so i actually signed up and went to one of those STS things. Dreamweaver 1. Boring.
I felt like i could've taught the class better than the dudes that did. i should've taken DW2, but oh well. this one was open and fit in my schedule. it did confirm my abilities to use Dreamweaver, which is pretty cool.
the best part about it was there were 4 other people from the class there. haha, i guess I'm not the only one who waits till the last minute. :-)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
For todays reading notes, i want to expand on the whole top-down vs bottom-up part of emergence.
For me, I truly think that we live in a time when there is only top-down emergence. By this i mean that everyone everywhere is constantly being supervised by someone somewhere who holds a place of authority. They give us the rules, we follow the rules, and everything moves on from there. People and communities expand under rules and regulations enforced by people higher in the hierarchy than they are. Don't get me wrong, in this age, this top-down way of going about things works just fine. things get done efficiently, and i think people are used to doing it this way.
I Get a little confused with how bottom-up communities emerge. Especially when discussing the human population. i understand that ants can do it, and so can slime molds. but really, in a human population, it hard to come up with an example. the best one i could come up with is a student run organization, like the a cappella group im in. we dont have a designated faculty supervisor...we are just run internally. but even then, we appoint people to take over business managing, music directing, and handling of the money. In a way, these select people act as the supervising source, telling us when to sing, what we need to do, and when we need to do it. i mean they arent exactly at the level where anything they say goes, but it seems like a bottom-up wanting to turn into a top-down just because its what we are used to.
I dont know. im still a little confused. oh well.
For me, I truly think that we live in a time when there is only top-down emergence. By this i mean that everyone everywhere is constantly being supervised by someone somewhere who holds a place of authority. They give us the rules, we follow the rules, and everything moves on from there. People and communities expand under rules and regulations enforced by people higher in the hierarchy than they are. Don't get me wrong, in this age, this top-down way of going about things works just fine. things get done efficiently, and i think people are used to doing it this way.
I Get a little confused with how bottom-up communities emerge. Especially when discussing the human population. i understand that ants can do it, and so can slime molds. but really, in a human population, it hard to come up with an example. the best one i could come up with is a student run organization, like the a cappella group im in. we dont have a designated faculty supervisor...we are just run internally. but even then, we appoint people to take over business managing, music directing, and handling of the money. In a way, these select people act as the supervising source, telling us when to sing, what we need to do, and when we need to do it. i mean they arent exactly at the level where anything they say goes, but it seems like a bottom-up wanting to turn into a top-down just because its what we are used to.
I dont know. im still a little confused. oh well.
Monday, April 23, 2007
you can do it!
Last week, we finished watching the movie Lost in Translation in class. There are some things that struck me in a way that i wanted to talk about them in my blog.
1. The lack of speaking in the movie was at times awkward, but all in all very interesting. I think that even when things were said, much of the time there was no understanding. Example: when bill murray was doing the photo shoots, people were talking with him and telling him what to do, but he didn't understand it. i know, he was being talked at in a language that he didn't know, but i think it just emphasizes the theme that many things that are said are not understood. Also, much of the dialogue that goes on between him and his wife is empty dialogue where both of them don't really understand the other.
2. i thought that the movie was a perfect example of how a non-place can turn into a place. for both of the main characters, they really did not want to be at the hotel in the beginning. however after meeting each other, they were almost torn apart at the end. they created memories at the hotel and made friends with each other.
3. The ending kinda sucked. i really don't like endings that don't really conclude the film. this on was above and beyond as the audience doesn't know what is said to charlotte and they don't know what will happen when they both get back to the United States.
Overall, i thought the movie was good. i would watch it again.
ps. just a thought on Emergence, the book we are currently reading: it is hard to identify with the concepts of the community acting together and not having a set leader because much of our culture and world is based on hierarchies and people in leadership positions overlooking people "below" them. but, the book is interesting.
1. The lack of speaking in the movie was at times awkward, but all in all very interesting. I think that even when things were said, much of the time there was no understanding. Example: when bill murray was doing the photo shoots, people were talking with him and telling him what to do, but he didn't understand it. i know, he was being talked at in a language that he didn't know, but i think it just emphasizes the theme that many things that are said are not understood. Also, much of the dialogue that goes on between him and his wife is empty dialogue where both of them don't really understand the other.
2. i thought that the movie was a perfect example of how a non-place can turn into a place. for both of the main characters, they really did not want to be at the hotel in the beginning. however after meeting each other, they were almost torn apart at the end. they created memories at the hotel and made friends with each other.
3. The ending kinda sucked. i really don't like endings that don't really conclude the film. this on was above and beyond as the audience doesn't know what is said to charlotte and they don't know what will happen when they both get back to the United States.
Overall, i thought the movie was good. i would watch it again.
ps. just a thought on Emergence, the book we are currently reading: it is hard to identify with the concepts of the community acting together and not having a set leader because much of our culture and world is based on hierarchies and people in leadership positions overlooking people "below" them. but, the book is interesting.
Monday, April 16, 2007
A glimpse of hope?...
i really like that we are watching a movie in class. i had never seen Lost in Translation before, and i must say i really like it so far. we are a little bit further that half way through the movie, and it has grabbed my attention the entire time. its funny and awkward at the same time which makes for and interesting mix of feelings.
This movie can be looked at in the context of non-place and network theory. The two main characters are kinda stuck in the hotel, not knowing what to do, and just waiting around. The woman waits for her husband and searches for things to do. The man does what he's told and goes where people tell him to go. He hardly thinks for himself and waits around for the next gig he has to do. This waiting and searching and nothing pertains to non-place and Auge. In a sense, the two main characters are distanced from a goal of connecting with their spouses and being home.
When the two of them meet in the hotel, they start to form a relationship. As they make connections with each other, they slowly help themselves out and become not so miserable in the non-place. with this connection, they are saving themselves from nothingness and emptiness.
I am interested to see how the movie progresses and ultimately ends. so far i like it, so i hope i doesn't disappoint in the end.
This movie can be looked at in the context of non-place and network theory. The two main characters are kinda stuck in the hotel, not knowing what to do, and just waiting around. The woman waits for her husband and searches for things to do. The man does what he's told and goes where people tell him to go. He hardly thinks for himself and waits around for the next gig he has to do. This waiting and searching and nothing pertains to non-place and Auge. In a sense, the two main characters are distanced from a goal of connecting with their spouses and being home.
When the two of them meet in the hotel, they start to form a relationship. As they make connections with each other, they slowly help themselves out and become not so miserable in the non-place. with this connection, they are saving themselves from nothingness and emptiness.
I am interested to see how the movie progresses and ultimately ends. so far i like it, so i hope i doesn't disappoint in the end.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Get me outta this non-place!!!!
As i reluctantly begin school again after a wonderfully glorious spring break, I am reminded of what i left behind for a week: endless hours of school/studying, work, and responsibilities. Like a slap in the face, i find myself in the middle of the 11 week of class, up to my eyeballs with things to do. My professors so nicely decided to give me two quizzes and two exams this week. hurray!! i don't mean to bitch and moan for the entire post; things like this happen, and you just have to go with the flow. what i am getting at is that i am supposed to go to a "non-place" and observe what takes place. given my busy schedule, i have decided to use a non-place experience from a resort at where i recently stayed. it goes something like this:
I rode the elevator many times at the resort. one particular time stands out to me. I stayed on the 15th floor of the resort and was using the elevator to go down to the lobby. when i got in, all of the buttons from 10 down had been pushed. i thought to myself, what an inconvenience, but i was in no hurry so i decided to ride it out. when the elevator stopped on the 12th floor, it picked up 10 more people on their way down. i didn't say anything to them about the buttons, but they all saw them and still decided to stay on. when the elevator stopped at each floor, there was silence for the 15 seconds the door opened and closed. everyone looked to the front on the car, no one looked at each other, and no one really moved. it was really awkward as the elevator stopped again and again and we had to wait in silence, shoulder to shoulder with someone you don't know. still nothing was said to ease the awkwardness of the situation. no one even cared to make a joke about the situation. everyone was just on their way, wanting to make the trip go as quickly as possible.
now that i think of it, there was a girl who whispered to her mom something that no one else could hear. it was as if the rest of the people on the elevator should not hear the little piece of information because it was so private. it made it distance everyone on the elevator even more.
I rode the elevator many times at the resort. one particular time stands out to me. I stayed on the 15th floor of the resort and was using the elevator to go down to the lobby. when i got in, all of the buttons from 10 down had been pushed. i thought to myself, what an inconvenience, but i was in no hurry so i decided to ride it out. when the elevator stopped on the 12th floor, it picked up 10 more people on their way down. i didn't say anything to them about the buttons, but they all saw them and still decided to stay on. when the elevator stopped at each floor, there was silence for the 15 seconds the door opened and closed. everyone looked to the front on the car, no one looked at each other, and no one really moved. it was really awkward as the elevator stopped again and again and we had to wait in silence, shoulder to shoulder with someone you don't know. still nothing was said to ease the awkwardness of the situation. no one even cared to make a joke about the situation. everyone was just on their way, wanting to make the trip go as quickly as possible.
now that i think of it, there was a girl who whispered to her mom something that no one else could hear. it was as if the rest of the people on the elevator should not hear the little piece of information because it was so private. it made it distance everyone on the elevator even more.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
whoa.
today's open post is going to be somewhat short.
i cannot wait for spring break. I am going to myrtle beach with 3 of my friends and staying at some resort. it is sure to please.
I got accepted to study abroad this summer in Guanajuato, Mexico. This is also amazing!!! i have traveled to Spain before and stayed with a family, and that was by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I am so happy i get to go to Mexico and live with a family and take classes and speak Spanish 24/7.
Today at work (i work as an information guide at the red gym), the main red-head lady from CSI came in with her husband and son to take a tour of the campus. so awesome. everyone in the service area was so excited. even thought i didn't get to talk with her, it was amazing that she was even at UW-Madison touring the campus. it just goes to show that celebrities are real people too. :-)
have a fantastic spring break everyone!!
i cannot wait for spring break. I am going to myrtle beach with 3 of my friends and staying at some resort. it is sure to please.
I got accepted to study abroad this summer in Guanajuato, Mexico. This is also amazing!!! i have traveled to Spain before and stayed with a family, and that was by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I am so happy i get to go to Mexico and live with a family and take classes and speak Spanish 24/7.
Today at work (i work as an information guide at the red gym), the main red-head lady from CSI came in with her husband and son to take a tour of the campus. so awesome. everyone in the service area was so excited. even thought i didn't get to talk with her, it was amazing that she was even at UW-Madison touring the campus. it just goes to show that celebrities are real people too. :-)
have a fantastic spring break everyone!!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Half Man, Half Machine...AAAHHH!!
CYBORG?!?
The word cyborg has somewhat of a negative connotation. At first, when i think of a "cyborg" I think of someone who is half man, half computer, and usually this person is someone who wants to take over the world.
But when you think about what the word cyborg means, the negative connotation becomes somewhat unnecessary. In reading "Natural-born Cyborgs" by Andy Clark, i found that the term cyborg can be attributed to someone who is connected to the network of Internet, computers, and various resources. Clark mentions that the loss of his laptop was like brain damage (pg. 4). A previous post of mine also outlines the intense need for connections through technology and computers. Clark also discusses how the world is now smarter and people are now smarter than they have ever been due to computers and technological connections (pg. 5).
In class, some people were arguing that this intense need for technology is bad. It shows us that we can't function without technologies and computers. However, i definitely disagree. I think that one who uses technology and computers fully are utilizing their resources to the fullest and in turn are more in tune to the world around them.
I do also think that this relationship between human and technology is very complex and somewhat ill-understood. There is so much interaction between biological, cultural, and technological that the line that divides good interaction from bad interaction is very fine. I still feel, though, that without the interaction with technology and the network, our world would not be as advanced as it is.
cyborg –noun
a person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.
cyborg - noun
everyone.
The word cyborg has somewhat of a negative connotation. At first, when i think of a "cyborg" I think of someone who is half man, half computer, and usually this person is someone who wants to take over the world.
But when you think about what the word cyborg means, the negative connotation becomes somewhat unnecessary. In reading "Natural-born Cyborgs" by Andy Clark, i found that the term cyborg can be attributed to someone who is connected to the network of Internet, computers, and various resources. Clark mentions that the loss of his laptop was like brain damage (pg. 4). A previous post of mine also outlines the intense need for connections through technology and computers. Clark also discusses how the world is now smarter and people are now smarter than they have ever been due to computers and technological connections (pg. 5).
In class, some people were arguing that this intense need for technology is bad. It shows us that we can't function without technologies and computers. However, i definitely disagree. I think that one who uses technology and computers fully are utilizing their resources to the fullest and in turn are more in tune to the world around them.
I do also think that this relationship between human and technology is very complex and somewhat ill-understood. There is so much interaction between biological, cultural, and technological that the line that divides good interaction from bad interaction is very fine. I still feel, though, that without the interaction with technology and the network, our world would not be as advanced as it is.
cyborg –noun
a person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.
cyborg - noun
everyone.
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