MY COMMENTED BLOGS

Paul's Ibook Flippa or Right-Clicka

http://technmediaftw.blogspot.com/2008/04/right-clickaor-ibook-flippa.html

Steph's Ecological Footprint

http://steffeh.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-entry-1-my-ecological-footprint.html#comments

Raymond's "PIRATING ME MATIES!"

http://raymondsmediablog.blogspot.com/2008/01/journal-3-pirating-me-maties.html

Brian's Facebook a New Partnership?
http://pistachio92.blogspot.com/2008/04/facebook-and-education-new-partnership.html

Rene's "WHEN GRAPHICS ARTISTS GET BORED"

http://rene-m-s.blogspot.com/2008/05/when-graphic-arists-get-bored-re.html

Jan's Ec(h)o Art Show Blog

http://followthesky.blogspot.com/2008/06/entry-number-six-echo-art-show.html

Big Think

Is Pop Culture Degrading to Women? I believe so. Wyclef has a point saying that women who want to be portrayed that way in music videos will come out and do the job. But my opinion still remains the same. I think pop culture is degrading to women. However, many may not think this, women are manipulated by the media. Many girls want to look "hot" like the people on T.V. It is degrading because it makes girls feel like they are not beautiful in their own way. Also, pop culture is demeaning to women because the male artists who call for these women obviously want women to behave this way in their video. It's obvious they want to use women as "props".

Also, think about the kind of message pop culture is sending to teenagers who watch music videos. Is this the way the artist wants others to treat women like? Not every single women will freely dress scantily clad and do ridiculous things like they do on T.V.

I like the point Wyclef points out about doing things a "classy" way if deciding to be in a video. I do believe there are many ways to creatively perform in music videos instead of dressing revealing and acting as a prop for the male artist in a music video.

Well, that's my opinion anyways. It might not make much sense...it was written at 11:12 p.m...JUNE RUSH STYLE

Ec(h)o

This year Mary Ward held it's annual art show. It was called Ec(h)o. For the past few years, I have came and seen the wonderful art displayed by students. This year, I got to take part of the show. I had three creations in the show. My fortune cookie collage, my hybrid, and the storybook written with my two other friends. The theme of the artshow was being environmentally friendly. I really liked how there were revolving doors to view exhibits, the ec(h)o cafe, and the green art Ec(h)o shirts.

I felt that the four dollars admission was worth it for the week. One dollar would be donated to help the Earth. It was also worth it because I got admission to the show all week with just one payment. I really enjoyed watching the movies made by students. I watched "A Walk in the Park", "World Asleep", and "Jay So Pringlez". They inspired me to want to make a few movies in the future.

I hope to be part of the Art Show next year and create more wonderful masterpieces. (HEHEHEHEHe)

Here are two pieces of work I displayed. Enjoy!!!

Right Clicka or an IBook Flippa?

Ahhhh...the never ending argument about which is better? Am I a Right Clicka or an Ibook Flippa? It all really depends actually. I've grown up using a PC since I was little from playing children's video games, to doing homework, and creating digital media. I've actually grown used to using a PC. It appears to be easier to complete tasks and such because I have used it for so long. However, the downside about using the PC is that there are many viruses that can affect it. Many of which have yet to have a cure for.

However, the MacOS offers many benefits. It has more stabilty, less crashes, less scripting bugs, better graphics, and faster processing sound than the PC. The Mac also offers many built-in applications and has become very stylish. Although it is more expensive than a PC, people claim that one can save more money with a MAC for tech support, internet security programs, and the price of IWORK vs. MS Office. Mac already comes with everything needed when it comes out of the box. Whereas for a PC, programs will have to be installed. A disadvantage of the MAC is that it requires certain program in order for users to view certain things. This can obvious become an inconvienence for the people.

I really have no opinion towards which type is better. The MAC seems to be for the more artsier types of people who enjoy graphic design. It comes with Adobe Photoshop installed already so it saves money for the user. Sure, it is more costly than a PC, but it will become more convient for the artist to do work. If one is also looking for cool applications, MAC would be the computer to get. However, if one does not want to splurge, the PC would be pretty good as well. If one is looking for more convenience and a cheaper system, I guess the PC is the way to go. It's easy to use, since mostly everyone is used to it. The PC is just as able as a MAC to do things.

I honestly do not know what I would want. Any computer for me is good. The Mac would seem to be a fun thing to have because I would be able to go my graphic designs on it and I would be able to play around with the fun applications. However, the PC is convenient and cheaper than the MAC. Either way, any computer is good for me . :)

Facebook and Education...A New Partnership?

At least he wasn't using Facebook to procrastinate...

I have seen the news and read the papers about this situation. I've realized that it is quite ridiculous how this student was punished. How different is it to start a study group on Facebook than it is to go on Blackboard on Eclass, instant messaging a friend online, or even phoning a friend for an answer? I don't think the university was right because they should really encourage students to study. I mean, if a student doesn't know an answer, shouldn't it be all right for them to communicate to find the answer? They're still learning.

This online study group, in my opinion was no different than any tutoring circle or study group. University officials believed that Chris Avenir was "trying to get around the school system". There seems nothing wrong with what he was doing. I mean he was trying to find out answers that obviously he couldn't find to complete an assignment. It wouldn't be any different if he asked the teacher the next day. But perhaps, his technique was faster.

In conclusion, what Chris Avenir was out of good intentions for him and other students. I don't think he was trying to get around the school's system. He was simply trying to learn something. I think universities should encourage this. It is after all, studying.

When Graphic Artists Get Bored

While watching the video, I felt very entertained by the images. They were very engrossing and humourous. I thought that the pictures were all very creative but there were some that really made me interested. I really liked the image where the man was opening a nut shell, but instead of the nutshell, the hand was spliting the beetle in half and inside were walnuts. Now, that sounds pretty weird and gruesome...but the the manipulation is just so SMART!

I really have no idea how the artist could have created this in Photoshop, but I think I have a rough idea how. The artist probably took a picture of him or some other person opening a walnut and then he took a picture of a beetle. Then he somehow replaced the shell part of the beetle with the walnuts and the shell in the person's hand with the shell of the beetle. (WHICH SOUND PRETTY COMPLICATED IF YOU ASK ME....)

However, the image I REALLY REALLY LIKED was the orange peel frog. I think this image is weird. I really don't know why I like it. I just found it really creative.

I think artist made this image by taking a picture of a frog and a peeled orange and then he stamped the skin of the orange and coloured the frog with it. Then like used the picture and merged it with the peeled orange. It just looks like a challenge to create. perhaps this is the reason why I enjoyed that picture very much. :)

MY CRIME

As technology becomes more and more advanced and convenient, people no longer buy music, movies, or other software programs. Instead, they download on the Internet. Most people, download for free on programs such as Limewire and on Torrents. I personally, am a culprit to this pirating crime. However, I don't think I take advantage of it. Okay, I lied. Sometimes I can, but I don't feel guilty for doing so.

My reasons for not feeling at fault are because things nowadays, especially music and software programs are expensive. Why go out of my way and spend all that money at a store when I can do so in the comfort of my own home with just a few clicks, and FOR FREE! I do realize it is unfair to the artists and publishers because they aren't getting paid for what they have created. I guess the problem is, our society just doesn't even think of this problem as a crime anymore because pirated things are being distributed everywhere! It's just too large! It has become normal for us to perform these kinds of tasks that no one even feels terrible.

In my opinion, I do not feel obligated to buy a CD if I only like one song from that artist. I mean it can't hurt to just get that one song for FREE. Programs like Itunes allow music lovers to download a song for a price. It is good because it gives the artist recognition of their work. However, many people, me being one of them, don't want to go through the hassle of paying when the same song can be found for no cost at all on the internet.

As much of a culprit I sound writing this blog, I do believe I am responsible for my actions in downloading. When I want a song, i usually ask a friend to send it to me. I tend to listen to many Indie artists that aren't very famous yet. Sometimes, they have allow users to download their music for free on their website or MYSPACE. If I do enjoy a band, and I can't find their music anywhere, I actually do go out and buy their CDs.

As for movies, I don't buy or download them. I usually rent them or go to the theatre. For software programs like Photoshop, I have downloaded them for free because it is just to costly for me, a teenager, to buy them myself. My parents obviously would not have bought it for me because they have no use for it.

I have come to a conclusion that the most downloading come from teenagers. This is because many are cheap and want to be smart when choosing to splurge on things, such as expensive MP3 players. Since they already have mp3 players, they obviously wouldn't want to go and purchase music for that mp3. Most would just download for free because it is faster for them even if it is deceitful to the artist/band because they are being cheated out of their work. Either way, I will continue downloading ( more responsibly, even if that doesn't make much sense) and not take advantage of it, because who knows, I could get into trouble.