The final look back

So the funny thing is my previous blog entry was done on my blogging experience, without ever realizing that I had to do one again at the end of the semester. So I will do my best not to re hash everything I did in my previous blog.
Well I have a few different ways to look at the experience in general. To be honest, sometimes I found it to be somewhat difficult to write entries because of the material. While some of the ideas I found new and fun to think about, other I did not have much to say. I feel my best entries were when I would find something along through my casual internet surfing. For instance a few entries ago I talked about the tragic death of a teenager who became depressed after a bad experience using a social networking sight.
In terms of using blogging as an educational tool I do believe it could beneficial if used in the right context. Personally, I think it would be good if used in terms of writing entries on current topics. I am sure all of us had to bring in a newspaper article with a page paper about what you read. This would be the new version of it. A student in a science class would have to find an article dealing with the environment every Friday and make an entry about it in his or her blog. Fellow students could view the entry and click on the appropriate link and make their own feelings known about the topic.
Overall I will have a positive feeling about using blog entries in future experiences, and perhaps using my current blog to discuss topics I find important. While it will be one of many, perhaps one day someone will randomly Google it and read about what I had to say.

My Blog

What were me feelings on the blogging expierence? Well to be honest I am not sure. While it did allow me to research new ideas about social networking, along with other technologies. Without it I feel I never would have gone into any of these topics. So in this regard it did help.

On the other hand I feel old fashioned research papers still expand my thinking on a more extensive level. It forces me to dive into a topic and surround myself in it, while blogging allows me to research topics on a more basic level.

To me blogging will be a tool in my future learning and thinking, just not my main one.

Hmm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21844203/

This was a sad story that my mother told me about while I was home. She discussed how this girl who was depressed and sad and just looking for a friend. Sadly as part of a prank if you will find out this girl went on to commit suicide.

This, like I talked about on the discussion board, no one was their to supervise and understand what was going on in this girls online life. I feel there should be a way to figure out a way to prevent under 18yr olds because this is where there are issues. Just like teenagers leave their home life and go to school, I feel this is when they can join the adult world.

Facebook ads

Big buisness is invading facebook, and can we say we are surprised? Now ads and campaigns have been part of facebook in a smaller sense for awhile now. But now the news:

http://www.facebook.com/press/releases.php?p=9176

Yes facebook has opened the doors to "Users can become a fan of a business and can share information about that business with their friends and act as a trusted referral. Facebook users can interact directly with the business through its Facebook Page by adding reviews, writing on that business’ Wall, uploading photos and in any other ways that a business may want to enable. These actions could appear in users’ Mini-Feed and News Feed, Facebook’s popular products that allow users to share information more efficiently with their friends."

So now yes, I can become friends with McDonald's and Blockbuster. I can write reviews on the new spicy McChicken sandwich. Where does it end? Personally I would love to say I am surprised but I'm not. Whose to stop these companies just "adding" you as a friend then everyday getting poked by Ronald McDonald? Sounds like a good time to me.

Blog

This blog is about, well blogs. Simple concept I know. This is the first time I have actually have created and used a blog. I have what one could call mini blog on facebook and myspace, but for the most part these are more updates. Generally speaking they offer a little insight into what I am really thinking but more in terms of what is going on. For instance when I broke my phone I sent out a mass update saying send me your number because I broke my phone.

I feel this blog which I hope to continue at some point is almost an online diary of what my feelings and attitudes are towards certain subjects. Granted most of these if not all these posts are geared towards technology, the fact is you can get a general incite towards my real feelings and comprehension of such topics. A good example was my personal feelings on 9/11 which provoked me to spend an hour and a half of free time just doing basic research on different events of that day. The reader learned that day had a major impact on my life then, and how it still affects me now.

With the power of my blog I hope to be able to share my thoughts, and one day several years down the road someone might accidentally Google and learn all about Brendan, which hopefully will be interesting.

Online Class

This is just an informal opinion blog entry on my feelings on Online classes. I had never taken an online class before gaining entry into Syracuse University. I had no idea what to expect nor what was expected of me.

Some of the issues I had was reminding myself to actually go online and do work. Sounds stupid I know, but often while encountering a busy work week you often forget some of the basic things. I know that when I have class on Monday, that it is incorporated into my schedule. This of course is not the case with my online class. I had to learn to designate a certain time area to complete my work.

I also feel I participated differently in class. If anyone is so lucky to have me in their class (so kidding) they know that some days I will answer a bunch of questions and other days I am just out of it for whatever reason. This online class forces me to participate (which is good) and keeps me more involved. I also feel it helped me to set deadlines in my head which will better help me in the business world.

Internet and Education

OK lets try this again. I just tried to post something and my computer decided to delete it on me. Good thing I didn't save it... smooth Brendan.

Do you feel that computers should be allowed in the classroom. My contention is yes, but if its the schools computer that the teacher should be allowed to view whats going on. Now I am not talking big brother look over your shoulder idea, but more along the lines of a database where the teacher can look and see the "John Doe" was on ESPN.com instead of CNN.com.

From personal experience as I grow older I have done more work with my computer then as in my undergrad days where I used to live on networking sights.

So what do you think?

Internet and Education

I have two viewpoints on using the Internet in the classroom and it is based on personal experience. As an undergrad when we had a computer in front of us, especially with the capability to use the Internet I would venture a guess that I was doing classwork maybe 50 percent of the time. I looked at it as daydreaming on the world wide web. For instance "it sure is cold out, I wonder how much it would cost to go to Vegas" and so forth.

Since entering grad school, when I bring my computer to class I find myself doing work and researching and would venture a guess that 75 percent of the time I am using my computer for the forces of good. Yes I still check my email and sometimes check the score of a ball game but certainly not as much as when I was younger.

What does this tell me? That if computers are in the classroom, teacher should be allowed to see what the student is looking at. If it is a personal computer it might become an issue because of privacy issues that I could not even begin to address. However, if its the schools property then I feel its fair game.

New Topic

The first topic of the new blog is all about virtual museums, why I picked this, well I just dont know. Ok I do, I am just anti virtual meuseums. I feel a Museum is something that needs to be expierenced as opposed to opening a web page. I remember going to my first museum and seeing how big a blue whale was when I walked into a room. The next year I expierenced a light show about the stars and the solar systems and I thought it was amazing.

I equate it to watching a play in a theater and then reading it in a classroom, its just not the same. I mean you can appreciate it, but you lose something when you don't expierence everything it has to offer. I feel that there should be preview but not the whole story.

A challenge

I have a challenge now for all of you who read this blog (I believe there is about 6 of you). For those of you who are not friends with me on facebook and myspace, I challenge you to find me, friend me, then comment on my pages. If you were an employer, what would you have issues with? Would you find parts of my page inappropriate? Let me know. Happy Hunting.

business

Do you think that Myspace and other sites like it would be good for business or would people think its unprofessional? Personally I think its all dependent on what kind of business your working for. I feel if you are targeting a younger generation and trying to generate buzz about your product, then myspace is where you should go. But I think that if you are targeting fortune 500 companies then myspace probably wouldn't be the place to go. I would feel that a big company would like to see your own designed website as opposed to a myspace or facebook layout. Here's an article that talks about myspace in terms of business.

http://technology.inc.com/internet/articles/200708/campbell.html

The Future

This article discusses current state and the future of social networking. In this article they discuss the use of cell phones with their site amongst other things. Where do you see the future of these networks going?

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1463

On a separate note it is a sad day to be a sports fan in my family and group of friends. For I am a Jets (stink), Notre Dame (stinks even worse) and Mets (don't get me started) fan. Who am I supposed to root for now? Feel free to post along with ideas about facebook and myspace.

Follow-up

This article has to do with my last post. I agree with a lot of what is said in this article. I personaly I use facebook as something I goof off with my friends, not something I take serious like a potential job. I feel the real issue isnt even the words however, but the pictures on facebook. I know for a fact that some of my friends have pictures of themselves smoking something that isn't endorsed by the U.S. government. Here is the article...

http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2006/1/20/employersSnoopOnFacebook

Whose looking atyour profile

Now we have all heard of the many issues with people using Myspace and or facebook to pick up children who are underage. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11064451/

But did you know companies are now finding out about potential employees by looking at their profiles. So you know those pictures where your drunk and falling all over yourself? Yeah future employers might have an issue with that. You know that blog entry you wrote about how you hate doing work and your current boss is an idiot and you would take anything that came your way... yeah maybe not such a good idea.

Do you think anyone should have the right to read your profile, or should it just be for friends haha.

Ahh Tuesday

Read me first ----> http://thinkubator.ccsp.sfu.ca/FacebookTheNewestFadInMarketing

First, did you learn anything new about facebook? I did not know it was created initially for Ivy League schools, and I found that very interesting.

Do you see facebook becoming a fad, or something that will last until the next generation, or will it go away like slap sticks, trolls, pogs and other fads? Also, do you see facebook being an educational tool, or distraction?

Sold out?

First please read this article...

http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2006/08/my_space_is_not_thei.php

Do you believe that Myspace has sold out to "The Man" and has become just another big business more interested in making money then anything else? Is there something to be said against the corportate world?


Finally.... Why do the mets keep losing?

Myspace

Here is a link to some interesting information about myspace using wikipedia. Is there anything in here you did not know about myspace? Do you feel anything in this was inaccurate? Finally do you think "Tom" created this or some other company did?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace

Social Networks/ 9/11

First topic social networking. Today I read an interesting article speaking that Playboy is attempting to create their own social network for college students. Go to www.playboyu.com to read and learn more. Also, most of us are aware of facebook and myspace, does anybody know of different social networks that are flying under the radar? Finally another interesting article talking about the two popular networks.. http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2005/09/09/TheVerge/Facebook.Vs.Myspace.The.Heat.Is.On-979641.shtml

Next topic, yesterday. As we all know it was 9/11, but it didn't seem like it. Perhaps it is different because I am from the NYC area but it did not seem like people were really talking about it this year. I saw more news reports about Britney Spears and her VMA awards then about Osama Bin Laden, do we really care more about her outfit more then where he is?

Social Networking

What is a social network? A social network is a map of the relationships between individuals, indicating the ways in which they are connected through various social familiarities ranging from casual acquaintance to close familial bonds. The term was first coined in 1954 by J. A. Barnes (in: Class and Committees in a Norwegian Island Parish, "Human Relations"). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking

But that's what Google says. To me social networking is getting your name out there and creating opportunities for yourself. Its allowing other people to know what your capable of so if "something" ever comes up, private or professional, that person or group will think of you. Its also allowing people who already know you to learn more about you. Just recently somebody in my IDE 621 "facebooked" me. It allow me to learn more about her background just looking at her biography as opposed to asking a bunch of questions.

So here is my question to you, the reader. Do you use Myspace or Facebook, and if so what made you get started?

Nothing to do with class

Why do they always show Buffalo Bills games up here? Wheres the love for the New York Jets? I mean lets be honest, who has the better team?

My first blog

This will be my first of many blogs. I hope to bring a variety of topics and ideas to this blogging community while focusing on technology and how it will help and hurt mankind. I hope everyone enjoys it, and have no fear, I have thick skin so feel free to be openly critical at all times.