It’s been quite the semester. Never did I think that I’d be blogging. I had a really negative view of the whole system. I thought it was a forum for people to whine, bash, and complain and I realize now it’s not true. Now, I see that it can really be a useful and educational tool. However there are pointless blogs still floating about. But those are the blogs giving blogging a bad name. The good ones can be learned from. For instance, I learned the true power of blogging and that many people can respond to many other people and this has become the communication standard for the future. Crazy. Also I learned that people are fascinated by the color pink and celebrity gossip, and the man known as Perez Hilton. Also crazy.

Earlier in the year, I had to read Andrew Sullivan’s “Why I Blog.” It was an insightful essay and one I agree with tremendously. He describes blogging as, “the spontaneous expression of instant thought—impermanent beyond even the ephemera of daily journalism. It is accountable in immediate and unavoidable ways to readers and other bloggers, and linked via hypertext to continuously multiplying references and sources.” Spot on. The instantaneous quality of blogging makes it so unique and interesting to watch over time. Sullivan alerts us to the joy of reading what you immediately felt about some of the biggest events in our history. I also felt his point about blogs now being anchored in fact due to hyperlinks was incredibly poignant. I know I tend to feel that blogs are not too credible, but with the need for hyperlinks, blogs are becoming more factual. 

As far as new media goes, my view on text has been turned upside down. I now view all types of mediums as a way of communication. No longer am I limited to getting a point across via words. Pictures, video, and audio (not necessarily with words) act as a way of establishing what one wants to say. For instance the sounds of a beach create the setting in one’s mind just as much as the words one could use to describe the beach. Also these pictures tell us a story without words.

Because of this, I see writing as a much broader medium. I feel like podcasts and pictures can be a form of writing and storytelling. That is cool to me. New media, you’re a cool cat, shaking up the world and whatnot. I really can’t wait to see where things go from here.

I did stumble upon this gem:

In an interesting way these ads parallel the drink responsibly ads that beer companies put out. The ad looks at the consequences of the product and gives the impression that these companies care. 

In light of this I’m wondering if we stop and think about many of the consequences of new media. What we say and do online is amplified and scrutinized. Therefore we need to be careful. James Lipton is right, before you use new media, “Give it a ponder.”

Today Youtube posted an ad for caroling. Win money, have fun, celebrate Christmas. Finally, tis the season for new media.

Are the advertisements getting bigger or are the websites getting smaller? It seems like Youtube and other sites are being increasingly taken over by advertisements. Not that long ago sites like Youtube and Myspace had a small section of their home page devoted to an ad and the rest was the actual site. Today, Myspace’s entire homepage will often be the theme of an advertisement and Youtube’s corner devoted to ads is now a thick and menacing banner that dwarfs video options.  

I don’t like it but people have to make money. Am I overreacting?

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This past weekend I was challenged to take on my formidable opponent, who was in the way of my goals: a finished podcast and a good grade. My opponent, formally known as Garage Band, proved easier than I’d  thought to vanquish and dispose of. The simple interface of Garage Band and the Jedi-like training I received proved enough to emerge the victor.

The weapons I received included Auto-ducking, pre-recorded sound effects and music, voice affectations and the V-Room (provided by the University of Michigan). These tools in hand I spent hours instead of days in the editing studio. Thank you Apple. 

Seriously though, anyone can use Garage Band if they take a miniscule amount of time and learn how. In a couple of hours I had edited my podcast within near professional quality and the only reason I was sweating was the of the lack of ventilation. With ease I faded music in and out of my presentation and importing sound effects was merely a click and drag away.  The amount of training I got was little and most of it is easy to figure out yourself.

Then, with another effortless click, I was able to export my track to iTunes. How cool is that? Let me answer that for you. It’s flipping incredible.

Overall it was a good experience, I didn’t realize how easy it was to create great quality podcasts. In fact it makes me want to go and record some music. Some semi-pro tracks might just be within my reach. I might have to do it more often…

Today I fell in love with Facebook’s messaging system. With ease you can attach pictures, videos, website links etc. Sucks for you email. Email is further falling behind due to it’s lack of ease and overall sparkle. Facebook gives you an idea of the link you’re clicking on beforehand with a picture and a caption which is automatically included. Facebook lets you leave video messages. Facebook is easy. Email is boring. Will Facebook eventually take over email? No, but it should.

Well I had my first rough recording today and it wasn’t so bad. My voice did sound kind of funny but it wasn’t too terrible. So I was wondering what your experiences were like. Were they as lack luster as mine? Or does anyone have any cool stories? Did anyone have a breakthrough? I hope so. 

I can’t seem to upload my audio file so you’ll have to wait till next time to hear a a bit of me.

This weekend the new Twilight movie New Moon will be released in theatres. In honor of the release I found this video. 

It seems more and more sites are advertising this way. They give a bit of a hook on Youtube and try to lure you, the audience, to their main site. Youtube watch out, you’re just being used. But I feel like they’re okay with that. 

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