!!

Hey guys!!

I was talking about Amazon Student today in class...

If you haven't signed up already, this is a great thing to look into! Amazon Prime gives you "free" 2 day shipping (I say free because you have to pay for your membership), one "free" rental from the Kindle bookstore, and unlimited "free" streaming of certain movies, books, video games and music! (Right now their movie selection is a little limited, but I just read an article yesterday saying Amazon signed a deal with a company that will increase their movie database to become Netflix' new rival, so soon, Prime's movies collection will be actually worth the money you pay for your membership. (Seriously, read that article, it's pretty interesting.))

Amazon Student is a precursor to Prime. You don't get the rentals, but you do get the 2 day shipping, and when you need to buy a book and you need it for next class period, 2 day shipping is your FRIEND! A 6 month trial of Amazon Student is available for FREE for anyone with an .edu email address, so I don't see why anyone would not sign up!

(PS: Even though the 6 month trial is free, Amazon will automatically charge you for your upgrade to Prime after your 6 month trial is up. So if you sign up and don't want to pay for Prime, be careful and remember to cancel your account so you don't get charged!)

Also, If you buy a Prime membership regularly, it's $79/year, but if you register for Amazon Student first and then transfer to Prime, you can get a membership for only $39/year! So, especially if Prime is something you want to look into, now that that merger has been announced, sign up for Student first and save half your money!

Why I Blog

      As someone who is very new to the world of blogging, this article opened my eyes not only to some of the reasons for blogging, but also to the hidden world blogging can open up for a writer. I had heard of blogs, and those who gain fame by posting their daily lives on the web for complete strangers to read, and could not truly understand why one would welcome such a complete lack of privacy. My view of blogs was so limited that I dismissed them as an online diary, something I personally would never partake in. However, reading Andrew Sullivan's piece "Why I Blog," brought to my attention the potential for sharing and discussing current events; the writer's essentially raw reaction to those events that have literally just happened is something unheard of in newspapers or other periodicals. The ability of the readers to immediately respond to the piece, be it correcting the author or simply sharing their own experiences, gives them a much stronger voice and connection to the author. While this leaves the author much more vulnerable to criticism and attack, I feel it offers the opportunity to view the world from a much wider perspective, and to create an overall stronger writer.
       One of the most interesting points in this piece, in my opinion, is Sullivan's referral to his readers as "friends." The connection shared between author and reader, created by instantaneous responses and shared experience truly offers the potential for an author to know his or her readers. The author's posting of his or her true feelings and responses also demands a sort of trust from readers; the author writes from the heart knowing that he or she may recieve praise, criticism, tips for improvement, or any number of responses. Reflecting on my original opinion of bloggers, I now see them as writers whose goal it is to share current events and news with their own opinions and twists; this takes a sort of bravery, not knowing exactly what readers will do or say.
       Overall, I now see blogging as a legitimate form of writing; it is truly its own style but is legitimate nonetheless. Bloggers are a more modern breed of writers; they share events as they occur, without checking facts and sources and relying on editors to ensure each piece is perfect. They do not ignore the responses or corrections of their readers, but rather rely on them to be the very best and most reliable sources within the web. While blogging does allow for personal opinions or skewing of events, this is expected, and readers will make their voices heard if they disagree with the words of a blogger. I found Sullivan's piece to be a very enlightening view into the world of blogging; I now feel a little more prepared to voice my opinion to the world, and to see what my readers may have to say to me.

Why I blog

Recently I had read an article by the title of "Why I Blog" by Andrew Sullivan. I found the article quite interesting. The concept of blogging being a different form of writing intrigued me. I had always thought that blogging must be a lot like personal story telling with many editors correcting what the original author said. Sullivan quickly proves why that this form of thinking is incorrect for blogging. Blogging is really more like a diary. Very little editing goes into a blog and once the blog is posted. This makes blogging one of the most raw forms of writing. All of the emotions and thoughts are quickly organized as he is writing, causing the most private, publicly exposed type of diary known to man. Blogs are more readily available than most books it seems. You would have to go to the store, library or a friend's house to find the diary of a famous person, like Anne Frank for example, but all you have to do is get on your computer and you can access any blogger's diary.
Never before has the human population seen any type of written word that can be reached by so many, so quickly. Sullivan says that this instantaneous publishing is something that every writer has ever dreamed of. What writer wouldn't? Having your work out in the public, your words heard, your knowledge passed on all in the click of a mouse is what every writer could every dream of. All of that is what a writer tries to accomplish through his work. If they weren't trying to do that then why write?
The deadline for any blogger comes quick as well. Sullivan says that the next dead line is right now for a blogger. Now is when the next blog will be due and the next one will be due the minute you are done with that blog. If a blogger does not blog on a regular basis then the blog will not attract very many readers. Of course how many times the writer will blog is all up to the reader. The writer may still attract enough readers by doing a blog a week, but other bloggers will need to blog once a day to obtain readers. The writer must try to cater to his readers when it comes to attracting and keeping readers.
Of course this all comes with the consequence of also having an instantaneous response. These response, as Sullivan says, can very cruel. The readers can criticize any thing and every thing a blogger writes about. That is the scary part of blogging. In a rage an author can write something he later regrets or something that could get him in trouble. He could be picked apart piece by piece by his readers. This makes one wonder why would someone blog? Why would they put up with the constant pressure to do well and obtain readers? It must be the thrill of knowing someone out there finds your personal diary interesting.

Why I Blog

After reading Sullivan's article on blogging, I immediately felt better about getting started with blogging. I will admit that I was definitely a bit nervous at first. The way he describes and ultimately compares blogging to other forms of writing is truly interesting and engaging. 

The fact that there is an absence of editing in blogging opens this form of writing up completely. There are no real rules. As Sullivan states, blogging is like the extreme sports of athletics, or the jazz to classical music. More freedom, more risk, and as a result, more accidents. But there is also more liveliness and more expression, as well as a less formal atmosphere. This comparison really put blogging in a new perspective for me, one that I find myself anxious to dive into.

Engaging with the audience is another key part in blogging  as Sullivan mentions. Reader responses and often criticisms are what seems to fuel the genre of blogging.  Sullivan makes it clear that the blogger's job is not to defend against challenges, but to embrace them and create an atmosphere in which readers want to engage and participate in.

Both of these points alone made me respect blogging so much more. It truly seems like an unmatched opportunity to engage and learn about, well, anything and everything. It's real, raw, honest writing meant to spark thoughts and conversations online. With this in mind, I'm ready to take on the world of blogging!

Why Blog?

     In Sullivan's article "Why I Blog" he explores how he got started in the world of blogging and how it has changed the ways that people go about doing things. The advantages and disadvantages that come with blogging are just like any other form of writing. Though, when it comes to a blog the writer has to live in the moment and just feel. With blogging the publication is instantly available to the public and there is very little time for revisions. Sullivan then goes on to tell about his fascination with the blogosphere.
     With the fact that a publication on a blog is instantly available, the blogger has to be prepared for the potential backlash about what he/she writes. Even though blogging may be a  thrill there is that sense of harsh reality waiting just around the corner ready to jump out at any second. Though some criticism may be harsh, some can help the blogger evolve and expand their mind. Throughout the reading Sullivan describes the relationship that the author has with the reader is more like a friendship, and that what the author publishes is like a giant conversation that everyone gets to hear.
     While reading the article I found it interesting that it gave you a story of the development of the blog as we know it and how one person decided to start their own journey of having a blog. Sullivan lets you in as he tells his story and shows you the pros and cons of the blogosphere. It answers the question that many people who have little to no experience with a blog have, "Why do people blog?"  and how addicting it can be once you start.

"Why I Blog"

The world of blogging has quickly become a colossal means of communication and an outlet for discussion, information, and personal thoughts, among other things. Like all forms of writing it has its advantages and disadvantages. In this article, Sullivan describes his early fascination with the blog and explains some of both the pros and cons of blogging.
Blogging provides instant publication of hour by hour thought, without much opportunity for revision. No need to wait on reviews and fact-checks. The ability to be so immediately heard is described as addicting. However that thrill is quickly balanced out by the harsh and equally instantateous emails Sullivan began receiving in response to his writing. In turn though, the readers can in this way help shape or expand the author's view through their critiques.
Unlike a personal journal, a blog is a very public log. It's excitingly dangeorus in the way it exposes the author to their readers. Sullivan views the relationship between author and reader as a friendship, and he depicts the world of blogging as one massive conversation in which anyone with access is free to take part and help form. And the forming of this 'conversation' is constant and continuous. The conversation must carry forward if it is to survive. It is an ever-evolving medium of communication.

Reading Response To "Why I Blog"

Sullivan's observations of the blogosphere are ubiquitous all over the internet. Blogging is a form of existence for many people. For some people it is the only voice they have in society. As Sullivan states in his essay blogging is a  form of communication in which the blogger must not be afraid to be personal or even cross. Bloggers have to be able to accept criticism and outright hatred for their ideas, they do not represent anyone but themselves therefore they can not hide behind reputations of modern publishing firms or other agencies.
When bloggers write about important and emotional events it is difficult for them to discuss said events without revealing a large amount of information about themselves, thus a blogger has to knowingly accept the risk. A blog is a "communication stream" that must be pumped full of fresh content, it can not be left stagnant. New content is the only thing keeping the community alive and the viewership healthy.

When I first started to read this article I expected to read about the emotional influences that caused Andrew Sullivan to start writing on a blog. Instead I found myself more drawn into his theories and ideas about blog and community development. His ideas concerning community are intriguing, as they full express my own ideas about community involvement and the growth and development they play in popular blogs. There are thousands of community blogs on the internet that support this theory. Take into account many of the online news sources such as the Huffington Post, or even the infamous IAU community. Many of the articles posted on either of these blogs are targeted towards their readers showing that community involvement is vital to keeping any blog flourishing.

Why I blog?

In this article the author explains how he got involved in the world of blogging, the freedom he has while writing in this space and his point of view about the importance of blogging in the world of digital media. The author considers blogging part of the golden age of journalism, personally I do not completely agree with this argument, because blogging is not necessarily considered journalism, it is true that provides certain advantages for journalists and writers, such as freedom of timing and topics, a larger and more selective group of readers and independence of editors; in their blogs, writers can write about an issue happening at the moment with plenty of space, as the author relates he lived with 9/11, the dead of pope John Paul II and the beginning of Iraq war, so if all of these advantages are in blogging, why I don’t agree with the idea of the author that is a golden age of journalism? Because blogging gives plenty of space to opinion, not to information, to wait for the source to confirm the information is valid may take a little longer than the instant in which you can publish your entry in your blog and with this moment many of the advantages of blogging are lost and other websites can provide the information. This is only thing that makes me not completely agree with the statement of the author. The blog is also an important place for people who are no in the world of media, because of the freedom it provides.

As almost the entire internet, used correctly is a great way to improve writing skills, share thoughts and memories with the speed of the internet, but there are always people who make serious matters go wrong and intimidate amateur writers to not keep up in the world of blogging. 

Why I Blog

 Sullivan's Article, "Why I Blog," explains the world of blogging in a great way. I like the idea of expressing your own ideas and receiving feedback from readers almost instantly. Once people get a hold of a post and read it, they will either like it or hate it. Managing a blog can be a difficult job because of all the negative comments. Some people will read it and move on, others will create unwanted drama.

    Blogging has an advantage over published texts including books, magazines, and newspapers. Although information on some blogs aren't always true, they can be revised at any time. Another advantage of a blog over published text is that you can post links to websites, pictures, videos, and basically anything else you find. Readers can click the link to find out where the information was taken from and they can overview the writer's work. If readers find mistakes or false statements they can post links to prove they're right. It shows validity.

"Why I Blog" Response

Blogging is a great way to circulate your thoughts and ideas about anything and everything. It allows you to share whatever you want instantly with numerous people, be it about your day, opinions you have, politics, knowledge you want to share with others, or maybe even the dreams that you have at night. It’s quite fascinating how quickly you can submit a post on your blog and have readers reading it and commenting on it almost immediately. Another neat quirk that comes with blogging is how free-spirited you can be with what you choose to post. Nobody is there telling you what you can and cannot write about, or forcing you to put their opinions rather than your own. When running a blog it’s all on you.

A downside to blogging is directly related to one of the best things about it. With being online and instant, as soon as you submit your post and publish it for the world to see, the world can see it. The Internet is a harsh place and people can be ruthless when it comes to giving feedback. Reading rude, nasty, or cruel comments can really put a damper on your attitude toward blogging but it’s something that can’t be prevented. It’s best to take in what your commenters have to say and use it as a tool to help mold your following posts. Blogging is a great tool that can be used in many different ways, whether personal or professional. It’s a type of writing that is different than any other and can be appreciated by various types of people.

Welcome to Introduction to Digital Media!

Hello! Make sure you purchase the book now if you plan to order it from an online source like Amazon. Please take a minute and consider the handle/name/avatar you chose for this page. Then write a post explaining the choices you have made.