The last blog!

I'm not sucking up, but since this is our last blog, I guess, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this class. It is so nice to WANT to go to class for once.

Anyway, the three modes that I would like to utilize are going to create the unified identity of a professional journalist. I already have a blog that contains many of my professional clips. That is definitely going to be one of my modes. Then, I thought I might create an additional blog that would host my other modes.

I first wanted to create a music playlist that relates to my early years spent becoming a journalist. I became interested in the field because music reporting really appealed to me and molded my professional identity. So, I thought I could create a playlist, or possibly a video, and host it on this separate blog. I really wanted to use Garage Band, but being realistic, I just don't think I'll have enough time to do it as well as I'd like, so I won't do it at all. I think the biggest challenge with this part of the project will be that it is time consuming and syncing up music can be a little difficult.

The second mode will be photos. These will be hosted on the second blog. I plan to create at least one Photoshop image and then include photos I have taken professionally, either stand alone, or as a link to a profile I have created on another Web site. It is called Capture El Paso. This profile is actually part of a large contest, but I consider it professional because my submissions may be published in the book associated with the Web site. I think I'll encounter difficulties with this part of the project through sheer logistics. It'll be hard to get all my work together on this blog and decide what goes on. I'll probably have to some scanning and digging through my office to find things I want to use.

The last part of my project would be my professional blog. Since it is already up I don't anticipate too many difficulties with it. Perhaps I might change the page theme. I also think I'll change my picture to a more serious photo.

I definitely think that all of these modes will tie together my identity as a professional journalist and show that I have become a multim-modal journalist.

- Jackie

Awesome Abe and MySpace

Our client is the 16th president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln.

We have chosen to utilize MySpace and create an overall identity of professional with a touch of personal input from our client.

We are performing for the general audience of Myspace users, especially anyone that might want to become a "friend" of Abraham Lincoln.

The goal of this profile is to inform readers about the former president's life, while hopefully allowing them to enjoy some of Lincoln's personal interests/characteristics that we have chosen to create.

I definitely think out client would approve. We have taken careful consideration in order to make sure that his identity as one of the greatest presidents in history is protected, while taking very few liberties just for a laugh.

Medium Analysis Thesis

Considering the clarification we received today about our essay, I think my thesis might go something like this:

The ICanHasCheezburger humor blogging phenomenon, which focuses on utilizing photos altered by users and in many cases a particular form of language, provides an outlet for humorous satire about everyday life and politics, while bridging/bonding users.

Medium analysis assignment

I am considering analyzing a community called Threadless. The technology is definitely a 2.0 application.

It's a Web site that allows users to create graphic art, then the users vote on the designs. The graphics with the most "yes" votes then get screened on to t-shirts, hoodies and baby onesies. Recently, this company expanded to a physical store and to selling art prints.

Here are some shirts from the community:




I would really like to try to analyze icanhascheezburger or its sister Web site Pundit Kitchen, but I think that might be a bit harder. As you probably know, these are Web sites that put funny captions on pictures. It sounds simple, but I think that might be a problem. I would consider this a Web 2.0 technology. Though this community might be harder to analyze, I think I actually might find more "academic" resources for it.

I Can Has Cheezburger? most recent post:

more animals

Pundit Kitchen's most recent post:

see Sarah Palin pictures

I definitely use the two sites almost everyday. Your insight is appreciated!

Thanks!

- Jackie

Jackie & Technology Today

You have now arrived at Part III of my technology autobiography.

Thanks for staying on the ride! :]

I chose to use my blog for this last part because it’s truly representative of how I use technology today and it is an easy way to feature the rest of what I use. A blog is representative because I update my MySpace blog quite often and I now use technology to communicate almost more than anything else, with entertainment as a very close second. By the way, if you took Part II of my project, here are the answers: B, D, A, C, C

I think it’s clear that my use of technology has transitioned from entertainment to an integration of work and play, so to speak. Today I own a Zune, own a digital camera (see Capture El Paso for some recent pictures I've taken), have a MySpace and play video games online and on several consoles. However, I also use a computer daily to check my e-mail and I use professional journalism programs to help me do my work at the El Paso Times as an agate clerk. Obviously, computers have a very important role in my life today. Their role is definitely different than just using them to play games as earlier in my life.

I also thought I might visually share a few portions of the technology that is currently important to me.

First, these are recent screenshots of my MySpace.


A portion of my profile.



My top 8, haha. I'm an Obama supporter as if you hadn't noticed.

Now, I know that it’s easy to make fun of MySpace and people that use it. But when MySpace is "used for good and not evil" and the way it was intended, it can be a really useful tool. I check it every day to keep up with my friends, to keep up with the bands I like (which was its original purpose) and to keep up with my hero, Barack Obama, and his presidential campaign. I view it as one of the most convenient ways to access all this information. It’s an easy way to customize the type of information you want to receive. Also, MySpace is an excellent way to share what you've created and what you think. I really value that characteristic when it’s used for significant purposes.

Next, I’ve included screenshots about some of the products I use at work. These are both basically used to publish newspapers. These screenshots are from the software manufacturer’s Web site.



IQue, a management system.


News EditPro, a software program used to create stories for publications.

If you’d like more information check out this IQue brochure.

So, hopefully, you have seen a clear transition in my technological life from entertainment to work and entertainment. I think my use of mixed modes for this project also represents my current technological know-how and shows my technological evolution too.

I am definitely a digital native and because I am, I think this transition has been quite easy for me. From video games and music to publishing software and blogging, technology has quietly and securely embedded itself in my life in many ways, and that's just the way I like it.

Thanks for the read.

- Jackie

I am a digital native

Definitely grew up knowing about technology. I played educational video games all the time and was familar with the Internet at a young age.

I am lucky enough that I have one parent, my Dad, who keeps up with technology and even knows WAY more than I do about it.

My knowledge of technology comes from my Dad.

Ok, so I really can't think of any obvious examples from back in the day. I can think of the time when one of my professors was having difficulty navagating a Web site and projector for our class. It wasn't really all that terrible, but there's been several occasions that I can think of, this one included, when students end up getting up to help the teacher and help them navigate through computer set-up and the Internet.

My Tech History

Whew! So as soon as I read the objective for this blog, I was a little overwhelmed. I think anybody my age (21) has tech so embedded in their life that they don't even know it! Anywho, I'm going to try my best to list the technologies that are important to me now and in the past and to begin to "identify a unifying theme."

I'm going to go chronological:
*Beeper-- As an elementary student with parents that worked full-time I was given a beeper to let me know what to do after school.

*VHS/DVDs--This category is one of those technologies that's really embedded. I remember watching VHS and then it's like there was this flash and everyone was using DVDs, haha. I love film and (some) TV almost as much as I love music (see below), so this technology has been a quiet, but constant staple in my life.

*Game consoles--My Dad was the person would introduced to gaming with a 16-bit Sega Genesis console (which I still have working!). I love games, but I really like the simple stuff, so I'm not as big of a gamer as I used to be. In my house, after Sega, came PC games, Internet games, the Gamecube and then the Wii. My fiancé, whom I live with, has a PS2 and now an X-Box 360. Nowadays I own on Guitar Hero and Rockband. I really LOVE (and also own, haha) Metroid Prime on the Gamecube and Dead Rising is pretty awesome on the X-Box. Can't forget arcade games! I love Area 51 and Mortal Kombat.

*Cell phone--Same deal as the beeper. I had a cellphone as early was 5th grade for the purposes of letting me know what to do after school. In middle school I didn't need it anymore, but I got another cell phone as a freshman in high school and have had one ever since. Remember when cell phones were just for talking? I do. Now I use text messaging everyday and picture messages here and there. I just recently found out that Photobucket lets you upload from your cell phone. OMFG! I think that rocks.

*Cameras--I've had a camera since I was about 13 or 14. My first one was one of those giant brick digital cameras, haha. I used to take photos a lot more and have a fairly large library of personal photos. I still go out sometimes and use my camera, a Nikon CoolPix (it's a little older, circa late 1990s/early 2000s) and take the occasional camera phone picture if I feel so moved. I really love taking pictures as a creative, relaxing thing to do. Check out this link to see some recent photos I took with my Nikon: http://www.captureelpaso.com/photo/146261

*Computer--I have used one since I was about 10 and had my own computer by about 13. Love them! Can't imagine life without them! They provide me with information, the ability to create school and creative work as well as enjoy entertainment. Totally ties in with the next entry.

Internet--I began using the Internet around 10 or 12-years-old. I used to use chat rooms and of course AOL IM (not so popular anymore, I guess, haha?), with the occasional Web site browse here and there. Nowadays I use the Internet every single day. I think I'm addicted. My fiancé agrees. Ever find yourself asking an inane question and then you must know the answer? Does the immediate thought of "Googling" it come up? Is the Internet the first place you to turn to for answers? This is VERY much me. I love to research using the Internet (but I have to add that I am VERY discriminating about the sources I use when searching for a serious answer). The Internet is a big part of my life. I even use it for school. I am a VERY BIG WebCT fan. In fact, there's kind of a sub-category that applies to my Internet use. I am a big fan of social networking websites and sites that share member-generated creative content. And, I love to blog. Here are sites I am a member of, or like to check out:
MySpace-- my account
Purevolume--awesome (or crappy sometimes, haha) music from indie and mainstream!
Facebook
Photobucket--my account (very random, haha)
Livejournal--my account
deviantART
Worth1000--i love Photoshop
Threadless-- i like t-shirts
Funny or Die--yay! Will Ferrell!
YouTube
and I'm sure there are some I'm forgetting.

I also love to catch up on the news using the Internet. I love the fact that there are so many sources to look at. I read the La Times online everyday. And then of course, there's online shopping sometimes. I try not to do that too often, as it's easy to get carried away, haha!

*Portable music player: Since I was about 10 years old I had some way to listen to music, first it was a Walkmen. Remember those? Then when I was about 12 I got a CD player and it was attached to my hip for years (I went through at least two players). I actually only got an MP3 player recently, about a year or two ago. I chose to get a Zune instead of an iPod or Sandisk. A Zune appealed to me the most (sorry Apple kids, the cult kinda annoys me) and they just came out with some awesome updates that tap into its WiFi capability. If (and when I hope) Microsoft comes out with a browser for the Zune, I'm going to be one happy little girl. Anyway, on this subject, music is simply something I really enjoy. It powers me.

So yup, that's about all I can think of right now.

As far as a unifying theme, I would think it's communication, whether visual or written. I think this is a pretty fitting theme for my essay as I'm set to dedicated my life to communication as a journalism major.

See you in class!

- Jackie