Confusion
I really hate missing class. Because then I have this sinking feeling that I missed the most important information of the year and that now I am more behind than anyone on the arcades project (which has sacred me to death from the beginning), but I also didn’t want to drive in the horrible weather that we had had thursday (what can I say? I am deathly afraid of fog. I have no idea why- other than the fact that I drive down a highway that is a cliff on both sides). I felt pretty comfortable with the visual essay just because cutting and pasting images is pretty easy for me. I am super worried about creating a web page, though. I feel like there is this invisible barrier between me and the internet. I like to go on the internet and will use things that are user friendly and already created for me, but I cannot create anything myself. No matter how many times people try to reassure me that everything will be okay, I just automatically have this defeated mindset.
Oh Edison, how I love thee…
So, I must be quite honest. I did not read anything yet this week. I know I really should have done everything this weekend, but what can I say? I am a procrastinator. Anyhow, I was planning to do my reading today during my lunch, but I spent over 45 minutes on the phone with Edison (long story…but let’s just say that I could buy a boat with the amounts of money I have had to pay them recently).
So, I just wanted to say thank you, Edison, for interrupting my education for a fun-filled 45 minutes of automated phone system and people who can’t help me.
Oh! But I did read the article about teachers and myspace that was sent via email and I was very concerned about it. Not because there is anything “bad” on my own personal web space, but because school districts actually think that they can tell teachers what they can and cannot have on the internet that they deem “professional” and can choose to hire or fire them based on it. What is next? Are they going to start screening our calls? Checking our bank statements? How far can this/should this go? Scary…
Internet Freedom and Network Neutrality
Check out this interesting article on msnbc news (it is short):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24255579/
For those who don’t want to read anything other than what is assigned- here are the main questions that it brought to mind:
Should there be legistaltion to ensure freedom for writers on the internet? Is this just a ploy for certain groups to profit? Who will this benefit?
Just something to think about…
The Scary, Scary Internet
I was just thinking about the internet, and I am a little worried about the apparent shift that seems to be occuring. Is it just me, or does it seem like information found on the internet is a little shady? I find myself always on edge when I locate information on the internet (with the exception of csusb’s online databases). I think I have to work three times as hard when I research online because I have to thoroughly check my sources so many times that I am looking at 7 articles when I could be looking at only 2 or 3.
What does this mean for English classrooms as the internet is used more and more? I myself am guilty of not visiting the library as often as I feel I should when researching information for papers. I know I am technically “going” to the library when I access it online, but it is just not the same.
I didn’t get my first real working computer (as in one that didn’t have the green screen and the printer with the edges that you rip off on both sides) until I was 12, so I have relied primarily on books and the like for most of my younger schooling. I think that Microsoft Word is a godsend, but I am just worried about the internet…
