There are ten easy to follow tips that could make anyone a good blogger. I used to think that having your own blog was only something computer geeks could do, but after doing some research I learned that they are not very hard, and anyone can have their own blog no problem. Here are some very helpful blogging techniques:
1. Make your opinion knownPeople like blogs, they like blogs because they are written by people and not corporations. People want to know what people think, crazy as it sounds they want to know what you think. Tell them exactly what you think using the least amount of words possible.2. Link like crazy.Support your post with links to other web pages that are contextual to your post.
3. Write LessGive the maximum amount of information with the least amount of words. Time is finite and people are infinitely busy. Blast your knowledge into the reader at the speed of sound.
4. 250 words is enoughA long post is easier to forget and harder to get into. A short post is the opposite.
5. Make Headlines snappyContain your whole argument in your headline. Check out National newspapers to see how they do it.
6. Include bullet point listsWe all love lists, it structures the info in an easily digestible format.
7. Make your posts easy to scanEvery few paragraphs insert a sub heading. Make sentences and headlines short and to the point.
8. Be consistent with your stylePeople like to know what to expect, once you have settled on a style for your audience stick to it.
9. Litter the post with Keywords.Think about what keywords people would use to search for your post and include them in the body text and headers. make sure the keyword placement is natural and does not seem out of place.
10. Edit your postGood writing is in the editing. Before you hit the submit button, re-read your post and cut out the stuff that you don’’t need.
A few more tips I picked up while working on my blog are firstly, it is very important to credit your sources; you don’t want to be caught using someone’s information. Secondly, since a blog has a global audience it is never a good idea to use sophisticated words that not everyone may know. And lastly, write in inverted pyramid style. This way, people can read the most important and interesting facts and information first and then fill in the details in later paragraphs. Blogging is fun once you get the hang of it!
Works Cited:
Rowse, Darren. "Ten tips for writing a blog post." http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/12/30/tens-tips-for-writing-a-blog-post/
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Arab Awareness
If I were to create a media product to encourage people to go out and discover the "Real" truth about Arabs and Muslims, I would create a sitcom. This sitcom would be about an average Arab or Muslim family just totally living normally, but having to live through stereotypical every day situations that average Arabs or Muslims are enduring. For example the father of the family may be accused of being a terrorist and then later would come home to tell his family and they would discuss how stupid it is and would make fun of the whole idea. The idea of a sitcom is to make it easy and enjoyable to watch for all different people. But while they are watching this they will learn how stupid some of the things these people have to go through are, and may start to think twice about things maybe they have said in the past that are just a stereotype, and not reality. My specific audience would be 18-59, but the show will also be enjoyable for teenagers and older people as well, just like most sitcoms such as "Friends". I would be able to tell if my product is effective simply by the ratings the show receives. This media product would be effective in persuasion because people will be learning the truth about Arabs and Muslims without even realizing it; they will be having a good time laughing but will be learning at the same time.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Dixie Chicks, Pink, Kanye West and the Politics of Media
On March 10th, 2003, Natalie Maines from The Dixie Chicks spoke out against George W. Bush at a concert in London, England. She told the crowd: "Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." The crowd in London cheered, because t
hey do not like the president and they do not support the war. The fact that she said this went all over the London Press which then lead to the American Press, and then it all began. The Dixie Chicks’ songs were pulled off the radio and radio stations were receiving hate letters towards the band. The hate mail Natalie and her band mates received was unbelievable. The Dixies went from the peak of their career to hitting rock bottom in a matter of months. America showed a lot of support for George Bush during this time, as troops just recently had gone to wa
r.
In August 2005, Kanye West made the comment "George Bush doesn’t care about black people" during NBC’s Hurricane Katrina fundraiser. This incident received a lot of coverage at the time, but was quickly forgotten. Although his comment was much more controversial, his career didn’t suffer, unlike The Dixie Chicks.
In Pink’s new song, "Mr. President", she speaks out against George Bush, but has often been praised by critics for her honest subject matter. She has, however, been unofficially banned from radio stations in the U.S. but not even close to the extent of The Dixie Chicks.
These three situations were all handled completely different by the media. The Dixie Chicks had the perfect image before Natalie’s statement. They were the all American "girls-next-door" and had the persona of very sweet and innocent. When they made that comment it was completely unexpected from them. The Dixie Chicks spoke out against their country??!! Also the fact that they said this in another country, and not their own, made a lot of people mad. The media used all kinds of words such as: traitors, ‘dixie sluts’, big mouths etc. Kanye West on the other hand, ha
s always been known as opinionated and ranting on about things he believes are true but that aren’t necessarily. When he made that comment people were upset, but just considered it another one of Kanye West’s stupid notions. It was nothing out of the ordinary for him, and besides, people had much bigger things on their minds dealing with post- Hurricane Katrina. Also by this time, two years after The Dixie Chicks comments, Bush had lost some of his ratings and was not as popular. When Pink came out with her new song about the President, people were glad that someone was speaking out about the tragedy that was going on. This was four years after The Dixie Chicks’ comments and Bush had lost so much respect by this time. Pink has always been so out-spoken, that most people were not surprised by the lyrics of this song. She was speaking the truth and people knew it, there was no point in acting outraged.
As for how the media handled these three situations, it has everything to do with timing and persona. The Dixie Chicks spoke out at the wrong time. If they were to say the same thing now the reaction would be much different.
Natalie Maines in various interviews discussing what she said about the President in London.
The live clip when Kanye West said what he did about the President.
P!ink singing her controversial song "Dear Mr. President" live.
Works Cited:
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/dixiechicks/articles/story/10464617/dixie_chicks_debut_at_number_one
http://echoblackonline.com/
http://www.rot-gelb-gruen.ch/index.php?page=Fahrschule
hey do not like the president and they do not support the war. The fact that she said this went all over the London Press which then lead to the American Press, and then it all began. The Dixie Chicks’ songs were pulled off the radio and radio stations were receiving hate letters towards the band. The hate mail Natalie and her band mates received was unbelievable. The Dixies went from the peak of their career to hitting rock bottom in a matter of months. America showed a lot of support for George Bush during this time, as troops just recently had gone to wa
r.In August 2005, Kanye West made the comment "George Bush doesn’t care about black people" during NBC’s Hurricane Katrina fundraiser. This incident received a lot of coverage at the time, but was quickly forgotten. Although his comment was much more controversial, his career didn’t suffer, unlike The Dixie Chicks.
In Pink’s new song, "Mr. President", she speaks out against George Bush, but has often been praised by critics for her honest subject matter. She has, however, been unofficially banned from radio stations in the U.S. but not even close to the extent of The Dixie Chicks.
These three situations were all handled completely different by the media. The Dixie Chicks had the perfect image before Natalie’s statement. They were the all American "girls-next-door" and had the persona of very sweet and innocent. When they made that comment it was completely unexpected from them. The Dixie Chicks spoke out against their country??!! Also the fact that they said this in another country, and not their own, made a lot of people mad. The media used all kinds of words such as: traitors, ‘dixie sluts’, big mouths etc. Kanye West on the other hand, ha
s always been known as opinionated and ranting on about things he believes are true but that aren’t necessarily. When he made that comment people were upset, but just considered it another one of Kanye West’s stupid notions. It was nothing out of the ordinary for him, and besides, people had much bigger things on their minds dealing with post- Hurricane Katrina. Also by this time, two years after The Dixie Chicks comments, Bush had lost some of his ratings and was not as popular. When Pink came out with her new song about the President, people were glad that someone was speaking out about the tragedy that was going on. This was four years after The Dixie Chicks’ comments and Bush had lost so much respect by this time. Pink has always been so out-spoken, that most people were not surprised by the lyrics of this song. She was speaking the truth and people knew it, there was no point in acting outraged.As for how the media handled these three situations, it has everything to do with timing and persona. The Dixie Chicks spoke out at the wrong time. If they were to say the same thing now the reaction would be much different.
Natalie Maines in various interviews discussing what she said about the President in London.
The live clip when Kanye West said what he did about the President.
P!ink singing her controversial song "Dear Mr. President" live.
Works Cited:
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/dixiechicks/articles/story/10464617/dixie_chicks_debut_at_number_one
http://echoblackonline.com/
http://www.rot-gelb-gruen.ch/index.php?page=Fahrschule
Fulla Doll
Barbie is slowing disappearing from the shelves of toy stores in the Middle East, and in her place is Fulla, a dark-eyed doll with "Muslim values." Fulla roughly shares Barbie’s size and proportions but is wearing a black abaya and matching head scarf, instead of a mini skirt and belly top.
NewBoy Design Studio, based in Syria, introduced her in November 2003, and she has quickly become a best seller all over the region. Young girls in the Middle East are obsessed with Fulla! And conserv
ative parents who would not dream of buying a Barbie for their daughters are happy to pay for a modest doll who even has her own tiny prayer rug (which also comes in a girl-size version).
In Damascus, a Fulla doll sells for about $16, in a country where average per capita income is around $1000 per month. And yet, said Nawal al-Sayeedi, a clerk at the Space Toon toy store in the city’s upscale Abou Roumaneh neighborhood, Fulla flies off the shelves. This simply shows how popular and in demand these dolls are.
"This isn’t just about putting a hijab on a Barbie doll," says Fawaz Abidin, the Fulla brand manager for NewBoy. "You have to create a character that parents and children will want to relate to. Our advertising is full of positive messages about Fulla’s character. She’s honest, loving and caring, and she respects her father and mother."
Fulla, however, will never have a boyfriend doll like Barbie’s Ken. But being introduced soon is a Doctor Fulla and a Teacher Fulla. "These are two respected careers for woman that we would like to encourage small girls to follow," Mr. Abidin said.
I personally think Fulla is an excellent idea, and why stop there? Every culture should have their own doll, like we North Americans have Barbie. Each culture’s doll can hold their same values and dress the way they would.
A Fulla doll commercial; she even has her own theme song!
Works Cited:
Zoepf, Katherine. "Bestseller in Mideast: Barbie WIth a Prayer Mat." Damascuz Journal. 2005. 16 Jan. 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/international/middleeast/22doll.html
NewBoy Design Studio, based in Syria, introduced her in November 2003, and she has quickly become a best seller all over the region. Young girls in the Middle East are obsessed with Fulla! And conserv
ative parents who would not dream of buying a Barbie for their daughters are happy to pay for a modest doll who even has her own tiny prayer rug (which also comes in a girl-size version).In Damascus, a Fulla doll sells for about $16, in a country where average per capita income is around $1000 per month. And yet, said Nawal al-Sayeedi, a clerk at the Space Toon toy store in the city’s upscale Abou Roumaneh neighborhood, Fulla flies off the shelves. This simply shows how popular and in demand these dolls are.
"This isn’t just about putting a hijab on a Barbie doll," says Fawaz Abidin, the Fulla brand manager for NewBoy. "You have to create a character that parents and children will want to relate to. Our advertising is full of positive messages about Fulla’s character. She’s honest, loving and caring, and she respects her father and mother."
Fulla, however, will never have a boyfriend doll like Barbie’s Ken. But being introduced soon is a Doctor Fulla and a Teacher Fulla. "These are two respected careers for woman that we would like to encourage small girls to follow," Mr. Abidin said.
I personally think Fulla is an excellent idea, and why stop there? Every culture should have their own doll, like we North Americans have Barbie. Each culture’s doll can hold their same values and dress the way they would.
A Fulla doll commercial; she even has her own theme song!
Works Cited:
Zoepf, Katherine. "Bestseller in Mideast: Barbie WIth a Prayer Mat." Damascuz Journal. 2005. 16 Jan. 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/international/middleeast/22doll.html
Photo Manipulation
Photo manipulation is the application of image editing techniques to photographs in order to create illusion or deception, through analog or digital means. It is used to deceive or persuade viewers, or for improved story-telling and self expression. Photo manipulation is as old as photography itself and was used as early as the American Civil War. Not all photo manipulation is bad, there are certain techniques that are accepted, such as: colour correction, retouching of dust and scratches, brightness and contrast adjustments, cropping a frame to fit a layout and many more. Photo Manipulation is considered deceiving when objects are added or removed, colours are changed and basically when anything is done that will alter the image to change the reader’s
opinion.
One of the first cases of photo manipulation, which triggered many debates about the appropriateness of photo manipulation in journalism, was a 1982 National Geographic cover. Editors photographically moved two Egyptian pyramids closer together so that they would fit on a vertical cover. The argument was that the editing for the cover depicted something that did not exist, and presented it as a fact.
Another famous photo manipulation controversy was in 1994. After O.J. Simpson was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife and her friend, multiple publications c
arried his mugshot. TIME Magazine published an edition featuring an altered mugshot, removing the photograph’s colour saturation. This appeared on newsstands right next to an unaltered picture by Newsweek. The altered mugshot on the cover of TIME made Simpson’s skin appear a lot darker than the unaltered photo. With the darker skin, Simpson looked scarier and almost gave the illusion that he looked more guilty.
More and more writers are becoming devoted to the ethical use of digital editing in photojournalism. In the US, for example, the National Press Photographers Association have set out a Code of Ethics promoting the accuracy of published images. Infringements of the Code are taken very seriously, especially regarding digital alteration of published photographs.
It is about time that photo manipulation comes to a stop in our newspapers and magazines. These images influence people all over the world, and it has been proven that even changing the darkness of a picture, can persuade someone’s view. Photo manipulation is acceptable to a certain extent, but the line needs to be drawn somewhere.
Works Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/farid/research/digitaltampering/
http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/self-training_resources/eadp_report/digital_manipulation.html
opinion.One of the first cases of photo manipulation, which triggered many debates about the appropriateness of photo manipulation in journalism, was a 1982 National Geographic cover. Editors photographically moved two Egyptian pyramids closer together so that they would fit on a vertical cover. The argument was that the editing for the cover depicted something that did not exist, and presented it as a fact.
Another famous photo manipulation controversy was in 1994. After O.J. Simpson was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife and her friend, multiple publications c
arried his mugshot. TIME Magazine published an edition featuring an altered mugshot, removing the photograph’s colour saturation. This appeared on newsstands right next to an unaltered picture by Newsweek. The altered mugshot on the cover of TIME made Simpson’s skin appear a lot darker than the unaltered photo. With the darker skin, Simpson looked scarier and almost gave the illusion that he looked more guilty.More and more writers are becoming devoted to the ethical use of digital editing in photojournalism. In the US, for example, the National Press Photographers Association have set out a Code of Ethics promoting the accuracy of published images. Infringements of the Code are taken very seriously, especially regarding digital alteration of published photographs.
It is about time that photo manipulation comes to a stop in our newspapers and magazines. These images influence people all over the world, and it has been proven that even changing the darkness of a picture, can persuade someone’s view. Photo manipulation is acceptable to a certain extent, but the line needs to be drawn somewhere.
Works Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/farid/research/digitaltampering/
http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/self-training_resources/eadp_report/digital_manipulation.html
9/11 in the Media
On September 11th, 2001, I was in grade 5, in class and it was announced on the P.A. system. I remember I was confused, not knowing what the twin towers even were, but I do remember feeling sad. Since we were so young, it’s hard to recall all my emotions and how I felt. I could see the emotions on my teacher’s face so I knew something was seriously wrong. What I remember more was coming home and seeing my dad watching it on the news. He was supposed to go to the film festival that day in Toronto, but he didn’t. I remember how upset my parents were and that every channel was taken over, talking about this event. After I saw clips on T.V., that’s when it really sunk in. That event changed the world in which we live very much.After 9/11, Alan Jackson came out with a song "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?" There was a lot to say about this particular song. In one line he states "I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you the difference between Iraq and Iran." He made a real statement about media coverage here, he is basically saying that the news just considers all middle-east people
the same, which they are not. If someone cared enough, they could tell the difference between Iraqi and Iranian people; they have different cultures and values. Some believe that this song exploits September 11 grief, but I do not. I think Alan Jackson’s song is touching, and is a way for us to remember the heroes who stepped up that day."Seven Days in September" was a documentary made from video footage shot by average people and film makers on the tragic day. At the end of one clip, a man in the lobby says. "This is like a sick f’n movie." That man considered that movie "sick" because it was nothing like what we are used to. We are so used to movies from Hollywood, that are so unreal, that with something this real and tragic, people find it disturbing.Later on, movies about 9/11 then came out, such as "United 93" and "World Trade Centre." Although they could be thought of as exploiting the events of 9/11 for entertainment and profit, I don’t think so. I think that the general idea of these movies is good. This event was real and will forever be in our history and making a movie about it is what our culture generally does (Titanic, Pearl Harbour etc.) I do however think that these movies should have been non-profit, they should have been made simply to inform the public; but that is unrealistic in our culture.
the same, which they are not. If someone cared enough, they could tell the difference between Iraqi and Iranian people; they have different cultures and values. Some believe that this song exploits September 11 grief, but I do not. I think Alan Jackson’s song is touching, and is a way for us to remember the heroes who stepped up that day."Seven Days in September" was a documentary made from video footage shot by average people and film makers on the tragic day. At the end of one clip, a man in the lobby says. "This is like a sick f’n movie." That man considered that movie "sick" because it was nothing like what we are used to. We are so used to movies from Hollywood, that are so unreal, that with something this real and tragic, people find it disturbing.Later on, movies about 9/11 then came out, such as "United 93" and "World Trade Centre." Although they could be thought of as exploiting the events of 9/11 for entertainment and profit, I don’t think so. I think that the general idea of these movies is good. This event was real and will forever be in our history and making a movie about it is what our culture generally does (Titanic, Pearl Harbour etc.) I do however think that these movies should have been non-profit, they should have been made simply to inform the public; but that is unrealistic in our culture.Works Cited:
http://infowars.net/articles/October2006/231006Steele.htm
Media Over the Weekend
Over the weekend I made a list of all the media I encountered. I noticed that most of the media you encounter many times a day. On Saturday, I woke up and watched some TV, where commercials are on every 10 minutes of my program. I then got ready, and while doing so the radio was playing. Then my dad drove me to the mall, we passed a countless number of billboards and the radio was playing once again. In the mall there are so many ads you can’t even count. I also saw many people listening to their MP3's while walking around. On Sunday while I was on the computer, ads are posted all over every website and pop-ups are ridiculous. I also saw more billboards when I went for my driving lesson, as well as ads on the side of buses and on buildings. This is only the media that I noticed, there was probably much more that I didn’t even realize was all around me.
While I was making my list of what I did over the weekend and all my media encounters, I learned one major fact. There is so much media around us, that it is influencing us without us even knowing. I think that is the biggest thing that surprised me about my interactions, I never truly realized how
much media is all around us until I had to write it all down. I was driving with my dad and we passed a few billboards for McDonald’s, then we ended up eating lunch there, coincidence? I didn’t really know if I believed that tv or video games was really causing more violence in the world, but then I thought, if passing billboards for a fast food restaurant makes you want to eat there without you even realizing, then maybe these violent acts on tv are making children and teens more violent without them even realizing.
On Saturday, I was driving in my car and was trying to write down all the different ads or billboards I saw, but there were just too many that I didn’t have time to write them all down. I am really starting to learn how huge of a role media plays in our life. For example, while I was watching tv I thought what would it be like if there were no commercials? And I realized that I actually don’t mind seeing all the different commercials, even though I may complain about them. It’s interesting to see what different techniques companies will come up with to try and sell you their product or make fun of commercials that are so ridiculous, you can’t believe what you just saw. And the same goes for advertisements. When I’m driving all around I don’t mind seeing ads everywhere, seeing the new products that just came out or will be soon.
As much as I do love seeing ads and watching new, interesting commercials, I do think that there is too much media around us. We are exposed to so much that it makes us just want everything. Seeing our favourite tv character wearing nice expensive clothes makes us want to go out and buy clothes just like them; the commercial for the new chocolate cell phone makes us want to throw out our old one and buy that one; the ad for the new Starbucks frap. that looks so delicious or the burger from Harvey’s that just looks so perfect that it’s surreal makes us want it as well, and I could go on forever. But people need to ask themselves when is it enough? On the other side, it is good to see all the different varieties so people can buy the best product to fit their life style. If there were only ads for a few different cell phones, the others would barely sell and many people would end up with a phone that they don’t even like but was the only one they had heard of. So the bottom line for me is, yes I do think we are being exposed to too much media, but if we were to take it away now our lives would be different, and that is a change that I would not want to make.
While I was making my list of what I did over the weekend and all my media encounters, I learned one major fact. There is so much media around us, that it is influencing us without us even knowing. I think that is the biggest thing that surprised me about my interactions, I never truly realized how
much media is all around us until I had to write it all down. I was driving with my dad and we passed a few billboards for McDonald’s, then we ended up eating lunch there, coincidence? I didn’t really know if I believed that tv or video games was really causing more violence in the world, but then I thought, if passing billboards for a fast food restaurant makes you want to eat there without you even realizing, then maybe these violent acts on tv are making children and teens more violent without them even realizing.On Saturday, I was driving in my car and was trying to write down all the different ads or billboards I saw, but there were just too many that I didn’t have time to write them all down. I am really starting to learn how huge of a role media plays in our life. For example, while I was watching tv I thought what would it be like if there were no commercials? And I realized that I actually don’t mind seeing all the different commercials, even though I may complain about them. It’s interesting to see what different techniques companies will come up with to try and sell you their product or make fun of commercials that are so ridiculous, you can’t believe what you just saw. And the same goes for advertisements. When I’m driving all around I don’t mind seeing ads everywhere, seeing the new products that just came out or will be soon.
As much as I do love seeing ads and watching new, interesting commercials, I do think that there is too much media around us. We are exposed to so much that it makes us just want everything. Seeing our favourite tv character wearing nice expensive clothes makes us want to go out and buy clothes just like them; the commercial for the new chocolate cell phone makes us want to throw out our old one and buy that one; the ad for the new Starbucks frap. that looks so delicious or the burger from Harvey’s that just looks so perfect that it’s surreal makes us want it as well, and I could go on forever. But people need to ask themselves when is it enough? On the other side, it is good to see all the different varieties so people can buy the best product to fit their life style. If there were only ads for a few different cell phones, the others would barely sell and many people would end up with a phone that they don’t even like but was the only one they had heard of. So the bottom line for me is, yes I do think we are being exposed to too much media, but if we were to take it away now our lives would be different, and that is a change that I would not want to make.
Works Cited:
http://foiblesfollies.blogspot.com/2007/03/open-your-snack-hole.html
Media Inventory
1. Which family member uses it the most?
Television - Dad
Telephone - Me
Cellphone - Dad
Computer - Me
2. Which family member uses it the least?
Television - Mom
Telephone - Dad
Cellphone - Mom
Computer - Mom
3. Is the device restricted?
Television - No
Telephone - No
Cellphone - No
Computer - No
4. Is the device unrestricted?
Television - Yes
Telephone - Yes
Cellphone - Yes
Computer - Yes
5. Is the device used mostly for entertainment?
Television - Yes
Telephone - Yes
Cellphone - Yes for me, no for my dad
Computer - Yes for me & my mom, no for my dad
6. Is the device used mostly for homework?
Television - No
Telephone - No
Cellphone - No
Computer - No
7. Is the device expensive to keep running?
Television - Yes
Telephone - No
Cellphone - No
Computer - Yes
8. Is the device cheap to keep running?
Television - No
Telephone - Yes
Cellphone - Yes
Computer - No
List the names of your family members, and indicate which is their favourite media tool:
Me- My favourite media tool is the computer. I can do so much on the computer that other media tools just don’t allow me to. I can chat to my friends on MSN, go on Facebook and look at pictures that my friends and I have posted, I can shop online, read news and celebrity articles, do my homework and so much more.
Dad- My dad’s favourite media tool is also the computer, even though he is always on his cell phone. He enjoys the computer so much because he can check on stocks, research the latest news events, e-mail his business partners and friends and he can also do some of his work.
Mom- My mom’s favourite media tool is the telephone. This is simply because she does not own a cell phone, does not know how to work the computer and doesn’t watch hardly any TV.
Which is the least favourite? Why?
Me- My least favourite media tool is the television. My answer may have been different a few years ago simply because there were so many shows on that I used to watch. But for my age group there doesn’t seem to be a lot of selection. Also, between school, work, going out, homework and being on the computer, there is not a lot of time left over to watch TV.
Dad- My dad’s least favourite media tool is the telephone, simply because he never uses it. If someone needs to get a hold of him they either e-mail him or call him on his cell phone; he is rarely ever on the telephone.
Mom- My mom’s least favourite media tool is the cell phone. This was my mom’s answer only because she doesn’t own one, and when she does use one she finds them very hard to use. Even though she’s not a huge fan of TV or the computer, she still uses them at least a couple hours a week.
Do children of different ages or sexes prefer different items? Why?
There is no doubt that children of different sexes prefer different items. For girls, we love to talk to our girlfriends on the telephone for hours about absolutely everything, even though we were just with them. Boys, on the other hand, would much rather watch sports on TV or play video games for hours on end than have a long conversation. And even though both sexes usually do enjoy the computer equally, it is for different reasons. Girls usually are looking up pictures of celebrities, searching for the latest gossip or uploading pictures they took at last nights party. Boys however are most likely playing an online game or looking up cheat codes for the latest play station game. This personally I do not think will change. Girls and boys are just built differently, with different characteristics who enjoy different things. As for children of different ages, it is easy to realize that when children are younger TV is most preferable, although with new computer games available, and new cell phones targeted towards children it is hard to say what young children enjoy the most.
Television - Dad
Telephone - Me
Cellphone - Dad
Computer - Me
2. Which family member uses it the least?
Television - Mom
Telephone - Dad
Cellphone - Mom
Computer - Mom
3. Is the device restricted?
Television - No
Telephone - No
Cellphone - No
Computer - No
4. Is the device unrestricted?
Television - Yes
Telephone - Yes
Cellphone - Yes
Computer - Yes
5. Is the device used mostly for entertainment?
Television - Yes
Telephone - Yes
Cellphone - Yes for me, no for my dad
Computer - Yes for me & my mom, no for my dad
6. Is the device used mostly for homework?
Television - No
Telephone - No
Cellphone - No
Computer - No
7. Is the device expensive to keep running?
Television - Yes
Telephone - No
Cellphone - No
Computer - Yes
8. Is the device cheap to keep running?
Television - No
Telephone - Yes
Cellphone - Yes
Computer - No
List the names of your family members, and indicate which is their favourite media tool:
Me- My favourite media tool is the computer. I can do so much on the computer that other media tools just don’t allow me to. I can chat to my friends on MSN, go on Facebook and look at pictures that my friends and I have posted, I can shop online, read news and celebrity articles, do my homework and so much more.
Dad- My dad’s favourite media tool is also the computer, even though he is always on his cell phone. He enjoys the computer so much because he can check on stocks, research the latest news events, e-mail his business partners and friends and he can also do some of his work.
Mom- My mom’s favourite media tool is the telephone. This is simply because she does not own a cell phone, does not know how to work the computer and doesn’t watch hardly any TV.
Which is the least favourite? Why?
Me- My least favourite media tool is the television. My answer may have been different a few years ago simply because there were so many shows on that I used to watch. But for my age group there doesn’t seem to be a lot of selection. Also, between school, work, going out, homework and being on the computer, there is not a lot of time left over to watch TV.
Dad- My dad’s least favourite media tool is the telephone, simply because he never uses it. If someone needs to get a hold of him they either e-mail him or call him on his cell phone; he is rarely ever on the telephone.
Mom- My mom’s least favourite media tool is the cell phone. This was my mom’s answer only because she doesn’t own one, and when she does use one she finds them very hard to use. Even though she’s not a huge fan of TV or the computer, she still uses them at least a couple hours a week.
Do children of different ages or sexes prefer different items? Why?
There is no doubt that children of different sexes prefer different items. For girls, we love to talk to our girlfriends on the telephone for hours about absolutely everything, even though we were just with them. Boys, on the other hand, would much rather watch sports on TV or play video games for hours on end than have a long conversation. And even though both sexes usually do enjoy the computer equally, it is for different reasons. Girls usually are looking up pictures of celebrities, searching for the latest gossip or uploading pictures they took at last nights party. Boys however are most likely playing an online game or looking up cheat codes for the latest play station game. This personally I do not think will change. Girls and boys are just built differently, with different characteristics who enjoy different things. As for children of different ages, it is easy to realize that when children are younger TV is most preferable, although with new computer games available, and new cell phones targeted towards children it is hard to say what young children enjoy the most.
Avril Lavigne vs. The Rubinoos
In July, 2007, Avril Lavigne was sued by The Rubinoos for alleged plagiarism of their 1979 hit, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". Tommy Dunbar, songwriter and founder of The Rubinoos, claimed that Lavigne’s 2007 hit, "Girlfriend", was inspired by, and contained aspects of his song. In my opinion, the songs do sound very different, the tempo, instruments and harmony are different. However, I did find that the rhythm was the same and so were the famous chorus lyrics (hey, hey, you, you). In my opinion yes, copyright has been broken. Avril Lavigne is making so much more money with her song than The Rubinoos ever did, and she didn’t even give them any credit. She used the one part of their song which was cruc
ial to the song’s success, and although the songs do sound very different she did, I believe, take the "heart and soul" out of The Rubinoo’s song; and that is wrong and would fall under the category of moral rights.
I do think that Avril Lavigne plagiarized. Whether she stole those lyrics and just didn’t care, or her co-writer did and introduced them to Lavigne and she believed that he made them up, someone is to blame for plagiarism. No matter whether she ends up getting sued or not, this accusation will affect her career. The story of Avril Lavigne stealing another bands lyrics is out there, and even if she is found innocent, people will still have their opinions or will n
ever trust her fully as a writer again. People will wonder, did she actually write this song like she said she did?
On the other side of the spectrum, some people will question, did she subconsciously use those lyrics, thinking she thought of them but she had actually heard them before. But I can argue this by simply saying, after she listened to The Rubinoo’s song, after the accusations came out, you would think she would realize their similarities, like we did. She could issue a public apology, but she is denying any link to the two songs and refuses to admit that her song was influenced by the oldies hit. I think in doing this she is making herself look very foolish and showing disrespect to her fellow artists.
Avril Lavigne and the Rubinoo’s reached a confidential agreement, and it’s not known how much money might have changed hands. This settlement is a good way to get this issue over with, and stop with any more bad press towards Avril Lavigne. But however, a settlement doesn’t necessarily indicate an admission of copyright infringement.
Works Cited:
http://www.avrilbandaids.com/forums/posting-games-sundry/47576-method-murder-pictures-3.html
http://www.tshirtwatch.com/blog/2006/11/16/avril-lavigne-goes-trucker/
ial to the song’s success, and although the songs do sound very different she did, I believe, take the "heart and soul" out of The Rubinoo’s song; and that is wrong and would fall under the category of moral rights.I do think that Avril Lavigne plagiarized. Whether she stole those lyrics and just didn’t care, or her co-writer did and introduced them to Lavigne and she believed that he made them up, someone is to blame for plagiarism. No matter whether she ends up getting sued or not, this accusation will affect her career. The story of Avril Lavigne stealing another bands lyrics is out there, and even if she is found innocent, people will still have their opinions or will n
ever trust her fully as a writer again. People will wonder, did she actually write this song like she said she did?On the other side of the spectrum, some people will question, did she subconsciously use those lyrics, thinking she thought of them but she had actually heard them before. But I can argue this by simply saying, after she listened to The Rubinoo’s song, after the accusations came out, you would think she would realize their similarities, like we did. She could issue a public apology, but she is denying any link to the two songs and refuses to admit that her song was influenced by the oldies hit. I think in doing this she is making herself look very foolish and showing disrespect to her fellow artists.
Avril Lavigne and the Rubinoo’s reached a confidential agreement, and it’s not known how much money might have changed hands. This settlement is a good way to get this issue over with, and stop with any more bad press towards Avril Lavigne. But however, a settlement doesn’t necessarily indicate an admission of copyright infringement.
Works Cited:
http://www.avrilbandaids.com/forums/posting-games-sundry/47576-method-murder-pictures-3.html
http://www.tshirtwatch.com/blog/2006/11/16/avril-lavigne-goes-trucker/
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Britney Spears' VMA Performance
I think everyone, from young teens to parents to fellow celebrities, was shocked by Britney Spears’ VMA performance. But different people were shocked for different reasons. I personally was shocked to see that Britney made a fool of herself for her first big performance in quite sometime. She was clearly drinking, was clearly lip singing and didn’t have any real dance steps in her entire routine. But of course that’s not all people were talking about. The hot topic of Britney’s routine was not that of her performance but her appearance. Critics were saying how out of shape she looked and how over weight she looked. Now don’t get me wrong, her outfit was a but flaunting, but how dare these critics call her fat. In my opinion, she is the perfect size. She recently had two children, and I highly doubt that working out and trying to have the perfect body is on the top of her mind. How dare they make fun of her weight. I say good for her, she looked confident and gave women a chance to see a performer who is not a size zero.
I think that society loves to gossip about celebrities because it makes us feel better about ourselves. I heard people making fun of Britney’s body who were probably double her size. Does that make any sense? I think what this shows about us as people is that most of us are insecure with ourselves and making fun of others simply makes those people feel better about themselves. I believe that if someone was 100% secure with themself as a person, then I’m sure they just wouldn’t care about Britney’s appearance. It’s ok to talk about how unprofessional her performance was, but making fun of her body is just ridiculous!
I think that society loves to gossip about celebrities because it makes us feel better about ourselves. I heard people making fun of Britney’s body who were probably double her size. Does that make any sense? I think what this shows about us as people is that most of us are insecure with ourselves and making fun of others simply makes those people feel better about themselves. I believe that if someone was 100% secure with themself as a person, then I’m sure they just wouldn’t care about Britney’s appearance. It’s ok to talk about how unprofessional her performance was, but making fun of her body is just ridiculous!
Britney Spears' live performance at the 2007 VMAs.
Works Cited:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2007/09/instapoll_britneys_vma_perform_1.html
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