Reflective Draft

I have some ideas as to what I am going to write/talk about in my Reflective Paper...

I am going to use my Enthusiast Blog

1.)  I had a suggestion to use less video.  I should use it to emphasize my point in my writing rather than in every post.  If I could find a way to add music with an mp3 player rather than a video then that would be great.  I want the reader to actually hear the music that I am talking about so they can get a better feel for the sound of the song that I am talking about.

2.)  I will talk about how I have changed as a writer.  How it has become more of a passion rather than work.  It seriously was like therapy to me on so many levels.

3.)  I will mention how I gained an internship from this blog.

Just some ideas...more to come later.

Project 4 So Far

So far so good for our project 4 "URI Parking Issues".  We all have designated things that we are working on.  I am going to be doing the Mission Statement for our group. I had a pretty good idea of what a Mission Statement was, but I decided to be on the safe side and just google what a Mission Statement is.  It is pretty much just one or two sentences of the purpose of a company or organization.  Here are some ideas that I have so far...

Mission Statement Ideas

1. We are dedicated to making the lives of URI Students easier by bringing awareness to the parking issues at URI.

2.   We are URI college students who have all been effected by URI Parking Issues.  Here is place where we can be heard

3.  Our mission as URI college students is to bring awareness to the parking issues at URI.  We have all been affected by these parking problems and the first step to solving them is to bring awareness to the issue at hand.

So those are my ideas for now.  For workshop on Friday, I am leaning towards having the last statement be the one that will be on the socialgo site.  I feel like it is a good summary of the site, but I also have doubts.  Is it too much?  I'll see what everyone thinks on Friday...

Project 4: Texting and Driving

Here are a few sites that a researched that our group can read and research about...

This is a facebook group of URI students protesting the parking at URI
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2200051829

From the 5 cent cigar...
(it is from 2003 but it has some good info)
http://media.www.ramcigar.com/media/storage/paper366/news/2003/02/28/News/Uris-Parking.War.Still.Driving.In.Circles-382201.shtml


Here is another great article from the 5 cent cigar...
http://media.www.ramcigar.com/media/storage/paper366/news/2005/03/03/Editorialopinion/Uri-Parking.Policy.horrendous.Parking.Tickets.totally.Unnecessary-883868.shtml


...still researching more...

3 Social Issues (Out of 5 )

Here are some ideas that I have for social issues...

1.)  Texting and Driving:  I'm not sure if this would count as a social issue, but it is something that effects our society in a horrible way.  Careless deaths have happen as a result of texting and driving and it can sometimes be equivalent-if not more so- dangerous than drunk driving.

2.)  Animal Rights:  I understand that animals used to be tested for things like medicine and beauty products etc years ago, because of the fact that there was maybe no other option, however I feel as though there are many more options to choose from in present day.  There are plenty of clothes for example that have faux fur and still looks real.  My point with this one is that there are many other options to choose from for testing other than animals.

3.)  Birth Control:  I went to catholic school for 18 years of my life, and throughout those years I have heard that birth control is wrong for it is the prevention of a human life.  Honestly, I couldn't disagree with these teachings more. At eight-teen years old, I was officially an adult and felt as though they were hiding the truth from us as young adults.
      I understand that it was a catholic school and it was their job as teachers to teach us about abstinence, but what about those who were going to be sexually active before marriage?  They seemed to think it was wrong and because of that lack of awareness, I believe that many teens were misinformed about the realities of the world and then ended up in a bad situation-an unplanned pregnancy before marriage.  You can still learn about birth control and be abstinent at the same time.  It is a choice.  I feel like more catholic schools should be informed of birth control rather than have it looked down upon.  Birth Control is harmless and should be taught about in catholic schools.  Catholic school also teach that abortion is wrong.  Maybe if they taught us about the different options of birth control, then there wouldn't be abortions. 

Website Redesign -Final Reflection

  Our group just finished our Website Redesign project.  Like I stated in my reflections earlier, our group did a great job at splitting up the tasts through the project.  We were able to meet outside of class one time just to full out discuss the layout of the site and who was going to be doing what.  I think that having thr group meet for an hour outside of class really helped us become more organized. We were able to split the slides up evenly and if one of us needed help with something, there was always someone who could help or give thier imput.
    I think for the most part, we all did a good job.  We changed the site from cheesy and complicated to classy and organized.  I feel bad for Scandinavian Sun, for the fact that we weren't actually able to cange thier site! For business reasons, I think that they should change their website around.  Who knows, maybe one day they will get a glimpse of our website redesign project and take some ideas!

Process on Group Project...

    So far, our group is doing a really great job as far as communication goes.  Some of us commute and some of us live at URI (or off campus but near URI) and considering the circumstance, we are doing a great job with our project.  There are four members in the group and eight slides that we have to do.  We split the work load evenly, and each member will do two slides.  We are still unsure about the "best " look for each slide as far as color is concerned.  However, we all are aware of what the alignment and layout of the slide will be like.
  We will have each member submit their slides in the group forums by Wednesday/Thursday so we can see what we are working with.  When we meet Friday in class, we will choose what colors we will use for the slides.  Once, we arrive at a decision, we will then create the final design of each slide.  So far, things are looking good.

Scandinavian Sun

       Our group has officially picked the site that we are going to work on and it is called "Scandinavian Sun".  Overall, the website is pretty much all over the place, but not so much that we can't make something great out of it.  I think we are planning to get rid of the music that blasts "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.  Even though I love the song, I don't think that the cheesy opening page will attract many of our clients.
    We want to make the site more appealing to people ages 16-30 and females.  We were talking about making the background a plain white or off-white color instead of keeping the green color that it is now.  We also are going to change  the font to something more classy and clean looking such as cursive or some other type of clean font.  We don't want the colors to contrast too much (like a neon on black) because that might look a bit cheap.  I don't tan, but I have friends who do.  When they go to a tanning salon, they want to go somewhere that looks clean and safe.  The pictures that the site shows right now are not flattering to the tanning salon. 
  We were thinking about putting the links on the side of the page rather than "grid-like columns) that the site has right now.  We feel like the grid advertisements make the site too overwhelming.  It almost makes me dizzy!  We also want to maybe merge some links together that may have similar info.  Overall, we want to do what we can to make the site as clean as possible

I just finished one of the visual maps and will have it all ready for tomorrow!

Draft: Bristol 4th of July

Here is one major change I made...

  Bristol is a town that is very proud of their American Spirit.  Like stated, this is one of the oldest Fourth of July Parades in the entire country.  If you decide to travel to Bristol during the beginning of the summer, you will witness Bristolians decorating their houses in red, white and blue (especially if their house is located on the parade route!)Their enthusiastic patriotism is evident all year round, but it really shines during the months leading up to July.  Fourth of July fireworks either occur one day prior to the parade or one day after. The fireworks can be seen along the Bristol Waterfront, but if you simply take a stroll the downtown area at night, you can be sure to catch a glimpse of the fireworks.  Street Parking is available on the streets of Downtown Bristol and it is conveniently free.  Bristolians know of this parking convenience, and know to head downtown at least a good hour prior to the firework show.  It is recommended that you do this same for parking can become tricky downtown.  Once the firework show is complete, don’t expect leaving to be easy.  It can get pretty crowded and streets may become closed , so patience is advised.

Draft Ideas for Wiki Travel Guide: Bristol RI

    I feel like I can add and edit a lot about the historic "Bristol Fourth of July Parade".  I have a lot of personal experience, for I have attended this parade year after year.  Maybe I can give tips to the readers for how to get a good seat at the parade.  For example, I can remember my dad getting up at 5:00 in the morning in order to get a seat.  The parade is so popular that people must get up early in order to get the best spots.  Maybe I can also add what I believe are the best spots to see the parade.  I can give tips on how to actually enjoy the parade.  For example, the parade is very long and it is a MUST that you bring things such as fans, water etc in order to not suffer while watching this 4 hour long parade.  I can also give tips on what to do once the parade is done.  Sometimes, there are fireworks and special events to attend once the parade is over.  The fun never ends in Bristol on the Fourth...thats for sure.

Wiki Travel: 3 Tips

    After reading the basic guidelines from the Wiki site, I realized that there are many things in particular to pay attention regarding your entry.  The first link addressed the fact that the "Tone" of the site is to be somewhere in between casual and formal.  You don't want to use slang that makes you seem immature, but at the same time you don't want to sound too formal.  When you sound too formal, it makes the reader feel as though they are reading an academic essay.  You want the reader to feel excited when they are reading what you have to write.  My tip:  Write as though you are talking to someone face to face.  It makes your writing come off as more natural.
    The second site stated that we need to "Be Fair" in our writing.  It tells us to tell the facts and basically the truth.  If one restaurant is better than another for example, tell your reader that.  Just make sure that you don't completely "bash" the lower end restaurant.  Instead of saying "Restaurant A has really bad food compared to Restaurant B.", say-"Restaurant A may appeal to some visitors, but most people prefer Restaurant B on a summer day."  My tip  " Tell the truth in the nicest way possible.
    The third site told us not to "tout".  In other words, don't advertise in your writing.  Don't try and force your opinions on the reader.  Don't make them feel as though one place is better than another.  My tip:  Give all the possible information you know and then let the reader decide based off of your info.  The fourth site informed me what topics deserve their own article.  Topics that deserve their own article are topics regarding certain Cities, Districts, National Parks etc.  whereas topics such as Companies, People, Bodies of Water etc do  not deserve their own articles.  My tip:  Write about the most important places (i.e. Districts, Cities etc) and then make the article interesting with other supporting topics (i.e. people, companies etc).
    There were a total of six sites to look at and I gave you my own personal four tips that I thought were most important when creating the wikitravel site.  I hope to make a great addition to my wikitavel site (Bristol RI) by using these tips correctly!
 

Nardi: Informational Ecology

  After reading this article, my initial cautious views referring to the wikitravel assignment quickly changed to positive ones.  I now realize that it can sometimes be best when you have others contribute to a website for it is a different way of approaching a situation.  It does take some time,  but once it is complete (the contribution that people give on a particular subject) it can develop into a view that is more credible and knowledgeable. 
  Wikitravel is an excellent example of informational ecology for it develops over time.   What may be important to one person may be completely unknown to another and therefore it then has a better impact on that person.  Humans all have different perceptions of a situation (in this case a town).  When mixing different ideas and perceptions, a bigger picture is created. For example, I am doing my Wikitravel project on the town of Bristol.  I looked at the Wikitravel site and realized that since I live in this town, I can give readers a different view on what it is like to actually live in Bristol day after day.  I might know a little more about the town than say a person from California, doing a project for their class.  I will not only be able to feed off of what that person is giving me, but I will also give valuable information.
  I realize that I participate in a variety of different informational ecology's.  I work in a retail store and what one manager may know, another may not.  They must learn from one another and learn to work together for the reputation of the company is in their hands.  I also am part of an informational ecology when I go to class everyday.  One student may have a different view on looking and idea discussed in class that differs to my view. I can learn from that student and hopefully they can learn from me.  Actually, now that I think of it...the whole world is one huge informational ecology.  We are constantly learning from the past and developing into a greater world because of it.  We learn from our mistakes.  We are humans and all humans sin, its a matter of knowing how to carry your sins, learn from them, and develop into a better person.

Wiki Travel

  I looked at the sites and I'm still not really sure how I feel about writing for wikitravel.  I obviously am going to do it-its just something makes me feel a little "sketched" out to  know that strangers have the ability to change what I am saying.  It also seems like it isn't right that I will or can be changing other peoples words around. Who knows, maybe once I start writing for wikitravel, I will find out that it isn't really that "sketchy" at all!  I mean, I didn't even know that I would love blogging as much as I do.  Maybe this wikitravel project will be another that I love! 

Post Write: "The Fleetwood Mac Fill"

  After completing my four best posts on my enthusiast blog, I can now sit back and look at the work that I have accomplished thus far.  I never though that I would enjoy making this blog as much as I did.  At first, I was nervous because I had no experience whatsoever in the world of blogging.   As  a PR major here at URI, I feel as though I have "something under my belt" so to speak.  Blogging in PR is becoming a hot new trend and I am happy/relieved that I enjoy doing it.
  Like I said before, I hope to do PR for bands in the future.  I learned that before you speak about something in a blog, particularly on a band, you must be accurate.  You need to know specific dates such as concert dates.  You need to know the background of an album as well as the dynamic of a band.  You also need to be able to give the readers facts that you think that they will enjoy reading.  If you are not accurate, it simply makes you not look credible.  Who would want to read from a blogger who doesn't know what they are talking about?  Not many...
  I feel as though when you write about something that you love, it makes the blog that much more enjoyable.  I spoke with a classmate after class, and we discussed how fun and addicting blogging is.  It didn't seem like a chore or a dreaded homework assignment that we NEEDED to do for class.  We also had a workshop ( I think we had two)  that allowed us to look over other classmates blogs.  I got a lot out of this because  after all , I am getting critiques from my readers.  They are the ones who will be reading my blog so their advice was very valuable to me.  I got advice for word editing purposes, and that was very helpful.  It is important that your readers are able to understand what you are trying to say with ease.  There were some things that I also decided to keep the same such as my color scheme.  I thought that the color worked well throughout the blog.  Overall, the blog process was therapeutic and it seemed to get my mind off of stressful things. I was in a "zone" when I was writing my blog and to me it was equivalent to doing yoga.  -Seriously!
  After this class, I am realizing that I could very well do this in my future.  It is something that takes time, but I enjoy taking the time to make my blog as good as it can be (aesthetically and writing-wise),  I don't mind spending hours perfecting and managing my blog if it is going to make it better.  The reason why I found myself spending hours on a post is because I wanted to make the words sound better.  I would edit and re-edit posts and actually read them out loud in order to see if they sounded correct.  I posted my four best posts and I can't wait to write more.  Even when this class is over for the semester, I will continue to write in this blog because I love it that much!
   I have passed the word on to friends and I hope to get as many followers as possible.  It is just exhilarating to know that there are people out there who are listening to what you have to say.  This band is not only a great band, but it is in a way a part of who I am.  I grew up listening to them and watching them perform.  If I can get one person to recognize how great this band is, then I will be a happy camper.  I hope that I can have an influence on the younger generation (my generation) of music listeners.

 I need to go spruce up my blog now-and I'm doing it for fun!  Seriously...I love writing this blog. This is by far the best writing class I have ever had, for it allowed me to look at my career path in a different light.  I have never had so much fun with homework!  Thank you! :)

So still trying with the videos...

Hey guys.  Im still trying to figure out how to embed videos into my enthusiast blog.  I tried copying and pasting the embed code from youtube onto a new post, but still no luck.  I figured out a new way to do it though.  Its actually not new but its a creative alternative.
  I decided to take still shots from the live rock performances that I was posting.  So for example, I wanted to show Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" from 1976.  I was having that same trouble embedding the video into my blog, so I inserted a still image from the performance.  After I did this, I added a link underneath the picture.  I thought that this idea was better than simply posting the link.  It looked  alot like this...

Stevie Nicks Cal Jam: 1978

So what do you all think?  I think that if I'm having trouble actually embedding the video into my blog, then this is the better alternative.  It gives the readers an idea of what they will be watching as well as the link.  If anyone else is having trouble, I suggest doing this.   But if you're reading this and know how to embedd a video....could you please tell me?  It would make things easier and faster.

Thanks!

JDSkills

I want to add videos to my blog...having trouble though.

  In my Enthusiast Blog, I want to be able to show my readers videos without having to make them leave the blog.  Does anyone out there know how to get a video in the blog?  Is it anything similar to adding an image?  I can always just add a link, but I think aesthetically it will make the blog look much better...don't you?  If anyone knows, let me know!  If not....I guess I can just work with the old fashioned way and use a link to youtube.

Draft of "About Me"

Hey everyone.  For any of you who are music fans, I know that you will enjoy my blog.  I for one am a huge fan of music and seem to always be listening to it whenever I get the chance.  I can listen to any type of music and find something good in it, but my favorite tends to lean towards the older generation of music.  I decided to do my enthusiast blog on my all time favorite band, Fleetwood Mac.
  Luckily, my first concert wasn't with a teeny-bopper band like Hanson, or Backstreet Boys. It was with a classic rock band that proves to still be just as talented today as they were over thirty years ago.  When you are watching them perform, you aren't just witnessing great music, but a legend as well.  Since that time, I have realized that this band has a fascinating history that deserves to be told to our present generation.
  Something that I have realized with music of our generation, is that there doesn't seem to be a history behind the band or singer.  They all seem to just luck out and become famous by the time they are  16 years old.  Want to know how old the youngest member of Fleetwood Mac was?  Stevie Nicks at age 27.  In todays music industry, they would be considered "washed up".  With Fleetwood Mac there is not only great music, but a broad history of break-ups and stories that need to be told in order to gain a full appreciation for this band.  When you listen to their songs, its as though you are taking a peek into their diaries.  These musicians are writing their own lyrics and sadly, that is a rare quality that we find in todays music industry.
  You all may wonder, "Why would I want to listen to a girl ramble on about her favorite band?"  I am here to tell you that when you read my blog you are not only getting speculations of what happened but the truth.  The truth is in the lyrics of the songs and I am here to analyze them.  I have books and resources on the band to back up these speculations. I will take you to youtube links of "live performances" that are uncomparable to todays musicians.  We as the public will never know the truth of what really happened backstage, but won't it is always fun to speculate.
  Something that always intruiged me about this band is the fact that through thier breakups and heartache, they remained a band and were still able to tour with one another.  Sure they went their seperate ways, but they always seemed to regain the energy to tour as a band and still do to this day. 
  Come and join me and go "back in time" to a generation when the music was real and the stories behind the songs were even more raw.  With Fleetwood Mac, you aren't only getting great music, but intruigng stories that inspired the music.  As a fan for over five years, I will hopefully help you become fans of this epic band.

Ethos in my Blog

    Upon first realizing what I am deciding to write about for my Enthusiast Blog, you might think "Why am I just going to listen to this girl talk about her favorite band?"  My favorite band is Fleetwood Mac and I'm here to tell you that ever since I have seen this band perform live in 2003, I have been hooked.  I first started listening to Fleetwood Mac when I was in the car with my parents at a young age.  I learned "the soap opera" behind the music from my own parents.  They lived through that generation.  The story behind this classic rock band is so fascinating that I feel it needs to be told.    The background behind the music is something that needs to be learned in order to take the appreciation to a new level.  I feel cheated out of the music that is on the radio right now.  The radio today consists of actors rather than real musicians.  I feel as though it is important for a musician to write from the heart and that is what makes a good song.  When listening to this music, you aren't only listening to great tunes, but you are listening to the members own personal diary, or at least its just about as good as reading someones diary.  I'm so honored that I can say that my first concert experience was with a band that genuinely plays great music.  Unlike many bands of our generation, they actually write their own songs.  So my credibility is in the fact that through my fandom I am knowledged. I will bring you to sites and quotes from autobiographical books that back up my theories on the band.  Take my word. After being a fan of this band for over six years I can say I am credible to give you the information on the band.

Influences from other Blogs...

  I admit it.  I have never blogged before in my life and have only followed one blogger- I followed the obvious Perez Hilton.  He is awesome because he is so consistent with everything that is happening out there in Hollywood.  We all love to poke fun at celbrities and he is great at doing it.  He says what we are all thinking.  He is great at keeping up with the hot topics. 
 
  I am securing my Enthusist Blog topic and am telling everyone that I am doing my Blog on Fleetwood Mac.  Im talking about everything like albums, relationship issues/rumors (no pun intended) current tours, solo tours from the band, the history , styles etc....everything. love it

LATCH

In class we  talked about the LATCH theory-which is how we gather info and data.  It was neat to look at what seems like a jumble of words and put it together to make a generalization about a topic.  The world is full of data and info and it is a matter of how we look at things that creates a generalized assumption on a topic.
  For example, my group did the Location category and we measured the distance that we traveled and rated it from nearest to farthest.  I believe they were Florida, California, Cabo and then Italy.  From that a person could look at it and think many things based on their experiences.  One person could look at  it and think, "Two people traveled west"  where another could think "One person left the country to travel".  It was an interesting way at looking at different people and what a person can process from different kinds of data.
  The LATCH theory also demonstrates that depending on where you have been, may effect your opinions on certain topics.  As writers, this is crucial information that we should be required to know.  Every human being is different and because of that, we all have different experiences and views on certain subjects.  For example, one blogs "vibe" may be praising celebrities and all the good entertainment that they add to our world, whereas another blog may completely tear apart celebrities and think that they simply are a bad influence on our world.  That blogger who loves celebrities may be from a small town in Idaho (generalizing sorry!)  They may not personally know how celebrities may act off screen and simply love them for their character onscreen.  The other blogger who hates celebrities may be living right outside of LA and can't stand the media and celebrities, for they have to see and hear about them everyday. They know how celbrities behave off camera for they have personally witnessed or been exposed to it themselves.   It is important as readers and writers, to understand how different people may think based on their enviorment.  If we keep and open mind on certain situations, they we may learn a lot more than when think.

My Enthusiast Blog!

I'm so excited about it... Its a blog on my favorite band "Fleetwood Mac"  Its going to cover thoughts on albums, band members, speculations etc.  It's a blog that is everything Fleetwood Mac.  Hope there are other Mac fans out there who can enjoy it!

http://jdskills-adayinthelife.blogspot.com/

Blogs as Clubhouses

  In Stefanics short blog entry, he or she writes of how as human beings, we all have a passion.  Sometimes this passion can manifest itself into an obsession.  The tricky part about having these feelings is that sometimes we can not find anyone who can relate to our passion.  Ever see a movie that was so good, you needed to tell the next person you saw?  What happends?  You tell them and the passion for "the best movie ever" never seems to translate as strongly as you hoped.  Blogging allows an individual to express thier feelings on a subject and gain interest of thier readers.  Since blogging is open to the public, it gives the blogger a better chance of reaching out to another individual out there who can relate to thier passion (or obsession).  It allows one to express thier passion, knowing that there is someone out there who also cares.

Rebecca Blood: Weblogs

  It was interesting reading about how weblogs evolved over time.  Blogs were first started by those who had a knowledge in computer technology.  They knew the technology "lingo" and were able to start thier own websites easiliy. Weblogs were more structured and less casual when they first began. Websites such as this one (blogger) started  up in July 1999 with Pitas and it allowed us everyday "normal" people to be able to start our own websites without having a background in computer technology.
  Blood also writes of the blogger tone-which is ussually short and sarcastic.  A skillful editor in blogging knows how to convey a message in one or two sentences and if it be longer, they would make a seperate entry in essay form.  By doing this, it allowed the audience to be able to read thier blogs with ease.  the blog is more of like a journal rather than an article in "The New York Times."  By having the blog be this way, it made the blog more interesting to read.  I mean, don't we always feel that temptation to peek into someones journal?  I know I do...
  Blogger is simply an easier form of writing.  Anyone can do it and it doesn't require you to add links and commentary to your blog.  Blogger is a more laid back and relaxed blogsite whereas the others  (such as Metafilter) required one to be knowlegeable in the activity of blogging.  Rebecca Blood writes of how we need to have weblogs in our society because they allow us to look into the minds of an individual and look at things in a different  and more natural way.
  In conclusion, weblogs allow the blogger to step back and reflect on thier thoughts.  By doing this, they are not only learning about themselves, but they are teaching others to do the same.  By expressing what they feel about a certain issue, they are allowing another person (whoever is reading thier blog) to be able to reflect on thier own opinions of an issue.  Our writing enviorment is always changing, and while we still have newspapers, books and magazines, it seems to be that blogging is the new way to go in order to express an issue.

...andddd to continue with what I was saying, I thought it would always be neat to go back in time.  I would let the readers "live in my imagination" so to speak.  Like what would happen if I could take a time machine back in time to 1976 and witness the making of the classic Rumours album by Fleetwood Mac?  I bet you I would see a lottttt of turmoil and interesting drama that is for sure.  I could do this with lots of musicians from that time.  Funnn!

I've been thinking about what I can use for my Enthusiast Blog.  I love anything to do with music but especially classic rock.  Ive always wanted to go back and time and live during the 70's and 80's. It was a time when music was huge but without the excess media spotlight. I thought it would be a cool idea to blog about different bands from that time (Ex:  Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne etc),

Hey guys!  It's my first time blogging so I hope I'm doing it right... TEST 123 test haha