A communal blog for ENGL 3177/5177: Web Logs and Wikis
morgan's office
course wiki

 
I demand that Froyd put up more funny pictures! Hear me! I demand it! Who's with me?
posted by Temporary Display Name at 10:33 PM

 
I thought that I should do some work on the assignment before the weekend even starts so if it's really crappy I will have the whole weekend to make changes and work on my blog ^_^ So if you click here, it's finished for now, but I may do some editing, yet. It took me a long time, lemme see, 2 hours and bout 45 minutes.. yuck.
posted by Jaime at 6:58 PM

 
First: does anybody know where the title to my last post went?
No matter. (for the record, it was "Insider Blogging")

I have manged to re-post (is that anything like "riposte"?) the insider blog review, parts 1 & 2.
The work I thought I sent to my blog last night went elsewhere (and elsewhen for that matter), consequently so did the relatively logical lead-in from parts 1&2 to part 3.

With the added dimension of slightly disjointed rhetoric, the remainder of my insider review is now available at rm101. (ha! no link provided-*wicked maniacal laughter* take that!)

It is definitely time for sleep.

posted by hunter at 12:57 AM

 
My DD is going to be on the news tonight. Channel 9 at 10:00-ish. They interviewed her and some of her classmates regarding the budget cuts that were the theme of Doug Fuller's visit to her school (Lincoln Elementary) today.

posted by Tammi at 2:15 PM

 
Possible wiki outage
There's a possibility that the wiki - including the Entry Point for the course - will be down for an hour or so Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 - 3:00. Sorry about this. Gotta move a computer.

The Daybook will be up and running.
posted by morgan at 8:21 AM

 
Is that like insider trading? Will it make us rich enough we don't care if we go to jail?

Ok--so I finally made a truce with the clock--it agreed to stop counting the minutes and seconds so quickly provided I figured out the difference between days and hours.I don't think it's working; the clock's hands keep moving!

Right. I've managed the blogging of class blogs. Take a look if you wish, or don't , suit yerselves.
Recumbent repose beckons.

siochain,
Hunter
posted by hunter at 2:18 AM

 
Other People's Blogs: Wiki
posted by Audrey at 8:29 PM

 
A note from TheHomeless Guy

Just got this email in response to Mary blogging -

Hello Morgan,

Just a note making note of Mary noting my blog. I didn't see a comment box on her blog, so I ask you, kind sir, to pass on this message of thanks to Mary, and my best wishes to your class.

Kevin Barbieux,

thehomelessguy.net

Mary (and all) if you put your email address in your blogroll, the people you blog will be able to thank you directly. Thank you, Mary, for bringing TheHomelessGuy to the class's attention.
posted by morgan at 6:23 PM

 
From MacInTouch Home Page:
"The BBC News has a story about the European Commission's investigation into Microsoft monopoly abuse:
Microsoft could soon be facing multi-billion euro fines and other sanctions for breaking European competition law.
  The European Commission has finished drafting its decision in the case it brought against the software giant.
  The Commission is likely to decide that the firm illegally tied audio and video software, as well as server systems, to its Windows operating system.
  While continuing talks with Microsoft, it is now circulating the decision to the parties involved."

[Just testing a blogging API for Mac called ecto. ]

Listening to Dude by Beenie Man, feat. Ms Thing
posted by morgan at 4:06 PM

 
On my blogging a blog trip in the net, I stumbled on this site TheHomelessguy that is amust read. People out there are doing serious work with their blogspots. I don't like reading long entries, but this one just grubbed my attention, The story of Barbieux is so intriginly sad and how he started his weblog. Since not everyone visits my blog, I have posted it in the daybook for everyone to read. Please read it.
posted by Oti at 1:48 PM

 
Today: Wednesday
Intro to the wiki: topical publishing. In class, I'll show you how to create, edit, and link wiki pages. For Friday, you'll be designing and writing your WikiName page.

BloggingBlogs is due this evening.

See you in a few hours.




posted by morgan at 7:24 AM

 
Hi, everyone!

I changed my pictures over to that Photobucket Lindsi was recommending. Is my page easier to look at now? Let me know!

Thanks,
Alicia
posted by Alicia at 6:01 PM

 
Thanks for the help Lindsi!!! It takes sometime for me to catch on;)
posted by Desiree at 5:40 PM

 
Desiree: If you go to Manage Posts when you're in the Daybook, you can delete it off of there just like it's your own blog...just so you know! :)
posted by Lindsi at 1:39 PM

 
Atleast someone is finally admitting that is is cold out there.
Thanks downwardlife for that confession. It's a confirmation to me that Im not sick. It is cold indeed. But some of your writings are not ledgible because of the colours. You may concider revising it.
posted by Oti at 4:47 PM

 
Click here for pop-up blockers. Make sure you download one that says "Free" under the license, not "Free to try", otherwise it'll work for a while and then expire on you.
posted by Lindsi at 11:31 AM

 
Crazy about computers. Another is steaming hot in the technology kitchen just about to be set on the table. As for me with my eyesite, I won't bother with that. Too small for me to read anything.
posted by Oti at 9:41 AM

 
Alicia: Well, there aren't any settings or anything that you can change in Safari that will change your home computer. There are, however, some free downloadable pop-up blockers you can download off download.com. Just do a search for "pop-ups" or "pop-up blockers".
I'm not sure of the best ones to suggest, but I can check when I work (at Computer Support) tomorrow, and get back to you.
posted by Lindsi at 11:35 PM

 
hi ho, kermit the frog here--Oops! wrong script!

Today's multi-hour cyber tour turned up a couple of interesting blogs worth meandering through, if nothing else for the opportunity to view things from another side. The request punched into google was for blogs related to social activism. Scrolling down the replete listings I stumbled across Am ha-Aretz a blog detailed as being Judaism for the masses.
How does this relate you may ask, and I will tell you, Tradition! O.k., I really like the Fiddler on the Roof--Tevye was a childhood hero of mine--but it is really the truth. Go have a look and check out the bit refering to Jewish values and debunking some of the myths about what Jews believe.

I swam back across the Mediterannean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to wash-up on the summery thirdcoast of Austin, TX. Social activism is alive and kicking in central tejas! I skimmed this site, 'cause nowhere did it claim bloggizenship. On I surfed...

I paused to rest in the armchair of activism, and there discovered a blog replete with numerous shorty articles, some of urgent societal relevance some not so, er, critical to the nation's social health. Very readable blog with a laundry list of bloggy links well worth clickitty-clacking through. Embedded in said laundry list I quarried out two gems of connection.

In the first, A Mixed Blog, I found a well worded, considered eloquent series of discourses that neatly describe and depict some of the key issues facing our society today--the need for new langauge to describe the social scaffold of our nation, the regretably everpresent spectre of racism and hating, and the call for a termination of racial referencing/typing/identifying of persons as a cornerstone in our society. The thematic thread woven through the postings I read centered on language--the power of language through defining groups, othering people and silencing multitudes of voices. Kindred voices at last!!

The second, The Mahablog, is conversational in structure and offers an insightful yet highly critical view of this nation under the bush administration. It is replete with links to more dissenting voices, and offers writing and reporting of a very high caliber on current political events. The insightful chronicling of the current administrations stumbling and fumbling is a delightful read.

After breathlessly diving through the full length of both these deep wells of information, I surfaced back in toe freezing discomfort of my subterranean retreat--wishing for a mug of something hot and frothy.

I'll get back to the inside classspace blogs after decompression.

Hunter
posted by hunter at 11:09 PM

 
Hmm... For some reason, the pop-up has stopped haunting my blog. Perhaps for only right now, but at least it's a start!

Thanks, Lindsi, for the tip. Is there anyway I could use Safari on the Macs at school and it would stop it from popping up on any computer? I just can't afford to get a Mac, that's all! :)
posted by Alicia at 9:52 PM

 
I'm still getting the hang of blogging it's coming along. I ordered my book from half.com so it should be here this week then hopefully I'll really take off! Still trying to look for 3 outside blogs at this moment... See you all in class tomorrow.

P.S Alicia that pic you asked about in your blog of that lady, it's "Mommy Dearest" Joan Crawford. I laughed at the comparison to M.J
posted by J*me at 8:35 PM

 
Yes, there is a way to stop pop-up ads. Get a Mac, and use Safari. Trust me, I'm not trying to get brownie points from Dr. Morgan, either. I'm completely serious.
posted by Lindsi at 8:12 PM

 
Sean-
Is there anyway to stop the pop-ups? I was pretty mad myself when I was wading through Amazon.com advertisements to preview my own blog... Does anyone know how to stop those blasted things?! Help!!!
posted by Alicia at 7:58 PM

 
Love the blog enhancements(ie. tagboards, weather reporting), hate the pop up ads. I'll live...somehow! Someway!
posted by Froyd at 7:05 PM

 
I just posted a link to an article I believe you might find interesting, especially Dr. Morgan (unless you have read it already!).
posted by Alicia at 6:49 PM

 
Reminders and Updates

For Monday, we're going on to discuss writing spaces and wikis, so read the Bolter handout from Friday.

As well, keep on making blog entries. Blogs make good place to experiment with forms - as I'm sure you're discovering from visiting other blogs. Here's a list of forms I'm working on, and some notes on narrative figures in blog posts to consider.

Blogging Blogs (recently updated) is due Wednesday evening.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

posted by morgan at 2:17 PM

 
ah, the places of financial aid.
posted by Renee at 10:51 AM

 
Now , talk of the underworld and a shudder. Merlot at Midnight, I have been looking Audrey's poster and that alone gives me the crips. I think that I hold the same view as your brother, maybe slightly diferently. I would be afraid of the dark for many days after. For me anything that can interfere with my sleep, is really powerful.
posted by Oti at 5:38 PM

 
I did it! It works!!! Finally!!!! I can't wait to use this more often! Have a nice weekend!!!!
posted by Desiree at 5:29 PM

 
Reminder: for Monday
Monday, we'll start looking at and working in the wiki, so be prepared: read the Bolter handout I distributed today.

Keep blogging regularly over the weekend. Look for opportunities. Make opportunities.

But also be sure to '''blog three external blogs, and three class blogs'''. This is due by Wednesday, but don't let it sneak up on you.

See the Entry Point for more details if you need them.
posted by morgan at 4:06 PM

 
I've been blogged! Check it out! The only problem is is that their permalink doesn't work very well. That's ok. I'm honored none the less.
posted by Froyd at 1:06 PM

 
I'm starting to figure some of this stuff out! Here's some sites to make your blog more fun...if you can figure out how to use them!

For free image-hosting:
Photobucket

For a tag-board (like on my blog):
Tag-Board

For a weather person (like on my blog):
Weather Pixie

If you have any questions for me, Tag me on my board, I'll see it faster than if you ask me in the Daybook!
Have a good weekend, everyone.
posted by Lindsi at 12:34 PM

 
Barb, I had technical difficulties this morning and won't be able to make it to class. Sorry. Please e-mail me if I can still help.
posted by Audrey at 10:20 AM

 
Well, I'm just sitting here trying to catch up a little in this class. I read a few of the blogs. Erin, you make me laugh. I think it's so fun reading these. Everyone is being so honest. Everyone else's is so long. Oye Vey. I'm never going to catch up. And my eyes are going buggy. I think I'm going to call it a night. See you all Friday.
posted by April at 10:31 PM

 
As was instructed, I read and responded on a blog outside of our class. If you don't normally read my blog (which is ok; I forgive you), I had read a blog called Fragmentsfrom Floyd about a man in Floyd County, Virginia. I'm not going to go into any detail considering some of you may have already read my comments. Well, I received an e-mail from Fred, the gentleman who's blog I had viewed. He wrote the following:

Hi Alicia,

Thanks for the kind words. I gather you are in school somewhere, but couldn't glean exactly where.

Funny you should find Fragments via that particular google search. I tried that search on "creative non-fiction blog", found a weblog listed there from which I cut the following...

(I like this quote because it pretty well describes my blog... the dullest author being impeccibly honest. Mostly (as Garrison would add). )

Samuel Taylor Cooleridge
From, "A Writer's Almanac" 10/21/03, quoted by Garrison Keillor


"I could inform the dullest author how he might write an interesting book?let him [or her] relate the events of his [or her] own Life with honesty, not disguising the feelings that accompanied them."

Thanks for stopping by!

Fred

Fred and/or Ann First
Floyd, Virginia
fragmentsfromfloyd.com

I thought you might be interested in hearing what has occurred. See you tomorrow in class!
posted by Alicia at 9:20 PM

 
Yesterday I was so scared to death of the cold and the snow. The weather alerts just worsened the situation. But since Im alive and well today... by the way, I still managed to walk for 15 min this morning from my apartment to class, Im am I now a true Minnesotan?
Bye the way Froyd, your picture of the cow-boy monkey is realy nice.
posted by Oti at 7:39 PM

 
refreshing pages in 109. . . on some of the computers in the cal classroom you have to hold down the mouse button over the browser window you wish to refresh and then choose the refresh option from the little menu which will pop up because the refresh button at the top of the page doesn't always work . . . no comments needed, Sean.
posted by Renee at 8:27 AM

 
This is for the people who have updated, yet it didn't publish. This is jsut a suggestion, and i don't know if this is what's wrong but it happened to me a couple different times tonight, and this may have happened to you as well. It depends on how often your browser refreshes the page that you are viewing, some are set to refresh every time you go there, some are set to refresh once a day, and some never. So, next time you publish to your blog, and you can't see your post there, try hitting the refresh button on your browser and see if that helps. Hopefully, it will.
posted by Froyd at 2:21 AM

 
Barb, I wanted to respond to your question about e-mail but I need to know where you are at with regards to coding so I know where to start the information process. E-mail me if you like--there is at least a slight possibility that I can help.

posted by Audrey at 11:19 PM

 
Hooray! I'm on the list now....YAY! And ladies, I posted a very interesting link on my blog. It is the last one listed. See everyone on Friday!
posted by a dyke... at 10:52 PM

 
The Books

I talked with the bookstore. They intentionally under-ordered for the class; they ordered 17 copies rather than the enrollment of 20. The manager said she would order in 3 sets. She's hoping they will be in by Monday afternoon - but check on Friday.

An alternative is amazon.com or one of the half-price online bookstores.

In the meantime, try to borrow Blood for chapters 1 - 3 for Friday. I'll change the readings for over the weekend so you won't need Blood or Stone for Monday.

While we'll talk about these matters more next week, you might want to refer to my notes on BlogRhetoric. I've incorporated some of Blood's ideas from chapter 2 into that page.

The (informal) assignment for Friday is on the wiki entry point.

Happy blogging -
posted by morgan at 4:26 PM

 
Tammi, you're a dear! I was about to do a search for a color code page but you listed one for us! I'm excited to start experiementing. I think I'm addicted already!
posted by Lindsi at 1:58 PM

 
Here is the site that I cut and pasted color codes from. I liked being able to see the color swatches, it helped me make decisions about which color to try.
posted by Tammi at 1:15 PM

 
For Friday, 23 Jan

On your blog, blog at least one external blog - that is, a blog authored by someone not in this class.

Use a separate posting for this blogging. Refer to Blood, chap 1 - 3 to get a sense of what to look at when you read a blog. Blood mentions considering the kind of blog it seems to be (filter, notebook, journal, some of each, something else), and what the purpose behind the blog seems to be: self-expression, reputation building, giving info - or some of each, or something else. Identifying kinds and purposes aren't ends in themselves; rather, use kinds and purposes can help you start thinking about the blog you're looking at.

Watch, too, for how the blogger defines her blog: bloggers often state their purposes in their description, or a colophon, or on the sidebar. Then you can consider how the blogger is fulfilling the stated purpose in some of the postings.

And a word of advice from Blood: When you blog a blog, write to

transform the feeling of 'this is interesting' into a succinct description of why [the blog] is worth a read. (Blood, p. 30)

You can keep it informal: just a blog entry about another blog.

But link to the blog! If you haven't yet, try creating links: They are the lifeblood of the Web. Blood, Appendix II is good for this.

If you're looking for blogs, start with the BlogSites for the course, or any of the blogs listed in Blood or Stone.

Also, keep up the daily blog postings: Every day a line. Get in the habit of posting something - even a quick note - often.

See you Friday.
posted by morgan at 1:10 PM

 
Hey Simon...What language are your titles? Just curious.
posted by a dyke... at 10:37 AM

 
I have been reading all of the blogs this weekend and this is really fun. I am looking forward to seeing you all in class tomorrow.

Erin~ My mom loves your blog entries. She emailed me some really nice comments about your page. "Hey, Sweetandsourgoth was awesome! She's so honest it was refreshing. It made me want to meet her. I think I have a visual picture of what she looks like! Now I am curious about the goth culture. Her writing style is captivating (coming from one who teaches writing--I liked it!)" I like your page too.
posted by Tammi at 11:40 PM

 
I know I'm lazy, but by the time I got to the bookstore (late last week) the books were sold out!! Does anyone know if they are ordering more or what? I can always go to Amazon.com or something too, I suppose...it'd just be helpful to be able to do the readings before class!
posted by Lindsi at 10:00 PM

 
Thank you, Alicia, that made me feel a lot better. Sometimes I get so wound up over stuff like this. But it's nice to know that people are reading the Daybook and each other's blogs. This is getting to be a lot of fun already. See you all tomorrow.
posted by Temporary Display Name at 8:55 PM

 
Wednesday's coming

Looks like nearly everyone is posting to their respective blogs (well done), and nearly everyone is a member of the Daybook (well done again). Tomorrow in class, we'll address technical difficulties, talk about some suggestions and pointers, answer questions...

We'll also discuss Blood, chaps 2 - 3. Her opening chapters are helpful for getting oriented to blogging and can save you from tears before bedtime.

Until tomorrow -
posted by morgan at 7:57 PM

 
Erin-

I had the same problem last night; even refreshing the page a million times and republishing did nothing. I eventually gave up on it, and when I checked this morning, the post I couldn't manage to publish was right there on my blog, waiting for the world to read. I think Blogger is sometimes slow because it is being used so much by so many people, so if you have to, sleep on it, and it will most likely be there in the morning. Hope that helps!
posted by Alicia at 7:51 PM

 
It finally worked (via BSU e-mail). woo-hoo!
posted by Audrey at 4:59 PM

 
PostTitleThanks for the invitation to joing the Daybook Blog. I just returned from Chicago where I met (for the first time) my new grandson (the only one!) He is quite a unique personality and is being greatly enjoyed. See you on Wednesday. Barb
posted by Barb at 4:10 PM

 
I always love Tuesdays and Thursdays those are my easy days and I only have 2 classes. Some good news we won our volleyball game last night! 2-0 now!
posted by J*me at 1:58 PM

 
I was away from technology this weekend, but I'm back in action. Mission "Join Daybook": complete.
posted by Lindsi at 1:36 PM

 
I'm so happy! I've been INVITED to do something...it makes me tear up! I'd like to thank God, my parents, and especially Dr. Morgan for allowing me to come this far! SNIFFLE!! Thank you all!
posted by Froyd at 12:37 PM

 
Yeah, I've had that problem too. Refreshing the view page solves it for me, so maybe its not the same. I've had the inspiritation problem too. One day I had a great idea, now I can't think of one single thing. Its frustrating.
posted by L.P. at 9:40 AM

 
Clancy Ratcliff, a Ph.D student and graduate instructor at the U of M, found our course and blogged it at KairosNews. (KairosNews is a collective weblog for discussing rhetoric, technology, and pedagogy: my field of interest. Clancy also had a hand in starting the KairosNews and currently administrates it - a hint to those of you interested in starting and editing an online journal...)

How did Ratcliff know about us? There's a link to her weblog, CultureCat: rhetoric and feminism, on the BlogSites page. When readers follow the link from that page to her blog, the referring page is recorded. The weblog author can follow the referrer back to the page where the link is listed.

I'd recommend spending some time studying CultureCat: rhetoric and feminism. Ratcliff's interests range widely, and the blog lets her both put those interests to work (gathering, commenting) and pull them together into something larger. Plus, it's a good read.
posted by morgan at 6:31 AM

 
I keep putting up new posts on my blog but they're just not showing up. Am I the only person that is having problems with this? This is really frustrating. Not only that, but two weeks ago I had a million ideas of what to include in my blog, links and all sorts of writing topics, but now I'm frozen and feel tapped out. Grrrr...
posted by Temporary Display Name at 10:34 PM

 
Hope I have succesfully logged into the Daybook.
Thanks Dr.MC for this invitation.
I have been having a difficult time with the computer in the house, thanks to the virus manufactures and senders. Very unfortunate especially when I need to use it daily, could they please give me a break for ones.
For those planning to take part in the walk to mark this great day: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. hope to meet you there. Im not a fun of the snow and the cold, but this time I'll be out there by choice. Mary

posted by Oti at 3:56 PM

 
A Reminder

Email me (mmorgan@bemidjistate.edu) the web address of your blog so I can add it to the blogroll.

More and more people are responding to the invitation to join the Daybook: We're a little over half-way there.

While you're here, have a look at some of the blogs already started. Things are getting interesting. The Daybook was blogged a couple of days ago, which means we're being read. Hi ho.

posted by morgan at 3:54 PM

 
dang I'm still trying to get the hang of this and I ended up posting the same post twice sorry lol
posted by J*me at 3:42 PM

 
Hello just posting a lil something here on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day and I wish I could attend the Freedom walk at 5 pm...you know to pay tribute to such such a remarkable man but instead I have to play volleyball tonight I'm in a league and we play over in Naytawaush which is about an hour away. Last week was our first game and we won but the next day I was sore! I am so out of shape and I need to get back into shape by the summer or else I'll be huffin and puffin it out in the dance arena at all the powwows I hit! Oh yeah I'm posting from my parents' computer. Later all and see everyone in class! ~Jamie
posted by J*me at 3:34 PM

 
Hello just posting a lil something here on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day and I wish I could attend the Freedom walk at 5 pm...you know to pay tribute to such such a remarkable man but instead I have to play volleyball tonight I'm in a league and we play over in Naytawaush which is about an hour away. Last week was our first game and we won but the next day I was sore! I am so out of shape and I need to get back into shape by the summer or else I'll be huffin and puffin it out in the dance arena at all the powwows I hit! Oh yeah I'm posting from my parents' computer. Later all and see everyone in class! Jamie
posted by J*me at 3:34 PM

 
Everyone enjoy the cold weekend? Sorry my first posting was so short. This one isn't much better.
posted by Jaime at 1:51 PM

 
G'day--
per your instructions:
announcing the presence of rm101,
social query brought to you by nabisco...


Sam Hunter Malloy
posted by hunter at 4:45 PM

 
Hi.
posted by Jaime at 11:19 AM

 
'Blog entry!
Thats about it, really.
No, wait, I lied. I've got Gollum ears! No! I think they're frostbitten or something. One's all veiny and tender, and the other is all swollen, red, and tender.
Note to self: Buy shirts with bigger neck-holes. Ow.
posted by L.P. at 10:08 AM

 
Hey, y'all. Guess I'm part of the daybook now, too.
posted by Temporary Display Name at 10:05 AM

 
I have set up my blog and am attempting to figure out as much about it as I can. I was able to write a little HTML and set up a link in a post. I know, it seems so simple to the advanced bloggers out there, but this is a large step for me! :)

I am writing from my parent's home in Wrenshall, so I see I can blog from anywhere. I think this is form of online writing is interesting, and I look forward to learning more about blogging, as well as setting up more things on my blog.

See you all on Wednesday! Have a good weekend!
posted by Alicia at 9:43 PM

 
I just got my invitation to join the class blogger. So, here I am.

I am posting from a computer at Eric's work, which is in St. Paul, so I am also fulfilling the requirement to post from a remote site. I had an unexpected change of plans for this weekend, and ended up driving down to the cities last night. Instead of sitting at my desk all weekend doing computer-oriented homework, I will be sitting in an empty cubicle at an engineering firm doing computer-oriented homework while Eric works on his structural engineering. ~ ttfn ~ Tammi
posted by Tammi at 11:10 AM

 
Blogs are appearing

The snow's coming down, and blogs are appearing in the blogroll on the left. Have a look at what your colleagues are doing.

Reminder: Stone, chap 2 has a lot of detail about setting up your blog. Or use the Help link that appears on the page when you're posting.
posted by morgan at 10:32 AM

 
That allusion to Room 101

In case it went by too fast in class today, I alluded to Room 101, a torture chamber in Orwell's 1984, that contains "the worst thing in the world." Here's what the Wikipedia has to say about Room 101:

Room 101 is a torture chamber in which a prisoner is subjected to his worst nightmare. Such is the omniscience of the state in the totalitarian society of 1984 that even a citizen's nightmares are known to the authorities. The nightmare - and therefore the threatened punishment - of the protagonist Winston Smith is to have his face gnawed by rats. Smith saves himself by begging the authoritites to let his girlfriend, Julia, (he is married but has not seen his wife in years) have her face gnawed out by the ferocious rodents.

So: Room 101 is a place where you keep - or face - your worst nightmares, and a place of betrayal.

While you're at it, you might have a look at Wikipedia. You'll be writing on a wiki in a few weeks. The Wikipedia is a huge project to create an maintain a free, multi-authored, collaboratively written, multi-language, encyclopedia, and shows what's possible.
posted by morgan at 1:32 PM

 
Friday - Wednesday: The MLK Weekend

In class, we'll get everybody set up on Blogger. Over the long weekend, start blogging. Start working through the tasks in Set Up a Web Log handout, and listed on the Entry Point.

Learn how to link to other pages. Refer to Stone, chap 2, and Blood, Appendix II for instructions on how to create links. It may take a few tries, so persist.

I'll post news and updates here, so check back a few times to see what's up. And watch for an email inviting you to join this blog.
posted by morgan at 7:05 AM

 
British Blog Awards

The Guardian Unlimited (the online side of The Guardian newspaper) has published its second British Blog Awards.

The Big Smoker took first place. The design of the page is simple and economical, and the postings show what can be done with 150 words. But the mainstay is that this blog has satirical content updated daily, mainly prose, but Stuff and Things, too.

Set The Big Smoker, with its focus on commentary on current events, next to The Bunker: The Bunker focuses on the writer's thoughts and concerns of the moment - right down to Currently Playing and Currently Reading lists.

The Pepys' Diary project by Phil Gyford gets a mention, as does London Underground Tube Diary by Annie Mole (making a case for well-chosen pseudonyms [Actually, I'm assuming it's a pseudonym: a dangerous assumption].) Annie's project is impressive and enjoyable (and, for me, a little nostalgic) - every bit as impressive as the Pepys' Diary project. There's value inherent in documenting observations of the daily round from the inside, as Peyps and a thousand other diarists have done. But Mole goes a little further, using the blog medium to create a broad and deep document.

But people seem to mis-read what she's doing, including missing out on her gender and who she works for.

Also worth a look for new bloggers is the Guardian Unlimited's Special Report: Weblogs. A short piece by Rebecca Blood, The revolution should not be eulogized, argues that

All this represents something new: participatory media. And it matters. Not because of its resemblance to familiar institutions, but because of its differences from them.

Jane Perron, in Weblog heaven lists and links to a selection Big Bloggers ("bloggerati" is just so caché Wired). And blogging is a way of creating noteriety, face. But, at least for this Sunday morning, I'm leaning more towards the blog as the well-crafted document of everyday life: bunkers and underground trains.
posted by morgan at 8:03 AM

 
It's good to see you're Back on Dr. M, and I look forward to watching the next round when I have time. Thank you again for the blogs and wiki habit. Yes, Jeff, I keep an eye out on this page too...as well as on your fine work. Please keep in touch all.
posted by Don at 2:09 PM