Response to Riverbend's Baghdad Burning
Riverbend, Baghdad Burning, Girl Blog from Iraq First Feminist Press Edition, 2005
Ahdaf Soueif, Foreword copyright 005
James Ridgeway Introduction copyright 2005
This book is very intriguing. The world today is full of stereotypes of different ethnicities Americans (and I’m not speaking for everyone) have many negative views about the country of Iraq, and the people that live there. Innocent or part of the problem, if you’re Iraqi you must not be a good person. This book teaches you differently. Just from reading the first 15 pages or so I feel like I have a different view on Americanism and the country of Iraq. Are the really as bad as we make them out to be? How can you not sympathize with Riverbend? She is criticized by people she doesn’t even know thousand and thousands of miles away. This blog book was written by Riverbend. She seems like an amazing blogger, who can really capture you’re interest. This book was written to give, Americans and others from countries around the world a real account of the war in Iraq. Riverbend is trying to get across the popular message “you think you know but you have no idea.” How could you ever say you know what is going on in Iraq? Unless you were in the military and actually stationed over there or an Iraqi citizen and watching your country be pulverized. From reading this book, I feel I will learn to ignore stereotypes about Iraqis and their country. I feel that I can still have respect and support for my own country and the troops that work very hard to defend it. Also keeping in mind that I do not need to have negative feelings toward Iraq. This book could benefit me because I could have an inside view of what did happen there and how a young women felt about the war, and the crisis that did arise. The challenges for me I believe will be the hatred toward the American soldiers. It is hard for me to feel that way (even identify with someone who feels that way) about someone who is risking their own life to protect me and my family. I can never think negatively towards someone who would do that much for me and the others that I care about. This book is going to be an amazing read. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the war in Iraq, and get a first hand account from someone who is actually living it.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
HW 26: Different ideas
Response to Baghdad Burning:
The foreword of this book is written by Adhafi Soueif. The foreword has a very powerful message hidden within the summary. Soueif opens with saying that no one outside of the country in Iraq can truly identify with what is happening in their country. Others comments have no real meaning, they are not experiencing what is really happening. He describes Riverbend as an amazing author. The people who read this book should be privileged to know the closest account to the war in Iraq (Soueif pg. vii) Soueif made an extremely powerful quote in his forward. “Why does America identify itself with its military government? Why does being anti-Bush and anti-occupation have to mean that a person is anti-American? We watch American movies, listen to everything from Britney Spears to Nirvana and refer to every brown fizzy drink as ‘Pepsi’” (Soueif pg.viii) This quote really made me think. Living in today’s world, (and I know I can speak for many people on this) there is so many negative views on the country of Iraq. This quote made me question myself and others. Why? The people of Iraq do not create our opinions. It was one person. How can one man change how we view a whole country? Sometime I wonder why American people (including myself) think the way that we do. Soueif also states how at first Iraqis felt sorry for the U.S. military, how they knew that it wasn’t their choice to be there. “Even the invading troops were once seen as deserving of human sympathy: On May 7th, 2004, fourteen months into the invasion, Riverbend writes: ‘There was a time when people here felt sorry for the troops. No matter what one’s attitude was to the occupation, there were moments of pity towards the troops, regardless of their nationality. We would see them suffering under the Iraqi sun, obviously wishing they were somewhere else and somehow that vulnerability made them seem less monstrous and more human.” (Soueif pg viii) Throughout the rest of the foreword Soueif describes what a terrific account this book gives of the Iraqi war and the Iraqi peoples reactions. The Introduction is written by James Ridgeway. Riverbend’s blog is simply called ‘Girl Blog from Iraq”. This title really gives no information as to what will be written in the blog. Riverbend’s blog has many readers, and from what I gather seems to be extremely interesting and provoking. Her blog has nothing to do with the troops and where they are stationed. The war is not something that Riverbend can turn off at night when the news is over, “war is something that is lived every day-and every night.”(Ridgeway pg.xi) Ridgeway describes how intrigued her readers are, and how personal her blogs become. Iraq is such a dangerous war zone at this time that nothing is 100% safe. When Riverbend leaves her home her fans become quite concerned with her safety. “Whenever Riverbend and her family travel out of the neighborhood to a family gathering, you travel with her as she describes every turn her car takes, the tension as it rounds a corner, hoping that there is not an American tank in the street. If she does not write for several days, maybe a week or more, you fear the worst-a bomb strike, a tank raid, imprisonment.”(Ridgeway pg.xii) When Ridgeway was describing the fear that they had for American soldiers it kind of upset me. This whole time I thought they feared Iraqis or “battles” (for lack of a better word) on the streets. Do Americans really do this to innocent passersby? It is so hard to view American soldiers in a negative way. I have always been taught to have so much respect for them, because I feel that they do so much for our country. The rest of the Introduction is a recap of the history of American and Iraqi turmoil. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I feel it will solve some of the stereotypes that I have learned to feel.
The foreword of this book is written by Adhafi Soueif. The foreword has a very powerful message hidden within the summary. Soueif opens with saying that no one outside of the country in Iraq can truly identify with what is happening in their country. Others comments have no real meaning, they are not experiencing what is really happening. He describes Riverbend as an amazing author. The people who read this book should be privileged to know the closest account to the war in Iraq (Soueif pg. vii) Soueif made an extremely powerful quote in his forward. “Why does America identify itself with its military government? Why does being anti-Bush and anti-occupation have to mean that a person is anti-American? We watch American movies, listen to everything from Britney Spears to Nirvana and refer to every brown fizzy drink as ‘Pepsi’” (Soueif pg.viii) This quote really made me think. Living in today’s world, (and I know I can speak for many people on this) there is so many negative views on the country of Iraq. This quote made me question myself and others. Why? The people of Iraq do not create our opinions. It was one person. How can one man change how we view a whole country? Sometime I wonder why American people (including myself) think the way that we do. Soueif also states how at first Iraqis felt sorry for the U.S. military, how they knew that it wasn’t their choice to be there. “Even the invading troops were once seen as deserving of human sympathy: On May 7th, 2004, fourteen months into the invasion, Riverbend writes: ‘There was a time when people here felt sorry for the troops. No matter what one’s attitude was to the occupation, there were moments of pity towards the troops, regardless of their nationality. We would see them suffering under the Iraqi sun, obviously wishing they were somewhere else and somehow that vulnerability made them seem less monstrous and more human.” (Soueif pg viii) Throughout the rest of the foreword Soueif describes what a terrific account this book gives of the Iraqi war and the Iraqi peoples reactions. The Introduction is written by James Ridgeway. Riverbend’s blog is simply called ‘Girl Blog from Iraq”. This title really gives no information as to what will be written in the blog. Riverbend’s blog has many readers, and from what I gather seems to be extremely interesting and provoking. Her blog has nothing to do with the troops and where they are stationed. The war is not something that Riverbend can turn off at night when the news is over, “war is something that is lived every day-and every night.”(Ridgeway pg.xi) Ridgeway describes how intrigued her readers are, and how personal her blogs become. Iraq is such a dangerous war zone at this time that nothing is 100% safe. When Riverbend leaves her home her fans become quite concerned with her safety. “Whenever Riverbend and her family travel out of the neighborhood to a family gathering, you travel with her as she describes every turn her car takes, the tension as it rounds a corner, hoping that there is not an American tank in the street. If she does not write for several days, maybe a week or more, you fear the worst-a bomb strike, a tank raid, imprisonment.”(Ridgeway pg.xii) When Ridgeway was describing the fear that they had for American soldiers it kind of upset me. This whole time I thought they feared Iraqis or “battles” (for lack of a better word) on the streets. Do Americans really do this to innocent passersby? It is so hard to view American soldiers in a negative way. I have always been taught to have so much respect for them, because I feel that they do so much for our country. The rest of the Introduction is a recap of the history of American and Iraqi turmoil. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I feel it will solve some of the stereotypes that I have learned to feel.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
HW 24: A Place to Work
Response to chapters 5 and 6 of Virginia Woolf:
Do I have a room of my own?
The answer to this question is yes. In my room I have a choice. Most of Woolf's book is about women not having a choice. In chapter 5 Mary expresses that when she has a room of her own that is when she will succeed. This is what will give her, her big break for becoming a poet. A room of your own is your place of reflection. When I need time to reflect and think and just not talk to anyone. I use the gym as my safe haven. This is where I can do things to benefit my self without having to deal with anything from the outside world. I think that is what Woolf is describing as a room of her own. In the real world there are so many distractions that it is so impossible to just think. Everyone needs time to think. The gym allows me to do that for as long as I want. The gym also allows me to not think. Which is just as important as reflection sometimes you just need to give your mind a rest. The best quote that I can associate with my break from thinking, was Woolf's wandering thoughts. "But, alas, I had done what I had determined not to do; I had slipped unthinkingly into praise of my own sex. " (Woolf pg.85) I could not find a quote that expressed greater association as to what I perceived a room of my own to be. Everyone needs a place where they can simply just hide. "I am talking of the common life which is the real life and not the separate lives which we live as individuals -and have five hundred a year each of us and rooms of our own;if w have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think;if we escape a little from the common sitting room and see human beings not always in their relationships to each other but in relation to reality."(Woolf pg.113-114) This quote really made me think. We as human beings both man and women have the right to think whatever we want. Wherever we want as well. I deciphered this quote as taking a break from thinking about the troubles of life, and just think.
Do I have a room of my own?
The answer to this question is yes. In my room I have a choice. Most of Woolf's book is about women not having a choice. In chapter 5 Mary expresses that when she has a room of her own that is when she will succeed. This is what will give her, her big break for becoming a poet. A room of your own is your place of reflection. When I need time to reflect and think and just not talk to anyone. I use the gym as my safe haven. This is where I can do things to benefit my self without having to deal with anything from the outside world. I think that is what Woolf is describing as a room of her own. In the real world there are so many distractions that it is so impossible to just think. Everyone needs time to think. The gym allows me to do that for as long as I want. The gym also allows me to not think. Which is just as important as reflection sometimes you just need to give your mind a rest. The best quote that I can associate with my break from thinking, was Woolf's wandering thoughts. "But, alas, I had done what I had determined not to do; I had slipped unthinkingly into praise of my own sex. " (Woolf pg.85) I could not find a quote that expressed greater association as to what I perceived a room of my own to be. Everyone needs a place where they can simply just hide. "I am talking of the common life which is the real life and not the separate lives which we live as individuals -and have five hundred a year each of us and rooms of our own;if w have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think;if we escape a little from the common sitting room and see human beings not always in their relationships to each other but in relation to reality."(Woolf pg.113-114) This quote really made me think. We as human beings both man and women have the right to think whatever we want. Wherever we want as well. I deciphered this quote as taking a break from thinking about the troubles of life, and just think.
Monday, October 22, 2007
HW23: "With apologies to Virginia Woolf"
In Chapter three of A Room of one's own, I noticed that Woolf talked of arranged marriages more than once. I decided to take the headline of Jezebel Hells Bells:Return of the British Bridezilla
http://jezebel.com/gossip/hells-bells/return-of-the-british-bridezillas-313638.php
paragraph cited(Woolf pg.42)
Response as Virgina Woolf:
I could hardly believe my astonishment when I read this article. Women actually having the right to choose their husbands! It's about time! The right of a woman should be to have her future in her complete control. The days are long gone of when woman will be forced to spend the rest of her days with a complete idiot. Woman should have the full right to pursue what they want in their weddings. Weddings should involve excitement for the future not fear. A high point in this article for me was the admiration a groom held for his bride. A woman should be praised. No one has the right to take someone for granted. More importantly someone that they are expected to spend the rest of their lives with (if they are to last that long.) Finally marriage can be a ceremony of affection. There is no evidence of a business deal, or an exchange of family names purely from status. There is no longer practices of betrothal which leads a woman to live a life that she does not desire. Marriage is a choice that should be made because of love, and respect for an individual, not to raise your social stature. I'm pleased to say that this is a step to a society that resembles equality. By giving a woman the right to pick her mate you are allowing her to become whatever she likes and to mold her own future. Marriage should be sacred and by giving a woman full priority over the situation allows her to become more of an individual.
http://jezebel.com/gossip/hells-bells/return-of-the-british-bridezillas-313638.php
paragraph cited(Woolf pg.42)
Response as Virgina Woolf:
I could hardly believe my astonishment when I read this article. Women actually having the right to choose their husbands! It's about time! The right of a woman should be to have her future in her complete control. The days are long gone of when woman will be forced to spend the rest of her days with a complete idiot. Woman should have the full right to pursue what they want in their weddings. Weddings should involve excitement for the future not fear. A high point in this article for me was the admiration a groom held for his bride. A woman should be praised. No one has the right to take someone for granted. More importantly someone that they are expected to spend the rest of their lives with (if they are to last that long.) Finally marriage can be a ceremony of affection. There is no evidence of a business deal, or an exchange of family names purely from status. There is no longer practices of betrothal which leads a woman to live a life that she does not desire. Marriage is a choice that should be made because of love, and respect for an individual, not to raise your social stature. I'm pleased to say that this is a step to a society that resembles equality. By giving a woman the right to pick her mate you are allowing her to become whatever she likes and to mold her own future. Marriage should be sacred and by giving a woman full priority over the situation allows her to become more of an individual.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
HW22:Who decides?
For homework 22 I chose to do the patriarchy option. Woolf admits her feelings towards the English society very clearly in chapter two. I felt that she strongly believed that she lived in a patriarchal society. "England is under a rule of a patriarchy. Nobody in their senses could fail to detect the dominance of the professor." (Woolf pg. 33) Woolf is symbolizing a male as the professor in this category, which broadens her anger to all males. Woolf wonders why men get all the glory in her society why are they the primary role in all affairs? "His was the power and the money and the influence. He was the proprietor of the paper and its editor and sub-editor. He was the foreign secretary and the judge. He was the cricketer; he owned the racehorses and the yachts. He was the director of the company that pays two hundred percent to its shareholders. He left millions to charities and colleges that were ruled by himself. He will decide if the hair on the meat axe is human; he it is who will acquit or convict the murderer and hang him, or let him go free. With the exception of the fog he seemed to control everything"(Woolf pg.34) I deciphered this paragraph as Woolf completely bashing males of all kind. Her contempt toward all men is demonstrated in full force. Woolf wants so badly to be considered just as equal as all men and have just an equal role in society as they do. After reading a variety of articles on the Boston globe's web page I have to admit that I'm surprised at my conclusion. We do appear to still live in a patriarchal society. Not to any extremes as it used to be, but that type of society is still lingering. The globe appeared to have many sports stories. Such as of course the Red Sox and Patriots. Both these sports have only male players, and coaches. In my opinion that could give off the illusion that our society is dominated by males. Also, the political stories mostly involve males. There were cover stories that did involve women but a male was closely linked behind. This was surprising to me, I was under the impression that we lived in a more balanced society. I was surprised to find that it is still not a 50, 50 situation.
Monday, October 15, 2007
HW 21: Dear Nick
Dear Nicholas,
let me start off by saying I feel bad for you or anyone that has to read this book. This book is unbelievably boring. How anyone can sit and read this book all the way through without falling asleep is a mystery to me. If anyone can succeed in doing this they deserve a medal. In the first chapter the narrator is introduced (I believe she said that her name was Mary, but that part wasn't exactly clear to me.) Mary is a college student living in England. The chapter starts off with Mary contemplating the connection between women and fiction. She thoroughly contemplates how the two involve each other. Her strongest first statement is, "A Woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."(p.4) Pay attention to this statement. This is her opinion on the subject matter. The narrator also believes that both women and fiction are "unsolved problems" (p.4) During the chapter Mary attends an important luncheon at the University. At this luncheon a guest hums a song under his breath. One that depicts women a certain way during the war. Apparently this song does not depict women in a positive way. Mary begins quoting famous women poets that support her feelings against the song. Know this. This gives me and should give you the impression that Mary is a strong willed woman and strongly believes in not distinguishing a woman's distinct place or "role" in society. Mary then retreats back to her own thoughts. Deciding what she herself should write about, each of her thoughts lead her on different tangents. These tangents are extremely difficult to follow, so pay close attention.I feel as if I should be able to tell you more. I'm having a hard time summarizing the book myself. As hard as this book may be to read it is a significant piece of literature. In my opinion this book is distinguishing women writers and making room for them in a male society. It is important to see how their writings do effect opinions today on female writers. Hang in there and keep reading!
Kate
let me start off by saying I feel bad for you or anyone that has to read this book. This book is unbelievably boring. How anyone can sit and read this book all the way through without falling asleep is a mystery to me. If anyone can succeed in doing this they deserve a medal. In the first chapter the narrator is introduced (I believe she said that her name was Mary, but that part wasn't exactly clear to me.) Mary is a college student living in England. The chapter starts off with Mary contemplating the connection between women and fiction. She thoroughly contemplates how the two involve each other. Her strongest first statement is, "A Woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."(p.4) Pay attention to this statement. This is her opinion on the subject matter. The narrator also believes that both women and fiction are "unsolved problems" (p.4) During the chapter Mary attends an important luncheon at the University. At this luncheon a guest hums a song under his breath. One that depicts women a certain way during the war. Apparently this song does not depict women in a positive way. Mary begins quoting famous women poets that support her feelings against the song. Know this. This gives me and should give you the impression that Mary is a strong willed woman and strongly believes in not distinguishing a woman's distinct place or "role" in society. Mary then retreats back to her own thoughts. Deciding what she herself should write about, each of her thoughts lead her on different tangents. These tangents are extremely difficult to follow, so pay close attention.I feel as if I should be able to tell you more. I'm having a hard time summarizing the book myself. As hard as this book may be to read it is a significant piece of literature. In my opinion this book is distinguishing women writers and making room for them in a male society. It is important to see how their writings do effect opinions today on female writers. Hang in there and keep reading!
Kate
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
HW:19 What is the real deal with blogs?
Response to paragraph on pg. 85 in Klein and Burstein's Blog!
On page 85 I found a paragraph that I felt contradicted everything this book has stated in previous chapters. In other words I felt that this paragraph was saying that not many people are blogging. Having just argued in previous chapters that blogging was so popular and the new "it" thing to be doing. This paragraph is contradicting that and saying that blogs have no meaning. "The typical blog written by a teenage girl who uses it twice a month to update her friends and classmates on happenings in her life" (pg.85) What? Incidentally the previous reading that I just did for this class was about how important and popular political blogging was, and how much money bloggers are making. My point is if blogging wasn't so popular, why would be bloggers be raking in so much money? This paragraph is almost in a way misleading. It contradicts previous statements that this book has made. However, I do find this paragraph to be an important one. It does show that there are different opinions on blogs, which this book has not made clear in past readings. It is important to recognize every ones views on what they think to be important subjects.Blogs are changing the world one step at a time. By becoming more wide ranged they are allowing more voices to be heard. Essentially what I'm saying is that it is important to know where each person stands on the subject of blogging.
On page 85 I found a paragraph that I felt contradicted everything this book has stated in previous chapters. In other words I felt that this paragraph was saying that not many people are blogging. Having just argued in previous chapters that blogging was so popular and the new "it" thing to be doing. This paragraph is contradicting that and saying that blogs have no meaning. "The typical blog written by a teenage girl who uses it twice a month to update her friends and classmates on happenings in her life" (pg.85) What? Incidentally the previous reading that I just did for this class was about how important and popular political blogging was, and how much money bloggers are making. My point is if blogging wasn't so popular, why would be bloggers be raking in so much money? This paragraph is almost in a way misleading. It contradicts previous statements that this book has made. However, I do find this paragraph to be an important one. It does show that there are different opinions on blogs, which this book has not made clear in past readings. It is important to recognize every ones views on what they think to be important subjects.Blogs are changing the world one step at a time. By becoming more wide ranged they are allowing more voices to be heard. Essentially what I'm saying is that it is important to know where each person stands on the subject of blogging.
Monday, October 8, 2007
HW:18 "least favorite blog"
Response to "Hearts of Darkness, In Congo They Rape Three Year Olds."
http://jezebel.com/gossip/hearts-of-darkness/in-congo-they-rape-three+year+olds-308412.php at http://www.jezebel.com
I found this article to be the worst article posted in the last seven days. This article was heartbreaking. In the Congo a group of men called the Rastas are raping little girls and women. This is disgusting to me. Little girls? Let alone rape at all. What kind of person could do these things to someone who cant help themselves or fight back, what kind of person would do this at all? "Many have been so sadistically attacked from the inside out, butchered by bayonets and assaulted with chunks of wood, that their reproductive and digestive systems are beyond repair." That is awful not only are they scared emotionally, but physically also and for the rest of their lives. The article states that the type of terrain found in the Congo, is ideal for committing these heinous crimes. There are so many hiding spaces due to the massive jungle. The article comments that this group of men seems to be doing this because they are bored. How is this a form of passing time? The thought that crosses my mind is how could a man do this when it could be his daughter, sister or his wife? What justifies this to them? The most disturbing quote was in the last paragraph."they do it to three-year-olds and generally burn the babies who are too young to rape." This gave me goosebumps. Burned babies? How? Why? I just don't understand what runs through their minds as they are doing this. This article really bothered me and really made me question the true nature of some people.
http://jezebel.com/gossip/hearts-of-darkness/in-congo-they-rape-three+year+olds-308412.php at http://www.jezebel.com
I found this article to be the worst article posted in the last seven days. This article was heartbreaking. In the Congo a group of men called the Rastas are raping little girls and women. This is disgusting to me. Little girls? Let alone rape at all. What kind of person could do these things to someone who cant help themselves or fight back, what kind of person would do this at all? "Many have been so sadistically attacked from the inside out, butchered by bayonets and assaulted with chunks of wood, that their reproductive and digestive systems are beyond repair." That is awful not only are they scared emotionally, but physically also and for the rest of their lives. The article states that the type of terrain found in the Congo, is ideal for committing these heinous crimes. There are so many hiding spaces due to the massive jungle. The article comments that this group of men seems to be doing this because they are bored. How is this a form of passing time? The thought that crosses my mind is how could a man do this when it could be his daughter, sister or his wife? What justifies this to them? The most disturbing quote was in the last paragraph."they do it to three-year-olds and generally burn the babies who are too young to rape." This gave me goosebumps. Burned babies? How? Why? I just don't understand what runs through their minds as they are doing this. This article really bothered me and really made me question the true nature of some people.
HW 17b:Gossip dosent matter
Response to Klein and Burstein's Blog!:
I found Zuniga's blog to be more informative. While I was reading each of their interviews I found Zuniga's to be the best blog for following the upcoming election. Zuniga's blog was also efficient and gave topics on what he believed, and then he allowed others to share their opinions. I felt that Cox's blog was geared more toward gossip and sex scandals. Don't get me wrong, these are interesting blogs, but how can they really give us the information that we need to follow an important election? I can see how someone might say Cox's blog posts would give more background information on the potential candidate, but my interest is geared more toward what they stand for not what they do in their spare time. I also connected a little more with Zuniga's because he shared democratic views. I'm not a democrat I honestly am not sure what political party I belong to. However, I did grow up listening to my parents who are democrats, and he shares similar views as they do which I can relate to in a way. Zuniga's blog touched on real issues that the country is struggling with. He is against war, which is such a huge controversy in our country now. His opinions on his posts allow people to get their point across on the issue as well. From his interview I gathered that he seemed like a really knowledgeable person. When following something as serious as politics I believe it is important to receive concrete information from the source. Cox's information was accurate but not vital in the whole picture. Zuniga's blog interested me and I found it very helpful to know what type of issues we need to be focusing on throughout the upcoming election.
I found Zuniga's blog to be more informative. While I was reading each of their interviews I found Zuniga's to be the best blog for following the upcoming election. Zuniga's blog was also efficient and gave topics on what he believed, and then he allowed others to share their opinions. I felt that Cox's blog was geared more toward gossip and sex scandals. Don't get me wrong, these are interesting blogs, but how can they really give us the information that we need to follow an important election? I can see how someone might say Cox's blog posts would give more background information on the potential candidate, but my interest is geared more toward what they stand for not what they do in their spare time. I also connected a little more with Zuniga's because he shared democratic views. I'm not a democrat I honestly am not sure what political party I belong to. However, I did grow up listening to my parents who are democrats, and he shares similar views as they do which I can relate to in a way. Zuniga's blog touched on real issues that the country is struggling with. He is against war, which is such a huge controversy in our country now. His opinions on his posts allow people to get their point across on the issue as well. From his interview I gathered that he seemed like a really knowledgeable person. When following something as serious as politics I believe it is important to receive concrete information from the source. Cox's information was accurate but not vital in the whole picture. Zuniga's blog interested me and I found it very helpful to know what type of issues we need to be focusing on throughout the upcoming election.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
HW 17: Jezebel
I chose to respond to a blog on Jezebel's website:
When I looked at Jezebel's website I really liked it. I found myself reading way more than just one story. They were all really interesting too. However I chose to summarize about the blog under the top BIG FAT LIES, Does Exercise make you hungry instead of thin? http://jezebel.com/gossip/big-fat-lies/does-exercise-make-you-hungry-instead-of-thinThis topic just popped out at me, and to be honest made me nervous. As a college freshman girl, the freshman 15 is a constant reminder in the back of my head. The article says that working out is good for your health and does make you feel better for yourself. However, working out does burn large amounts of calories and carbs which can make you a little more hungryafter exercising."Taubes admits that working out is great for your health, but, "the one thing that might be said about exercise with certainty is that it tends to makes us hungry." He suggests that what really determines how fat or lean a person is has more to do with the body's own internal programming."-Gary Taubes. I disagree with his theory. There is a large amount of people who have lost significant amounts of weight from working out. In conclusion I do find this article informative. It does give you a different insight on exercising.
When I looked at Jezebel's website I really liked it. I found myself reading way more than just one story. They were all really interesting too. However I chose to summarize about the blog under the top BIG FAT LIES, Does Exercise make you hungry instead of thin? http://jezebel.com/gossip/big-fat-lies/does-exercise-make-you-hungry-instead-of-thinThis topic just popped out at me, and to be honest made me nervous. As a college freshman girl, the freshman 15 is a constant reminder in the back of my head. The article says that working out is good for your health and does make you feel better for yourself. However, working out does burn large amounts of calories and carbs which can make you a little more hungryafter exercising."Taubes admits that working out is great for your health, but, "the one thing that might be said about exercise with certainty is that it tends to makes us hungry." He suggests that what really determines how fat or lean a person is has more to do with the body's own internal programming."-Gary Taubes. I disagree with his theory. There is a large amount of people who have lost significant amounts of weight from working out. In conclusion I do find this article informative. It does give you a different insight on exercising.
HW 16b: Response to the 5 Pillars of blogging.
I chose to do option B and respond to Robert Scoble's 5 Pillars to what made blogging "hot".
In Scoble's interview he talks about the Five Pillars of Blogging. He claims that this is what makes blogging "hot"(Klein and Burstein p.130) Scoble does not give a direct meaning for each pillar, the following pillars are my best interpretation of what he was really trying to get at. The first pillar is ease of publishing. Blogging allows people to say whatever they want and feel is important with out having to go through publishers and editing. Blogs do save people incredible amounts of time when they are trying to get a point across whether it just be a small comment or a huge issue. Publishing and editing can take years. The second pillar is discoverability. My interpretation of this is that blogs let people know that everything has a website. Everything is commentable. There are so many topics to blog about, and discoverability helps me learn that. The third pillar is cross-site conversations. This pillar allows other bloggers to know what their fellow bloggers have been up to. It allows them to know what websites they've been to and commented on. The fourth pillar is permalinking. Blogs make life easier and take you to the link of exactly where you want to go. Again blogs save time which makes life easier for everyone. The fifth and final pillar is Syndication. Syndication is a form of keeping in the know. This pillar keeps you up with new websites, and also helps you find new ones that might interest you. This pillar also allows you to browse any website you want without giving out any personal information. This is helpful because know you can just check something out without becoming completely involved. I'm in agreement with Scoble, his five pillars make perfect sense of why blogging is so popular at this day in age. Blogs are so easy to come across and help get so much information out into the world.
In Scoble's interview he talks about the Five Pillars of Blogging. He claims that this is what makes blogging "hot"(Klein and Burstein p.130) Scoble does not give a direct meaning for each pillar, the following pillars are my best interpretation of what he was really trying to get at. The first pillar is ease of publishing. Blogging allows people to say whatever they want and feel is important with out having to go through publishers and editing. Blogs do save people incredible amounts of time when they are trying to get a point across whether it just be a small comment or a huge issue. Publishing and editing can take years. The second pillar is discoverability. My interpretation of this is that blogs let people know that everything has a website. Everything is commentable. There are so many topics to blog about, and discoverability helps me learn that. The third pillar is cross-site conversations. This pillar allows other bloggers to know what their fellow bloggers have been up to. It allows them to know what websites they've been to and commented on. The fourth pillar is permalinking. Blogs make life easier and take you to the link of exactly where you want to go. Again blogs save time which makes life easier for everyone. The fifth and final pillar is Syndication. Syndication is a form of keeping in the know. This pillar keeps you up with new websites, and also helps you find new ones that might interest you. This pillar also allows you to browse any website you want without giving out any personal information. This is helpful because know you can just check something out without becoming completely involved. I'm in agreement with Scoble, his five pillars make perfect sense of why blogging is so popular at this day in age. Blogs are so easy to come across and help get so much information out into the world.
Monday, October 1, 2007
HW 14: Response to Ito
Response to Klein and Bursteins Japanese Blogger Champions Internet Democracy:
I chose to respond to Ito's interview. Since his interview was more on the humorous and less serious side of blogging, I found him to be the more interesting of the two. In addition I also admired his sense of respect, the respect he gave to others and the respect he recieved in return. "You can do what you want but you're in my living room, so be respectful because I have to take care of this place." Naturally Ito is explaining his blogging style. In addition to him letting you voice you're own opinion, he demands respect on his blog page. Futhermore, I also find Ito to be more of a creative blogger. His blogs range from all different topics. To put it bluntly, blogging can be boring, it seems to me that Ito keeps his readers intrigued. Along the same lines, he seems to be an unpredicatble person. Ito claims that his favorite blog happens to be a religious one. According to his interview it didnt seem to me that any of his blogs touched on the subject of religion. As a result I find this to be another interesting fact about him. As a result I find Ito's blogging interesting and something that I might like to read.
I chose to respond to Ito's interview. Since his interview was more on the humorous and less serious side of blogging, I found him to be the more interesting of the two. In addition I also admired his sense of respect, the respect he gave to others and the respect he recieved in return. "You can do what you want but you're in my living room, so be respectful because I have to take care of this place." Naturally Ito is explaining his blogging style. In addition to him letting you voice you're own opinion, he demands respect on his blog page. Futhermore, I also find Ito to be more of a creative blogger. His blogs range from all different topics. To put it bluntly, blogging can be boring, it seems to me that Ito keeps his readers intrigued. Along the same lines, he seems to be an unpredicatble person. Ito claims that his favorite blog happens to be a religious one. According to his interview it didnt seem to me that any of his blogs touched on the subject of religion. As a result I find this to be another interesting fact about him. As a result I find Ito's blogging interesting and something that I might like to read.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)