Thursday, November 15, 2007

HW35: Letter to my Blog Readers <3

It is crazy to think that my first semester of college is over in just a few days. It has gone by so fast but I have learned so much in this short amount of time. In the past 13 weeks of our Blogging class and maintaining a blog of my own I have learned that anyone can blog and you don’t have to be a computer genius to do so. I have also had the opportunity to read other blogs and learn that they are another source for information. I always thought that blogs were teenagers ranting about how bad their lives were but now I know that they are used for many more reasons than that. If someone was to read my blog now or in the future I would hope they would get out of it some help on the readings that they are doing and maybe some guidance. I think our blogs would help other students understand reading and conversations that we have had in the class which were difficult for us. The work on my blog that I am the most proud of would be anything that is my opinion I feel that I usually stand strong with my beliefs and I don’t hide them and change my opinion because someone else doesn’t agree. I think I prove this in the blogs about Baghdad Burning, because the book is really effecting the way I am viewing the war in Iraq, but it is also really making me nervous about the friend troops I have in Iraq and the friends I have that are shipping out in January. Once this class is over, I’m honestly not sure if I will use my blog. I find myself so centered with classes and friends right now that I don’t even take them time to email or use MySpace or Facebook like I used to use them when I was in high school and had a lot of free time. I guess if I was to us my Blogger account it would most likely be to rant about something that was going on in our world that I didn’t agree with. I recommend this class to all the freshman and even upper classmen it really helped me understand what is going on in today’s society and how much our world is being changed by technologies. It was always interesting and I learned so many new things. To my pod, it was great getting to know you ladies and I wish you the best of luck through out the rest of college and life. :) peace and love <3

HW34: Responding To Riverbend 2 Questions

According to Riverbend in Baghdad Burning……..
Question 1: What is the role of gold in family savings in Iraq? Riverbend says, “Iraqi people don’t own gold because they are either spectacularly wealthy, or they have recently been on a looting spree… Gold is a part of our culture and the role it plays in “family savings” has increased since 1990 when the Iraqi Dinar (which was $3) began fluctuating crazily.” (Riverbend 100) Riverbend continues to describe how when an Iraqi couple gets married the male usually gives the female a “mahar,” which is a dowry made up of gold jewelry. When a couple has a child the child usually receives small gold jewelry. Before the raids occurred parents could keep or sell their child’s jewelry in order to help bills and such, but since American invaded they no longer can sell their gold.

Question 2: Why are date palms important to Iraqi people? Dates are so important to Iraqi people because they provide food and different types of uses for the people in Iraq. “There are over 300 different types of dates-each with its own name, texture, and flavor.” (Riverbend 104) She continues to explain how the palm dates also are made to make date syrup, “khal” or vinegar, “areg” a very high alcohol content drink and they are also used to trade with neighbors so they can sample the fruit you are growing. It can also be used as oil for cooking, and some of the pits are cleaned and sanded and made into necklace pieces.

HW32: Responding to Riverbend KBR

In the book Baghdad Burning by Riverbend, on page 78 she talks about KBR and foreign contractors in Iraq. KBR stands for Kellogg, Brown and Root, a part of the oil company Halliburton. Riverbend quotes them as saying “They handle construction and engineering services for the energy community.” I think in this blog post Riverbend is trying to prove to her readers that Iraqi’s are capable of rebuilding their own country, they have don’t it before and they can do it again. American government is giving American companies all the work to be done in Iraq and the Iraqi’s are not able to work and make money so they have no money to buy anything to feed their families. She also mentions that American companies are hiring Iraqi help but not paying them the correct amount of money for the work that they are doing or not giving them enough money to complete the projects that are set before them. I find it mind boggling that we went into Iraq to help them build into a developed country and what are we doing, we are taking al the money ourselves and not even giving the Iraqi people a chance to help themselves.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

HW30: Citizenship Symposium

November 6, 2007 started the week long Citizenship Symposium at Keene State College. The first talk the I attended also was the first talk of the symposium. This talk was titled, "What kind of Democracy do we want?" There were a few different talkers, the Keene State Provost, Mayor Micheal Blastos, and guest speaker Nancy Tobi. The speakers all talked about out democracy and touched upon subjects such as the increasing interest that Keene State Students are taking in politics and government. The Mayor presented KSC with a plaque to announce that "November 6th, Citizenship day was here at KSC." And Nancy Tobi allowed us to view a slide show she called "Citizens Gone Wild." Her main position on the subject was that every person in our society can make a difference if they try. She also talked about Election Crime.

November 8, 2007 was the third day of the Citizenship Symposium here at Keene State College. The second talk I went to was titled "Citizenship and Responsibility" by Tom Lantos. Tom Lantos is a Holocaust survivor and he is the only Holocaust survivor to be in the US congress. Mr. Lantos came to the United States after WWII, he is the Chair of Foreign Affairs. He stated how he had spoken to the new President of France the day before and he then stated that "America did not teach men the idea of freedom, she taught them how to practice it." Mr. Lantos was also very excited because the day before they had passed the Employment Non Discrimination Act, and he said that was a dream come true for him. Tom Lantos then spoke a lot about how the image of the United States is at an all time low. People in surrounding countries are forgetting the good things Americans have done for them and concentrating on the negative affects that are happening around the world such as in Iraq. Mr. Lantos said that are next President has a big task ahead of them because they have to drasitically bring our country back together. Citizenship means the status, rights and duties of a citizen, especially of a particular country, that means that we have a duty to up hold as Americans and I think that Mr. Lantos was trying to tell us that we cannot give up because of everything that is going on because it will get better things are getting better.

HW31: Responding To Rivebend

I chose to do some research on the head scarfs known as a hejab, that woman are being forced to wear in Iraq. I got my information from, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35086-2004Dec29?language=printer .
In the Islamic holy book, the Koran, it tells a Muslim the reasons why they should wear a hejab, but those are the religious reasons. The woman in Iraq today are not wearing them for religious reasons, they are wearing them to save their own lives. In the article I read the woman stated that, "The whole point of wearing scarves now was to be annonymous and unimportant, to aviod being singled out and followed, or kidnapped, or shot." This problem is new for the Iraqi women. Before the American invasion many Iraqi women felt that wearing the hejab was an option and they could chose not to wear it.Fadhil Shaker said " They want to hide or take shelter or protect themselves. For women, the scarf is the best way to protect them. Women believe the scarf will be the wall to prevent people from looking at them." I don't think it is fair that the most advanced country in the world invades another country and causes there women to fear their safety and fear for their lives when they go outside their homes. I feel awful for these womens, it seems they no longer have any rights because America invaded and has occupied their home land and their have been so many shooting and abdunctions that they are no longer safe in their own towns out side of their homes. It just doesn't seem right to me.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

HW28: Open Letter To Riverbend

Dear Riverbend,
As I read your blogs from Baghdad Burning August 19th to the 30th, I have gained a great respect for the people of Iraq. The way the story is told to me from the American troops is different from what you see and suffer every day. On page 8, August 19th you talk about the raids and how a ten year old boy was killed during an American raid. Tears came to my eyes, I have a lot of friends over in Iraq and stationed in different parts of the world, but those are the things that they don’t talk about and the news doesn’t show. On the other hand on page 13, August 22nd I found it interesting how you said “I don’t hate Americans, contrary to what many people believe.” I found this interesting because it made me change my view on the people in Iraq. When you talk about how you are just like we are, and you wear jeans and watch television and use the internet it made me realize that the view I had of Iraq from the media is not what Iraq is like at all, and it made me feel very guilty. I was also very touched and made me take a step and examine my own life when you talked about how woman could no longer work or go out of the house without a male and or bodyguard present. In my life I have the ability to come and go as I please and I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for you to not be able to leave your own home in your own country as you wish. I cannot express to you enough how sorry I am that I did not understand what this war was all about until I began to read your blog and it has really made me think about the American government and what they are thinking and how they can just go into another country and invade and try to rebuild a country to be more like America when it’s not America. When you talked about how big American companies are getting all the opportunities to rebuild Iraq and Baghdad it made me realize how selfish Americans can be. If we want to advance Iraq in their government and economics then why aren’t Americans giving them a chance to rebuild their own communities and make money for their families? I am very confused and very interested in reading more of your blog. My heart goes out to you and all the people in Iraq and Baghdad and all the places that are being invaded by American troops.
<3

Thursday, November 1, 2007

HW27: Anontated Bibliography

Riverbend. Baghdad Burning, Girl Blog From Iraq. New York: Feminist Press.2005
This book is written by a 24 year old female living in Iraq during the current war. The book is written in the form of Blog posts, almost like a diary. This book is relevant to the course because it is a blog and it talks about and shows the reader how blogs are affecting people all around the world. I think this book will teach me a lot about the different uses that blogs have and I like the point of view it is written in. As Americans we only see things from our point of view on the war and I think it will be good to hear about what it is like to actually be in Iraq. I think the hardest thing about reading this book is going to be that it is the truth and that it is scary stuff. I think it will be great to read but scary because some of my best-friends are in Iraq and the guy I am currently dating will be deployed for Iraq in January, so I think that will be my biggest challenge, is knowing what they are being faced with over there. But I also didn't want to put the book down last night either! So I think this book will be very interesting and informative.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

HW24: A Room of My Own

In chapter 5 of A Room Of One's Own by Virginia Woolf she writes, "For all the dinners are cooked, the plates and cups are washed; the children are set to school and gone out into the world." (93 Woolf) In this quote I think Woolf is talking about how woman used to be treated and how they had no rights. All they were allowed to do was sit in the house to cook and clean. However in chapter 6 Woolf says "... each of us and rooms of our own; if we have the habit of freedom and courage to write exactly what we think..." (118 Woolf) I think this quote describes the woman of 2007. Woman have come a long long way over the years and they know have the rights to get out of the house and work evenly on the same level as men. I myself feel that i have a room of my own. I have the right and the ability to think and express myself in anyway that I feel is appropriate. I have things that I own such as the computer i am typing on and the cell phone in my pocket. I feel though that with this oppurtunity that woman have been given to be equal with men, comes a lot of responsibility. I don't think that it is something that was just given to woman they had to earn it over the years and we as woman have to up hold all the horrible things the woman before us went through to get us where we are today. Equality should be respected and not taken for granted.

HW23: With Apologies to Virginia Woolf

Analyzing the blog, Ugly Business: Modeling Industry Still Loves It Some Leggy White Blondes
By Dodai on ugly business, in the style of Viginia Woolf (page 63).

It is pitiful that woman of different races can not get equal jobs, no matter who beautiful they are or how dedicated they are. Can these models help themselves? I ask is the modeling industry being racisit or are we just not ready for the change that needs to be made? These woman must have spent many years modeling, practicing, and getting their bodies "perfect", and they are being torn down and denied jobs because of there race and color of thir skin. These models should be given a fair chance at the job. We as buyers will never know how a model of anothe race will affect the clothing we buy if we have never experinced it. Our world is changing everyday and the job oppurtunities need to change with it aswell.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

HW22: Patriarchy it's still Kickin

“The most transient visitor to this planet, I thought, who picked up this paper could not fail to be aware, even from this scattered testimony, that England is under the rule or patriarchy” (Woolf 33). I think Woolf says this because the paper was written by a male, and in the chapter she tells the reader everything else he owns like, “He was the Foreign Secretary, and the Judge. He was the cricketer; he owned the racehorses and the yachts. He was the director of the company the pays tow hundred per cent to its shareholders” (Woolf 34). In my Social Problems class my professor said “America is run by men for men,” and I think that is kind of what Woolf is trying to tell us. Then males in the society at the time she is writing still had control over the woman and they owned things and woman were just another piece of property. I think in today’s 2007 society in some ways it is still a Patriarchy Society but not anywhere near what it used to be when my grandparents were younger. I think if people came here that had no idea about the changes American’s have seen over the years, that they would see a Patriarchy Society because males are still in all the high positions and I personally feel that males have the final say in everything that happens in our society.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

HW21: Dear Trevor <3

Dear Trevor,
I can completely understand why you don’t understand this book, A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf. In chapter 1 she mentions that her thesis is “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction,” if I could possibly define this chapter in simple terms, I would say that the chapter is very important but it strays from the thesis a bit. In chapter one Woolf takes us as readers into another area and tells us about fiction. In the story the Woolf begins to tell about “Oxbridge,” she tells us about how woman are treated in this certain time frame. She mentions that woman are not allowed to walk on the grass, and that they are not allowed into the library without a male figure present. Woolf then goes on to describe how the luncheon went at the college and she begins to compare it to a luncheon post-war time. She compares the two using poetry to show how much things have changed since before and after the war. At the end of the chapter Woolf talks about poverty and the effects it has in our lives.
Hope it helps,
Love Cj.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

HW19: Censoring Blogs and Social Networking

In the book Blog! how the newest media revolution is changing politics, buisness, and culture by David Kline and Dan Burstein, the reading Web of Influence by Daniel Drenzer and Henry Farrell, they talk a lot about how blogs are used internationally and how they are being censored in certain countries. They mention that China filters what their citizens read from foreign blogs. Although some readers may agree, I would argue that people should have the option to read the blogs they chose and have the right to respond to those blogs in the form that they feel is right without being worried that they will be forced to face some form of punishment. Even more importantly, restricting access to the internet as Drenzer and Farrell have mentioned, is not the best answer to stopping people from having their own opinions. Either way, the citizens of a country are going to have certain feelings about their democracy and if they are not aloud to express themselves through a blog or some form of the internet they will most likely just find another way to have their voices heard. And if they don't and they keep it bottled inside, it is more or less guarentted that the more pressure and aggravation that builds up they will eventually burst, and end up in trouble anyways. But above all the fact that Drenzer and Farrell mention that people are being punished for expressing themselves in blogs and social networks just boggels my mind. I could not imagine living in a country that I could not voice my opinion on the way things were being run and how I felt about the democratic system in my country. I think it's crazy that these people are letting people control their thoughts and how they talk about their feelings.

Monday, October 8, 2007

HW18: My Least Favorite Blog

The blog I read and disliked this week was “Some Like it Hot” by Sacha Pfeiffer (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/10/07/some_like_it_hot/?page=full). I least liked this blog because I thought it was pointless. The post talks about how the “baby boomers” are eating way more hot and spicy foods than ever before. Contrary to popular belief as every human grows older they are going to lose taste buds there for looking for food with more of a kick than they did when they were in their youth. And the youth are going to eat spicy foods because their parents and grandparents are eating it. I do not think it is such a phenomenon that it needs to be written about in a blog. As anything in the world things, including food and people, go through phases in their life times and this is just another phase. I least like this blog because I feel like they just had nothing better to write about, though at the same time I found it interesting that a blogger from The Boston Globe would write about spicy foods. I think the blog could have been more interesting, maybe it’s just me and I don’t find the subject all that interesting to me.

HW17b: Applying Graff to Cox

In the readings “Blogging the Presidency: an interview with Markos Moulitas Zuniga” and “Sex, Lies, and Political Scrapes: an interview with Ana Marie Cox” from Blog! How the newest media revolution is changing politics, business, and culture, by David Kline and Dan Burnstein, the blog that would most likely influence the way I would vote in the upcoming election would be Ana Marie Cox’s blog at http://www.wonkette.com. Her blog would influence my decision of a presidential candidate more because she writes on a more personal level and he blog page is more interesting that Markos Moulitas Zuniga’s blog page. Cox’s page includes pictures and videos that are more interesting to young adults, like myself. She writes things that are interesting and that capture our attention, things that the media will not show in fear of getting sued. As blog readers and writers, I believe that we come to realize that these presidential candidates are regular people like you and I, and I think that Cox’s has a very unique way of showing her readers that. I can understand though why people would rather read Zuniga’s blog because he is a more serious writer and talks more about the campaign instead or the sexual aspects and funny happenings. But without those funny happenings, I feel that we as Americans feel inferior to the presidential candidates.

Monday, October 1, 2007

HW14: Respond To Denton Using Graff

I agree with Denton, as a result of people having obsessions with many different things and aspects in our everyday lives, they will use any form of communication and information to feed and fulfill their obsession. As an illustration, my roommate likes to read the hype about Hollywood Stars, and has just informed me that she read a blog about how Brittany Spears lost custody of her children. To put it bluntly Denton mentions how in blogs, if you write about things people are passionate about they will be drawn to it, and will feel the need to read it. While yet Denton also talks about how blogging is not actually a new phenomenon and that it has actually been going on for years, I believe it is hitting a new place and a new age group. Furthermore I think it is becoming used for many different reasons than anyone ever antisapaited, I do not honestly think when the first bloggers began blogging that they thought KSC would have a course all about blogs. As a result, I think blogging will stay as a form of communication and information, but will never replace mainstream media.

Monday, September 24, 2007

HW11:"Making Global Voices Heard"

The blog I chose to view today was, Jeff Ooi's blig Screenshots at http://jeffooi.com . When I arrived at his blog i was slightly dissapointed because it was so plain and dull. I think the only person that blogs on this site is Jeff himself. The writing style is kind of unique he gives you the information you need to know bluntly without going on and on about random things that no-one really cares about. This blog is about politics in Malaysia, or atleast thats the impression I got from ready the blog.
I agree with Rebecca MacKinnon, in the article, "Making Global Voices Heard," MacKinnon describes Jeff Ooi's blog as someone who dares to critize authority. In the blog he questions the government and the roll they play in the society that he lives in.
Yet some readers may challenge my view that Jeff Ooi's blog is about politics in Malaysia. After all many have different opioions and different understanding of the way bloggers convey there methods. Indeed, my own argument that Jeff Ooi's blog is about politics in Maylasia is supported by Rebecca MacKinnon's interveiw, some may see it in a different way and think it is based upon something other that just politics and the Malaysian government.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

HW9: Applying Graff 4 to Waldman

While reading “A Weblog Saved My Life Last Night” an interview with Ayelet Waldman, I agree that “When you blog, you blog about what outrages you or what moves you enough to write,” (Kline and Burstein 311) because my experience with blogging on MySpace.com confirms it. As I have many of times turned to posting on MySpace and MySpace blogs to let out my anger with friends, family, and just life in general. It is the easiest way to let people know how you feel without verbally telling anyone, but still people get to read how you’re feeling and they get to respond to you with their thoughts and emotions. I personally feel that when writing a blog the fact that you know people are going to be reading it makes it all the more real and you truly write exactly what is going through your mind. The writer doesn’t have to face the reader and usually on MySpace posts and blogs it is people complaining about a horrible friend, a shitty boyfriend, or annoying parents. The things that set people off, make for good blogs, and they attract many readers.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

HW7: "My So-Called Blog"

In “My So-Called Blog” by Emily Nussbaum, she demonstrates how online blogging is affecting the teenage generation. I think teenagers should be able to write online in a Live Journal without being worried that their parents will be checking it. Nussbaum states, “Back in the 1980’s, when I attended high school, reading someone’s diary would have been the ultimate intrusion.”(Kline and Burnstein 351) I agree with Nussbaum but at the same time I disagree. While you would never let anyone read your personal hand written journals hidden under your bed, why should your parents feel the need to read your journal online? I support the teenagers who turn to Live Journals and Blogs to express themselves. The teenagers who use it as a form of counseling and letting out their anger, and I personally think that some of the teenagers are asking for help when they write about self harm on their journals and blogs. In conclusion, I do not think that parents should monitor everything their children do and write online unless they have a huge concern and a definite reason to read it.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

HW6: Interest Statement for Semester Long Project

Social computing technologies that I am most interested in right now are; instant messaging, social networking services, and text messaging. The reason I am interested in instant messaging and text messaging is because they are a huge part of my life and a huge part of my forms of communication; not only with my friends but with my family as well. I know many teenagers and adults that rely on their cell phones and computers more than their home phones and old fashion mail boxes. I am interested in social networking because myspace.com and facebook.com are also a main part of my life and it could almost be considered an addiction of mine. Through myspace.com and facebook.com I stay in contact with my friends who are overseas and fighting in the war over in Iraq and do not get to use a computer very often or make phone calls.

Right now the kinds of empowerment of marginalized groups that I am most interested in finding out about are; overcoming racism, rights and empowerment of poor or working-class people, and rights and empowerment of people with HIV/AIDS. The reason I chose these three groups are because they all interested me when I read the paper. I do not have any specific reason why I chose them.

The geographical areas I think I will begin my research in would be the United States and Europe, I chose these two areas because I think they have a lot in common but I think it would also be interesting to see how different life is somewhere else compared to here when you belong to a different group of people. I think it would also be interesting to see if text messaging and Myspace.com is as an addiction in Europe as it has become in the United States.

HW5b: "I Blog, Therefore I Am"

In the article “I Blog, Therefore I Am,” by David Kline, Kline emphasizes that the world is coming to what it was always meant to be, a “democratic society” where everyone living in it was allowed to have their own voice whether they were smart, disrespectful, or if they were completely clueless. Kline reminds us of how the United States is supposed to operate. I do not deny any of the facts that Kline is implying. Throughout the years I feel that the right to freedom of speech has vanished, and Kline points out that with the invention and use of blogging the average man or woman can have the freedom and speech and can talk about whatever they want and still get feedback and see what other people around the world have to say about their view. I however question how long blogging will last, I feel that as a society things in our lives change so fast and we are constantly grasping new ideas and new forms of communication, that it only seems fair to me to say that blogging like e-mail and instant messaging will slowly fade away and become something different like instant messaging has become text messaging.

Monday, September 10, 2007

HW4:Option 2 & Verizon Wireless

In my room after reading, “The Voice of the Customer” by David Kline, I chose to do my blog on option number two. In option number two you have to pick something in your room and analyze the brand. The brand I chose is actually the company Verizon Wireless. I chose Verizon because when I sat down to write my blog my cell phone rang and I thought it would be interesting to see what Verizon’s view on its product and service is. When I typed Verizon into www.google.com it came up with a lot of sites about what the costumers had to say but nothing about what Verizon had to say itself. So I went to http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textName=WORRY_FREE_GUARANTEE&jspName=support/worryFree.jsp&textName=WORRY_FREE_GUARANTEE&jspName=support/worryFree.jsp and found Verizon’s “Worry Free Guarantee”. Verizon states that, “No wireless provider stands behind you like Verizon does.” They also have five other promises on their “Worry Free Guarantee” page, they state that, “You'll enjoy America's best, most reliable wireless network,” “You have the option to change your calling plan at any time,” “If you ever have a problem, it becomes our problem the first time you call,” “Your satisfaction is guaranteed on any equipment you purchase from Verizon Wireless,” and “You can get a free phone every two years with New Every Two.”
Since Verizon tells the costumer exactly what they promise, I can’t really tell you what I think it implies. From my experience however I feel that Verizon does an excellent job with upholding their promises. I have had my Verizon Wireless contract for five years, and will be renewing my plan with them in March for another two years. I have never had any problems with the actual Verizon Wireless Company. The only time I had a problem was when my LG Envy broke and I brought it back to the Verizon store and they gave me a brand new one. I have never gone more than five minutes without service on my cell phone and have always been able to make a phone call or send a text message when I needed to. I personally am very impressed with how well Verizon holds their promises to their customers and would recommend this service to anyone.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

HW:3 Respond to "Toward A More Participatory Democracy"

In the reading, Toward a More Participatory Democracy by David Kline it discusses how many people feel that blogging for political reasons is not reaching as many people as they think or wish it had. It also discusses how many Americans feel that mainstream media, such as TV, newspapers, and magazines lie to the world. They change their stories more than Americans can possibly know.
When it comes to the topic of blogging, most of us will readily agree that blogging is affecting everyone around the world. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what blogging is used for and if it is positively affecting society as a whole. Whereas some are convinced that blogging is reaching the number of people in the political sense to make a positive impact, others maintain that blogging will never reach the number of people to make any change at all. I personally think that blogging will someday have an absolute positive effect on the world and on the political aspects of the world and on American society. While on one hand I feel that blogging seems to be ridiculous in a way, I also see the effects it is having on the world. Blogging has made it so easy for people all around the world to talk and discuss world issues, whether they are public or private. After reading Toward a More Participatory Democracy be David Kline, my mind set has changed and I think that blogging will eventually, and most likely in my life time be the main form of all communication on a global level.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

HW2: 12 Key Ideas

In David Kline and Dan Burstein’s Blog! How the newest media revolution is changing politics, business, and culture, they discuss 12 Key ideas about the impact on blogging. In this blog I will be connecting Key idea number two to an interest I have in my own life. Key idea number two states that “Blogs are particularly interesting because they marry so much personality and attitude with this complex mix of software and technologies.” I connected this Key idea with my personal life because I find it interesting how much people throughout the world can now find out about people that live thousands of miles overseas in such a short span of time. The software and technology that is now available through the internet is changing the way we as people view the world and how we interact with others. Blogging is just one small program online for people to use in order to have their voice heard whether it is in a political sense or on a more personal level. I found it very interesting that a blog can hold so much information and can be sent around the world for thousands of people to read in a matter of seconds.