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.