Twitter Takes on Finance Tuesday, Nov 10 2009

The title in itself is confusing enough, or at least it was for me.  The concept that twitter could now be used for transferring money from one bank account to another was quite surprising.  Now banks have had use of this sort of technology before, where one can check one’s bank statements or balances with the click of a mouse.  The same with the transference of money with the aid of Western Union money can be wired from one account to another in an instant.  The recent internet application twitter enables people to notify others who also have twitter accounts to see what they are doing at the present moment.  PayPal linked up with Twitter and out came the “twitpay,” application.  Introducing a new method to the way people make payments other than face to face transactions and going to the bank.  People can in fact now make a payment via twitter, without having to leave the comfort of their homes.  This would be especially useful to the physically handicapped who have a hard time getting around, or people who are on a tight schedule and don’t have time to make it to the bank.  The application explains itself as being simple: put in the amount of money you want to send, who you want the money to be sent to, and the reason for sending the money.  The last requirement seemed a bit peculiar at first glance.  Why would twitter want to know or even care about the reasons that one has for sending someone else an amount of money?  It occurred to me however that this may be for aesthetic reasons.  Maybe to send someone some birthday or grocery money one might want to leave a warm note reminding them that they have someone that cares about them.  Twitpay while at first glance seem like a useless application when there are Western Unions and different banks to utilize, upon further inspection it seems like it is more convenient to people restrained to the confines of their home but still have bills to pay.

 

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Why I write Thursday, Nov 5 2009

It’s no surprise that as a blogger of Write-aholics Anonymous that I love to write. Well, here are the top reasons that I write:

Because I have to.
Honestly, most of the writing I do is writing I am “forced” to do because of school. Without this, I would hardly ever write. I’m not saying that this is a bad thing though. If I didn’t have to write for school, I wouldn’t be the writer I am today. Writing because of school has allowed me to push myself to the limits. It has forced me to really expand the ways I think; I turn what I would have explained in one paragraph into a three page paper. Not in the way that I ramble on and on but in the way that I really have to think of how I will get my reader to believe and understand what I am saying. It has made me become a more confident writer by receiving feedback or good grades on my papers.

To communicate.
Being in a long distance relationship means that I do a lot of talking through instant messaging to my boyfriend. It can be hard to find the proper words to communicate my feelings to my boyfriend if we’re having a disagreement about something without it sounding the wrong way. The lack of the tone of voice and physical motions I use adding to what I am saying has made me rely more heavily on the actual words I use. This in turn has improved me as a writer because I have learned to use more details and expanded my vocabulary by doing so.

To remember.
By blogging or keeping a journal, I allow myself to go back in time and read the exact way I was feeling at that point in my life. Even if a entry is only a quote, I can go back a year later and realize how much that quote can relate to my life. By documenting the events in my life I can remember the small things that happen during the big events. For example, while I may only remember what a great 16th birthday party I had, I may have wrote about the goofy outfit my mom was wearing; this enhances the memories I have.

To express myself.
In the first module of Intro. to Writing Arts, my professor asked the class “What is writing?” My response said something about writing being a way to express ourselves. Throughout the module I learned what answer he was looking for and I also realized that my answer in the beginning was more of a “Why do we write?” answer. Anyway, if this says anything it is that writing to me is a portal to express how I feel. Sometimes it’s hard to find someone you can trust enough not to judge you in certain situations and even harder to talk to someone face to face. Writing allows me to express myself through a number of different ways. I can post a blog about the way I am feeling and complete strangers can comment on it letting me know I am not alone. I can write poetry to either keep to myself or post on the internet for other people around the world to interpret it any way they wish to. Or I can use messenger programs and talk to either close friends or complete strangers in an instant exchange of emotions and advice. All of these (and many more ways) allow me to express through writing. This not only helps me vent but also hear others input and realize I am not alone.

Of course, there are many more reasons why I write but these are the top four that came to my mind. What about you? Do you agree/disagree with any of my reasons? Why do you write?

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Back in the Day Monday, Nov 2 2009

Society is ever-changing. People working 12 hours a day for their pay check from the comfort of their own home, kids following a cult of celebrities in whom they emulate as role models, the way people live their lives is evolving before our eyes. Helping us evolve in the way we live are social networking sites such as myspace and facebook. Long gone are the days where most of one’s friends were one’s next door neighbors. When was the last time you saw kids play baseball in the road then racing the street lamps to get home before curfew? I can’t remember. This isn’t a bad thing mind you, it’s just amazing how quickly the transformation has taken place. Kids can now be friends with kids in other states and countries and instead of going out and meeting the kids out and about the block, they stay inside seeing what upgrade their myspace page needs next. They no longer go knocking on their friends door asking their mother if they can come out and play but instead maybe they will text each other or even utilize facebook in order to establish contact. I am now just getting accustomed to the computer and it’s applications, but the other week I saw my 5 year old cousin operate his very own laptop with more efficiency then I have yet to attain. Most parents fear their children are getting too addicted to technology and that it will diminish their other more practical skills like speech, writing, and physical strength. Kids now have access to the computer, internet, video games, and T.V. a lot more than my generation ever had. Is this necessarily a bad thing? It is not my place to say. One thing is for certain however, and that is that things are changing, this is the just the way of life. Society has gone through changes like this one before with new technology today being considered a laptop maybe considered a child’s toy. An interesting notion to consider.

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I’m Not Hanging Noodles On Your Ears Monday, Nov 2 2009

     To me, Tim O’Reilly’s article—“What is Web 2.0”—seems like an idiom. A person from a different country might look it up, and it would say something like this: an updated version of the web that incorporates seven core principles. For its companies, these include: Services, not packaged software, with cost-effective scalability; control over unique, hard-to-recreate data sources that get richer as more people use them;  trusting users as co-developers; harnessing collective intelligence; leveraging the long tail through customer self-service; software above the level of a single device, and  lightweight user interfaces, development models, and business models. Whew! This is an awful lot of information to take in and understand for just one simple word, a period, and two numbers. Not to mention the fact that it is difficult to comprehend in general. I.e., what is a “lightweight interface?” The technical jargon O’Reilly uses unnecessary. Even when he is trying to explain said features, it is difficult to understand.

He does list characteristics of Web 2.0, though, such as: rich user experience, and blogging. He also provides examples of web 1.0 vs. web 2.0, but never comes out and says that web 2.0 is an updated version of web 1.0—which is what it simply is. Obviously, anything 2.0 is upgraded. Instead, he chose to create a paper in which it is described as one large idiom, and I’m not hanging noodles on your ears.

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Silly Apocalypse, Trix are for kids Sunday, Nov 1 2009

Lately I’ve been noticing a lot of hype around the so called “end of days,” said to happen on Dec. 21 2012.  There’s even a movie about it coming out this month. Are people really so fascinated with the end of the world….stupid question.  Most people don’t know that this isn’t exactly the first time that the end of the world has been predicted.  In 666 A.D. (Not C.E.) it was said that Satan would rise up since the year was the number of the beast.  But did he?  No.  Some time ago a religious leader in the western U.S. predicted the time, date, and place where the second coming of Jesus Christ would take place.  This time scientists have given evidence of a world wide disaster bound to happen around the winter solstice due to planetary alignment.  Even if this is the case people should not concentrate on the end of days to begin, your just going to get yourself and those around you depressed.  Recently one of my friends has fallen victim to the hype and it’s pretty much all he talks about now.  Do you honestly think anyone would want to hang out with someone who is preaching death and damnation 24/7?  Yeah, me neither.  Again I’m not saying the world will or won’t end on that date all I’m saying is that some people need to relax a little bit and keep living their lives just the way they are.  I mean, aren’t we supposed to be living everyday like it’s our last anyway?

 

 

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Lindsay Lohan Sunday, Nov 1 2009

Lame! I know! But people that are a hot mess tend to fascinate me, and indeed, she looks a hot mess in her background picture on Twitter. From following Lindsay on Twitter, it appears to me she is desperately trying to maintain the small fan base she has left. She writes, “I will come to bulgaria some day! I promise!” to some chick from Bulgaria that apparently would like to meet her. Fascinating.

In other news, a man with a fake gun got his kicks by pointing it at her and pretending to shoot. Oh society, leave poor Lindsay alone. Isn’t it bad enough her career is going down the shitter, her “Dad’s gone crazy”, and well, how many times did she go to rehab again? Still, this doesn’t stop her from shopping in Morocco and posting picture of it on Twitter. Fascinating. Really.

Despite my sarcasm (yes, it is sarcasm), I do, however, find this small group of cult followers interesting. It seems three or four girls (what I probably mistakenly assume to be girls) including bulgarian_girl, LindsayForever, and LindsayLRocks devote their lives to following Lindsay’s every move. Yikes. Occasionally, Lindsay throws them a bone, how nice of her.

The people Lindsay follows include mostly celebrities like Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Fallon, and her girlfriend/ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson. It seems strange to me that celebrity life is so accessible. We can read their blogs and tweets. We can add them as “friends” on Myspace or Facebook. But really, like anyone else, we only know what they choose to expose about themselves. For both celebrities and regular people, I think some things are better left unposted. As for Lindsay, her tweets seem relatively boring, besides of course, the man pointing a fake gun at her. She could bear to spice things up a little. I mean, c’mon, I want her tweets to match her picture. Show us what a hot mess you are Lindsay!

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Kim Kardashian on twitter! Sunday, Nov 1 2009

OK – I admit it, sometimes when I’m bored I like to devulge myself into some juicy celebrity gossip. This is probably why I followed celebrities on twitter when I began to use it. I followed Britney Spears, Pink, Taylor Swift, and a few others. One particular celebrity I followed was Kim Kardashian. I don’t really know much about her or why she’s famous. I do, however, know, she is insanely pretty and equally rich.

Following her on twitter allowed me to learn some things about her. One thing that surprised me is that through most of her tweets I could expect that she was any other ordinary college student I am following. Majority of her tweets were just updates talking about things like going out with her friends. When I went to look at the people who she followed, this didn’t change this opinion either. Most of the people who she follows aren’t celebrities (at least ones I would know) but they seem to be people who she is friends with. One person she follows is Perez Hilton, who as many of you know runs a celebrity gossip website. Her following him and “hollywoodtv” tells me that she is interested in the things going on in Hollywood or with celebrities. A lot of the people who she follows are from New York, NY. This tells me that she probably is from or lives in New York City. She also follows a lot of people who have the same last name as her. This tells me that she is a family person and close to her sisters. From following Kim Kardashian on Twitter, I have realized that not all celebrities fit the typical celebrity bill. Some celebrities, like Kim, prefer to keep their group of friends small and close, don’t brag about being in the spotlight, and care genuinely about their family. Very down to earth Kim!

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Twitter Explorer Sunday, Nov 1 2009

As many of you know, a new Windows was released recently, Windows 7. Windows 7, and the less loved Windows Vista, both offer a feature called “gadgets.” These gadgets are small applications that stay on your desktop at all times like so:

As you can see there, there is an application with a “t” at the top.

This is a Twitter gadget called Twitter Explorer. When my class was required to start to use twitter, I downloaded this gadget to help keep me updated. I loved the gadgets feature of Windows 7 and I especially love the twitter gadget. It gives me different options, such as the color of the gadget, how often it gets updated, and the size of it.

I really enjoy using this gadget. Instead of opening my browser every so often to see updates, I can view them right from my desktop. Without opening the webpage I can also post tweets, respond to tweets, and retweet easily. I can also search for trending topics and select to view only tweets directed at me.

I think that Twitter Explorer via the Windows 7 gadget will definitely become more popular as Windows 7 becomes more popular. Once I graduate from Rowan, I will hopefully get a job teaching. Although I will probably be teaching younger children who won’t be using tweeter yet, I will still follow fellow teachers. Without having to open my internet browser, I can keep up to date with the strategies and tips that other teachers may offer via twitter. Overall, I’m very pleased and will continue to use this application as I continue to use twitter!

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The Internet: The Sequel Saturday, Oct 31 2009

The term “Web 2.0,” has been floating around the water cooler a lot lately, but what exactly does it mean?  In his article “What is Web 2.0?” Tim O’Reilly tries to explain just what this term is referring to.  As it’s name implies Web 2.0 is supposedly the next version of the internet bringing new applications and websites to the table that operate on a different level then their predecessors.  A big part of the article is simply O’Reilly comparing and contrasting the two different generations of websites citing their differences as the new evolution that is Web 2.0.  One of the main differences that he focuses on would be how much Web 2.0 is user oriented.  Take Napster for example, being a music database one would expect an owner operated catalog of music that can only be updated by the owner or creator.  This is not at all the case however.  Napster utilizes it’s users more often than it’s owner, every user that signs up for the website becomes a server for it bringing to the website their own music to share with other users that also bring their music to the website.  The users are just apart of the website as it’s creator.  Another example would be Wikipedia an online encyclopedia that depends solely on it’s visitors to create pages in it’s vast collection.  It’s survival depends on the user.  O’Reilly mainly touches on something reminiscent of a philosophical explanation of Web 2.0.  Explaining that it has no “hard boundaries,” it just has a “gravitational core,” and suggests that we think of Web 2.0 as a “set of principles,” rather than websites.  Is anyone else confused by these analogies?  Maybe it’s just my way of thinking but it seems like O’Reilly is using a lot of fancy metaphors for a comparison of new websites to old websites to make his article interesting.  From the article, one can grasp that Web 2.0 is just a term used to explain how websites have evolved into more user oriented structures making them just as important as the creator of the site.

 

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What’s this “We?” Saturday, Oct 31 2009

The website inappropriately titled “We Feel Fine,” is a collective place where emotions float through an empty void begging to be clicked and sought after.  Each emotion is represented by a dot color coated to what emotion is which.  These emotions come from various blogs all over the United States, the site plucks a sentence from any blog that has the term “I feel…” in it and then evaluates what emotion follows that specific term and color coats it accordingly.  Upon visiting the site I thought it was a cool idea.  Having a collective thought on how people are feeling through there personal web diaries no matter how far apart they are.  After twenty minutes on the site however, I could not find one single happy thought.  I don’t know if people were just having a bad day or anything but regardless of the colored emotional spectrum every quote always had something depressing to say.  It seems as if “we,” are not fine.  I did not dwell on the negative for long though.  After exploring some of the various emotions I tended to focus on what other people might think of this site especially if one of their quotes was up there in the vast blank space being clicked by everyone from San Diego to New York.  Whatever the blogger was feeling it may be something completely different from what “We Feel Fine,” might label it as since the quote is out of context and concentrates on the term “feel.”  I would not be surprised if this blog was posted up there since the word feel appears quite a few times.  I think that would be pretty cool though.  Some people might see it as stealing there work without permission.  If you put your feelings on the internet, let’s face it, there fair game.  Whether it be to steal, borrow, quote, or critique them.  People should instead view it in the positive light, their work is getting out there and into public view, isn’t that what people want?

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