November 30, 2004

Greatest Hits: Color in a Lurid World

Here are the highlights of my works of Color in a Lurid World and a reflection of what I have learned from "Writing for the Internet:"

-->Blog entries that show a sense of coverage<--
1. An Acquaintance with Letters-- a look at how electronic texts are literature.
2. Is Blogging a Genre?-- a critical look at how blogging satisfies the criteria of a genre.
3. Why should We care-- a glimpse of the issue of fact and fiction in blogging

-->Blog entries that show a sense of depth<--
1. Blogs Instead of Books-- examines the value of blogging to develop as a writer
2. Who is Kacee Nicole?-- a reflection of the phenomenon that struck a blogging community
3. Wikis are useful, but not my thing-- a response to discovering wikis, my reaction, and what it says about me.

-->Entries that have sparked Discussion<--
1. Rethinking Marriage-- a critical look at the traditional views of marriage and how they are changing.
2. Parlez-vous francais?-- an update on my individual project's progress.
3.Wikis are useful, but not my thing-- some of our blogger's reactions to wikis
4. Save a Tree, Buy a Computer and BLOG on it!-- a post that was highlighted in Jerz's Literacy Weblog. This was my first official entry in this blog.

-->Xenoblogging<--
1. Critiquing a friend's poetry and receiving poetic critiques.
2. Rethinking marriage spurs a post.
3. The "Three Rs of Blogging"-- a discussion of reading and blogs.
4. "Who is Kaycee Nicole" sparks a post and a discussion.

-->Wildcard<--
1. A Night of Shards-- a Krystallnacht tribute
2. A View of Death-- one of my poetic posts

I have found that writing for the internet is more than just cutting the unnecessary "fat" off your writing. I find electronic writing helps not just in getting to the point, but also making a point and a good one. Electronic texts require a keen sense of organization and style, which are characteristic of print writing. Finding an audience is also a skill I learned in internet writing that can carry over to print writing.

The most important part of internet writing is it requires you to think. Since your writing will be met with instant criticism or praise, you are motivated to only put out the best. Thinking is key in each argument made on blogs. (What are the most important arguments? How do I compile the most important arguments and still make a coherent thesis?) Writing for the internet is an adventageous experience for any writer, print or electronic.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 8:10 PM | Comments (0)

November 21, 2004

The Number "One" dismal poet

If you look up TranscendingMadness on Google, you will notice that our webpage is number one...

You will also notice that my personal website, one dismal poet is the number "one" dismal poet (woo-hoo! (':) I just wanted to publish my excitement and recommend a visit to the TranscendingMadness website and blog.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 7:46 PM | Comments (5)

November 20, 2004

Parlez-vous français?

Bonjour! I have now published to the web a prototype of my individual project for Writing for the Internet. My project is constucting and maintaining a webpage for an outside client.

Please note: this is only a prototype and some of the links won't be active yet. I will soon have a more complete version availible when I get the pages finished for the site.

Right now, I am mainly interested in what people have to say about the navigation and setup. If you have any problems, thoughts, questions, etc, please feel free to post them on this entry. Suggestions will help me much as well. Don't worry if you can't speak french, there is an English version available, which has more content than the French version. You can find this website at:

http://francophones.setonhill.info

Posted by EvanReynolds at 7:40 PM | Comments (3)

November 18, 2004

An Acquaintance With Letters

Recently, I read an article about blogs as literature (actually, Literature). Then, when consulting my "best friend, Wikipedia," I found that argument has much value.

According to Wikipedia and the Oxford English dictionary, literature literally means: "an acquaintance with letters." And the modern definition of Literature (with a capital "L") is a "whole body of literary work." With that in mind, what is a blog? It is a collection of "posts." Depending on how you would define the word "post," a blog could be seen as Literature or not.

I feel, electronic or not, blogs are Literature (yes, with a capital "L"). Posts, although not tangible and not produced directly by the author, are a form of written word. Symbols written to represent sounds are considered letters. Adding another dimension behind the texts takes nothing away from what they convey and the efficacy of the text's message. The ideas represented in a set of electronic texts is not inhibited.

Therefore, like cuniform on stone is a technology, so are electronic texts. Cuniform on stone is also a form of written expression that has become archaic. Does this mean that writing letters on stone has lost its status of written expression? I would argue that just because something is archaic, does not mean that it suddenly loses the title of Literature.

Likewise, when a new medium of written expression transcends from pure speculation to reality, it is still written expression. The pen writers use to mark the paper is just another piece of technology... Unless you look at it from a different perspective, then it could be a way to record thoughts and ideas and convey them. Letters are letters, whether they are made by a chissel and rock, paper and ink, or a system of transistors that move to make binary code and send the electronic code for displaying on a monitor. In every case, it is an "acquaintance with letters..."

Posted by EvanReynolds at 7:48 PM | Comments (1)

November 17, 2004

Coming Soon...

For my individual project for my Writing for the Internet class, I am constructing a webpage for an outside client. I picked this university's French Club. Soon there will be a webpage for it.

So far, I have designed the way the page will navigate. I have also finished and published three pages for the site. The design is simple, but when I get to finish and compile the research, the information will be invaluable. I will include links to study abroad opportunities not only here, but also elsewhere. I made this website bilingual and included appropriate navigation for it.

I feel like I still need more help with what sort of content would be attractive to add on the first page. I gave a description of what this page will include and how it can benefit the reader. I want something more interesting and dynamic, but need some ideas to toss around.

I would like to have some pictures on the site. Would that be detrimental to the content? Also, I would like to test the usibility with a more advanced user (you) if you don't mind. Other than that, I should be good to go.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 10:51 AM | Comments (2)

November 12, 2004

Rethinking Marriage

I want to know what the rationale behind prohibiting same-sex marriage, especially same-sex marriage rights. What logical, scientific, or legal (non-Biblical) justification is there? Why is there a conscious effort to pass Ammendments prohibiting such marriage when the facts don't add up? If you don't agree, please open up why. And then I challenge you to read the American Psychological Association's resolution on sexual orientation.

In abstract, the resolution points to numerous research of the stress caused by discrimination, namely the attacks on basic human rights such as marriage and civil equality.

"Lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations have higher rates of stress-related psychiatric disorders..." -APA Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Marriage

Clearly, not only are the bans destructive to civil liberties, but also destructive to the people they affect.

This is not just an issue of marriage, this is an issue of equality. Someone once tried to persuade me (to no avail) to vote for Bush because "he supports same-sex unions." Well, apparently that person never understood what exactly a "civil" union is. According to the US General Accounting Office, same-sex couples under civil unions are denied the same benefits, rights, and privileges as their heterosexual counterparts.

There is only one logical explaination as to why there is a movement to suppress the rights of others based on sexual orientation: bigotry in the form of heterosexism. As one of my fellow bloggers quoted on Harvey Fierstein:

"If the man is willing to discriminate against an entire minority the right name for him is BIGOT. If that minority you have deemed less than worthy for full human rights is the homosexual community, then the right name for him is HOMEOPHOBE."

Bluntly put, but it gets the point across. You can see his transcript in its entirety at: inthelife.org

Posted by EvanReynolds at 7:52 PM | Comments (15)

November 11, 2004

Blogs instead of Books

Imagine this: you walk into your very first college class to hear your professor say "Okay, class. You won't be required to buy a textbook... Everything we do will be online!"

Sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, right?

Guess what, I have a class fitting everything I described, and I consider it one of the most useful and influencial classes I have ever taken. Blogs are a form of communication. We grow through our interactions with others. Therefore, blogging is a growth experience as a writer.

Developing as a Writer through Immersion
After reading the article Moving to the Public: Weblogs in the Writing Classroom, I was able to look back at myself and my writing through my blogging experience. Although short, I find that I have become more comfortable and confident as a writer. Knowing that people have actually taken their time to read my entries motivates me.

As mentioned in "Moving to the Public," blogs (and students) "can work on just about any computer that has internet access." I must also add, blogs can be read by a wide variety of browsers. This gives a large public access to your blog. But, the most important thing is the public can comment on what they expect from your writing, and possibly give advice on how to improve it.

I will admit, blogs put pressure on their writers. I constantly think about what to say next so that I won't sound like a total schmuck. This pressure is good; it makes the writer slow down and think (especially about what is necessary to say and what isn't). Obviously, that is a quality of a good writer. I tend to agree with the article; I never imagined it, but I take more pride in my bad entries that I post on my blog, than my good entries that I keep from my blog.

(The reason I post my bad entries on my blog is that I want advice on them. I want to know how I can improve them. I keep my good entries out of my blog for fear that someone will think they are bad).

I agree that "frequent blogging reduces anxiety about publishing to the web, about writing publicly." I would even say it helps with anxiety of publishing in general. Since you don't have a person to tell you "I'm sorry, your work is not what we're looking for," you can skip straight to the editing (which ironically occurs after publication).

My favorite aspect of blogging is that I can post a work in progress to get support through the actual writing, revision, idea formulation, etc. But, even greater is how "blogging represents the interaction of a community." The fact that the people who continue to visit your blog, because they take personal interest in your writing is exciting. And, yes, you feel more connected to those people.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 7:27 PM | Comments (1)

November 10, 2004

Judges Judged

Check out this post by one of my friends, Neha Bawa. Pretty scary stuff...

Free Press?
Taken from the New York Times.

Note: the newsarticle link may require registration.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)

Capitalism with a capital "C"

I feel the motto of those "Christian" book stores should be:

Welcome to the HolyBookStore! Although we don't have a Bible in plain sight, we want your money we want you to go to heaven! So we will charge you an arm and a leg will direct you to the back, where we keep the Bibles! And if ya don't give us your FREAKIN'... And if you have any questions, please ask. Good bless you! (If you give us your wallet, God bless you twice!).

Frankly, I think it is sick to capitalize on Christianity, but that is just my opinion and I could be wrong. I have yet to figure out exactly why some have an esperesso bar. Although, the candles they sell are nice...

Posted by EvanReynolds at 8:40 PM | Comments (5)

Lost Reflection

Beautiful flowers paint the garden,
Colors of brightness. I look into the
shimmering pool beside the garden's
blissfull shade. A moment in paradise.
the Sun is shining, a fire awakens in the
Sun's searing passion. A jealousy is arroused
within the sun's beaming rays. A fire scorches
all the flowers. I see them whither as the pool
dries to dust. A fountain falls onto the dead space
that occupies the barren garden. Empty trees and
empty memories yet further relinquished to the fire.
My reflection, lost with the waters that fed the garden.
Gone at the fall of the Death Angel's hand in a battle to
destroy divergence, an apocalypse, a genicide. A holocaust
of Difference.

Please offer your suggestions for this poem; this is still a work in progress. I wanted to post it for a second opinion.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 8:07 PM | Comments (1)

November 9, 2004

A Night of Shards

In rememberance of Kristallnacht, I would like to ask anyone who believes in God, in whatever way, to pray for peace and especially remember the struggles that go on among the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. I hope that you will also pray that God will bless our Islamic brothers as they near the end of the Holy Month fasting, Ramadan; especially these last ten days, known as Lailat ul-Qadr. Let us remember Kristallnacht and the devestation created by hate. I am in no way trying to take sides with any of these three religions, but I am praying for unity among every person.

Although I firmly believe that there are differences among these religions, I also believe that the similarities outweigh the differences in the following ways:

1. Belief in one God--all these religions have one God. The only thing that differs is the religious perspectives and concepts of God.

2. Prayer--Prayer is seen in all these religions. Some religions have a specific time to pray, some have specific ways to pray. But, the fact still remains that prayer is an important part of faith.

3. Deeds that reflect faith in God--whether it be alms, tithes, good deeds, or general conduct that reflects a belief, all these religions have similar ways of conveying faith through actions.

4. Fasting-- Each of the three religions has a time of fasting. With Judaism, it is Yom Kippur, with Christianity, Lent, and with Islam, it is Ramadan.

5. Communal gatherings--All three of the religions have a time of gathering. For example, in Judaism, there is a Shabbat, or Sabbath equivilent to the Christian Calendar's Saturday. Christians meet on Sunday for church. Muslims must make the Hajj and meet on Fridays for yaum as-sabt, the Sabbath day.

I encourage you, whatever religion you follow, pray that God will unite us as humans. And ask Him to celebrate not just our differences, but also our similarities. Feel free to discuss and if there is anything non-objective or inaccurate please correct me, I tried to research this topic as much as I could.

I researched and summarized my findings from Wikipedia under the articles Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 6:57 PM | Comments (2)

November 8, 2004

A World Awaiting

It's murderous labor--hard and cold--
That opens opportunity's gates,
A pathway to a city of gold;
Behind the walls a world awaits
To join the triumph in the eyes
Of God and angels' open arms
For working past the chains and bonds
To join the Father of the skies.

Posted by EvanReynolds at 9:30 PM | Comments (0)

November 7, 2004

Read books, get... Brain?

A recent article by Reuters pointed out a clothing company endorsing a snappy slogan on bus ads: "Read books, get Brain." For those of you out there who are lost, "brain" is street slang for oral sex. Intentional? Maybe, but it makes for some good laughs!

Posted by EvanReynolds at 1:55 PM | Comments (1)

November 2, 2004

Wikis are Useful, But not My Thing

When asked in class what I thought of a wiki, I did not have the foggiest clue what to say. I would use a wiki for personal research any day. But I am not crazy about the whole concept. Where are the "experts" to review what gets placed on a wiki? What if you researched on a wiki on a bad day just after someone decided it would be funny to put a not-so-reliable link or incorrect information before a knowledgable person can edit it?

Wikis scare me while at the same time they can be incredibly useful. They scare me because they are regulated by God-knows who and by God-knows how many people. The scariest part is, there is no way to know the author's (of whatever article) credentials. Anyone can post anything on the internet. But at the same time I absolutely love the idea that legitimately knowledgable people can share their knowledge to the world in realtime. There is some insatiable desire within everyone to do the quick method. However, the quickest way is not always the best. Accuracy is what scholarly journals and books strive for.

Do I like the wiki? It depends on the situation. If I need a quick fact to be able to throw back with my argumentative friends (because I love to show people that they are wrong (': ) or to impress my professors with my unlimited capacity for learning (yeah, right). If I am writing my dissertation to get a PhD someday, I would rather stick to peer-reviewed journals and books.

My favorite side of wikis is the fact that I can show off the few obscure facts I do know, even though there is not much recognition given to someone who writes a wiki article. This shows that I am apprehensive and generally cynical because I think negatively about the nature of the people who contribute to the wiki. It shows that I am apprehensive about the society and culture behind new technologies. While at the same time, it shows that I am realistic and down-to-earth because of the fact that I can look at a wiki from both perspectives. I can appreciate the wiki and credit the wiki with certain values; while, at the same time, I can look critically at the wiki for certain uses. Overall, I am indifferent, not because I don't have strong feelings either way, but because the views I have cancel each other out.

Wikis are more than just a useful (or not-so useful) tool, they are and will be a part of everyday life. Like an encyclopedia, wikis will be around for a while; so we might as well learn to live with them (positively or negatively).

Posted by EvanReynolds at 6:56 PM | Comments (3)

November 1, 2004

What is evil?

Being in a college that is about half Catholic, I must ask: what is evil? Could someone explain this to me? Assuming that the soul is of God, how can the soul be inherently "bad?"

Also, how can we assume that everything we do as humans is based on a conscious choice and everyone who does something that has a negative effect should be punished? Has every "evil" person really seen the light of God and rejected it? How can we jump to that conclusion? Who are we to judge what is right or wrong morally when every person's morals are different? But also, when must we draw the line on forgiveness, assuming that we should not judge?

Posted by EvanReynolds at 8:07 PM | Comments (3)

Things to Ponder...

Why does the Microsoft Word XP spell check recognize the word francophobe and not francophone? Just curious...

Posted by EvanReynolds at 10:50 AM | Comments (1)