Posted 10:45 PM by Melissa
Hey everyone. I guess we're supposed to respond to the articles assigned. Well at least these articles give "blogging" a break, not that there's anything wrong with "blogging". :-) The very long reading taken from chapter in Howard Rheingold's The Virtual Community, basically gives an overview of the role of computers and the internet from it's birth to present. Computers in it's early stage , around the 60s, were nothing like our desk tops or even laptops we have today. They were more like wall tops because they took up a wall or so, not to mention the amount of heat all that computer buzzing gave off.

There were many programmers and scientists who felt that computers would only be of use and should be used by people like themselves, trained and specialized. But there were those who opposed, who felt as though it should be opened to the public. Thankfully, the few who felt this way stuck their ground and allowed others outside their circle experience the breakthrough of this technological advance. Howard explains that at one time it took teams of people to work on a computer. He also goes on about the ethernet, which is what I'm using write now through my apartment's LAN. He also talks about the internet and it's vast amount of information that one person will never be able to cover alone. His main breakthrough seems to be accesing the Library of Congress on line. Truthfully, this chapter was entirely too long, but it was very insightful.

The second article Luddite vs. Fetishist, a dialog between Bill Henderson and Tom Barkow. is a complete contrast to the first as far as it's content. I can understand people fearing technology and not wanting to progress in the earlier ages but in this day and age it's almost inevitable. We would be so far behind without the advances of technology. I don't undrstand why people are so stuck in their ways and stuck on doing things the harder way. It's like if they just take one step forward they'll never look back. In the article Bill Henderson, the Luddite, argues that technology is a bad thing and it "destroys our ideas of who we are." He feels as though using machines in theplace of manual labor is detrimental to our society. On the other hand there is Tim Barkow, the fetishist, who feels as though "life is the ultimate technology." He feels (and I agree) that theses advances enhance our personlaities not hinder them from growing. Technology helps to complete our lives as humans and make life much easier for all.

Posted 9:53 PM by Melissa
Well, I decided to post to my site to make sure I have the hang of this "blogging" thing. The thing I just realized today was that you don't get to comment directly to other blogger's s website. Today when we had to respond to another class members blog post, I was under the impression that there was somewhere on their site for visitors to respond. Little did I know that we will be responding on our blog site about whatever it is we read. Well that's all for now bloggers, talk to you later! :-)

Posted 3:27 PM by Melissa
Responding to The Daily Blogger

Your tips are very helpful and I agree with you Mahi Mahi. I like the bit of humor you add to your tips. Well, hopefully we will all become better bloggers as a result of these tips and practice. Overloading the page as you said is such a pain. I am one of those victims of a slow internet because of my ancient computer. Yeah i hate pages that have loads of crap that have nothign at all to do with the site. well gotta go.

Posted 3:15 PM by Melissa
[1/14/2003 7:00:06 PM | Melissa Brown]
Top Ten "Bits for Blogging"
Here are some useful tips to remember when blogging!

10) Write explanatory headings and titles
9) Use lists more frequently online than you would in print
8) Highlight key words and phrases
7) Make friends-Try to exchange ideas with other writers. Visit other blogger's site. If you don't look at someone else's why should they come to yours.
6) Write Tight-Omit unneccesary words
5)Use Hyperlinks
4)Keep Paragraphs Short- Speaking from experience, when websites have page long paragraphs I tend to "scan" through not reading everything on the page. We want readers to avoid this tactic when visiting our blog sites, therefore write in short paragraphs to gain the readers to read everything and not miss any important information on the site.
3) RELAX!!!
2) Write Often- It was best said by Mark Berstein, " ...write consistently. ...not...constantly, and not..long, but you must write often." This is an important tip because it's as if you're serving dinner through your blogger and when you don't serve your audience you begin to lose them. It's as if you're depriving your readers and they will turn else where for their "meal". Remember it's not the amount you feed them but you must give them something to chew on, to keep them coming back for more!!
1) Write for a Reason-(Also taken from Bernstein's list)- It is obvious that if you are unclear or not enthusiastic about your writing it will become apparent to your readers. Whether you want to post a blog to your site or not, but have to, just know you're attitude will show to your audience. Also you don't have to talk about whatever anyone else is writing about. Since this is your site, you become the "most important reader", so be yourself.

For more information on better blogging and writing you can visit Allyson Trouffer's Writing Effectively Online: How to Compose Hypertext or * Mark Bernstein's Ten Tips on Writing the Living Web
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Posted 3:11 PM by Melissa
Hello and welcome to my blog site. I'm a freshman here at FSU and this site is part of my ENC1102 class. I am a computer engineering major and am really looking forward to this class.
Let's see, a little about me. I am originally from Miami, but going a little further back my parents are from Jamaica. Well thats all for me.