What is it about a train wreck, car accident, or brutal beatdown that makes it virtually impossible to turn away? In the same fashion, I couldn't help but watch in horror and disgust, on the monmouth television channel ... Employee of the Month.
The film all-star casts of Hollywood's over-ambitious, untalented elite. First you have Dane Cook, the most over-rated comic out today, trying his hand at a semi-lead role. Why? Apparently, his agent never heard of the expression, "if it isn't broken, don't fix it". He succeeded, on some level: we're laughing .. at his acting.
Next, you had Jessica Simpson, which is just a punch line in itself. Here's the thing. If you're main marketing ploy aimed towards males aged 8-60+ (yes, she is that hot), you need to utilize your assets a bit more. Not that I'm for subjectification of her obvious features, but atleast flaunt it a bit more.
Finally, you have Pedro, a guy that I don't know his name, and probably will never know. He probably should have stuck to building cakes, or whatever the hell he was doing in Napoleon Dynamite.
Sub-par performances from Harland Williams and Andy Dick. But really: did we expect anything more?
Monday, February 26, 2007
KUSports.com
Let the record be known: I'm not really a sports person. Too many numbers, too many facts, too much involvement on mu part. With that being said, I liked KUSports.com, the website for Kansas University sports. Appearance wise, it's very aesthetically pleasing. The navigation bar on the right is incredibly easy to use, listing each sport clearly. The layout of the site is very organized, and not at all challenging to find exactaly what you're looking for. Most importantly, as I'm sure on most sports web sites, there are plenty of places where fans (and non-fans) can discuss issues about the team. There is plenty of multimedia outlets, including podcasts and photo gallaries, that easily caters to a wide variety of visitors.
I would say the coolest part is at the bottom of the page, where the site has a featured post from a user. This must easily boost site traffic and interaction, being that any diehard Kansas fan would love to see their ID and blurb published on the front page.
The site is clearly aimed at Kansas University students, alum, fans, and locals of the city's campus. Still, it is possibly that anyone who reads the Lawrence Journal-World, owner of KUSports.com, LJW online, and it's print publication. Links to LJW Online are listed on KUSports.com, and vice versa. This is also another contributing factor to the professional look of the site. Actual journalists and photographers contribute and work for the website, enhancing its look over other sports websites on the net.
I would say the coolest part is at the bottom of the page, where the site has a featured post from a user. This must easily boost site traffic and interaction, being that any diehard Kansas fan would love to see their ID and blurb published on the front page.
The site is clearly aimed at Kansas University students, alum, fans, and locals of the city's campus. Still, it is possibly that anyone who reads the Lawrence Journal-World, owner of KUSports.com, LJW online, and it's print publication. Links to LJW Online are listed on KUSports.com, and vice versa. This is also another contributing factor to the professional look of the site. Actual journalists and photographers contribute and work for the website, enhancing its look over other sports websites on the net.
Tales of Online Journalism : How Seniors Quiver With Fear
The internet is a scary place. It's kind of like going into the ocean during the summer. You can swim in, body board, cool off, etc. It's this amazingly mysterious entity that you can easily have fun in ... but you never know.
Now, think of newspapers being the beach. I mean, the actual sandy part of the the collective beach location. You know exactaly what you're getting into. It's sand, it's hot, it's safe. You can't drown in sand, nor can sharks bite off limbs while baking in the sun.
So, let's bridge the two. It's rare that one will go to the collective beach and not enjoy both land and sea. This is the idea surrounding internet's influence on newspapers.
According to a USA Today article printed last year, "Eighteen percent of American adults cited the Internet as one of their two main sources of news about the presidential races, compared with 3% in 1996", the second being television. Nearly half (48%) went to the online version of one of the top newspapers of the country to get their political news: The New York Times.
Apart from convenience and availability, online accessibility is also saving readers money, reported a Business Week article in the summer of 2005. Archived articles in the Wall Street Journal website can be accessed at $79 subscriptions, significantly cheaper than the $215 price tag to receive the same content in print.
But let's get down to business: literally. An article in the New York Times revealed that while print advertisement spenditures in 2006 increased at a low 0.3 percent, online ads soared to a increased 35 percent. The article quotes analyst predictions that print publications will turn to online ventures, such as advertising, to make up for their financial short comings. At the time, online ads accounted for $613 million, which was reported to compare minimally with print ads. However, the article states that the statistics posted it's eighth consecutive quarter of growth.
Although many traditional print publications, such as the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press - whose news articles appearing on sites such as yaHoo!- are turning towards online media avenues, it is still uncertain where the trend will explore over the next horizons.
Now, think of newspapers being the beach. I mean, the actual sandy part of the the collective beach location. You know exactaly what you're getting into. It's sand, it's hot, it's safe. You can't drown in sand, nor can sharks bite off limbs while baking in the sun.
So, let's bridge the two. It's rare that one will go to the collective beach and not enjoy both land and sea. This is the idea surrounding internet's influence on newspapers.
According to a USA Today article printed last year, "Eighteen percent of American adults cited the Internet as one of their two main sources of news about the presidential races, compared with 3% in 1996", the second being television. Nearly half (48%) went to the online version of one of the top newspapers of the country to get their political news: The New York Times.
Apart from convenience and availability, online accessibility is also saving readers money, reported a Business Week article in the summer of 2005. Archived articles in the Wall Street Journal website can be accessed at $79 subscriptions, significantly cheaper than the $215 price tag to receive the same content in print.
But let's get down to business: literally. An article in the New York Times revealed that while print advertisement spenditures in 2006 increased at a low 0.3 percent, online ads soared to a increased 35 percent. The article quotes analyst predictions that print publications will turn to online ventures, such as advertising, to make up for their financial short comings. At the time, online ads accounted for $613 million, which was reported to compare minimally with print ads. However, the article states that the statistics posted it's eighth consecutive quarter of growth.
Although many traditional print publications, such as the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press - whose news articles appearing on sites such as yaHoo!- are turning towards online media avenues, it is still uncertain where the trend will explore over the next horizons.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Time to make the donuts .. and sandwhiches .. and meatball subs... and pizza.. and..
It's 6:30 in the morning. The muffins are in the oven, and the soup is on the stove. Aramark employees busy chopping produce, and brewing coffee. Rebecca Stafford Student Center comes to life, well before the day's hundred plus student daily traffic. What begins a relatively dormant and peaceful dining area, laden with sparkingly clean tables and chairs, will transform in a short time into the busiest area of Monmouth University.
The Student Center plays host to all walks of campus patrons, ranging from commuters, faculty, and even resident students. With a wide array of facilities and services available to it's visitors, much preparation is put into getting things ready for the daily traffic that will make its way through.
"There is a lot of food to prepare before the day begins," said Cheryl Stewart, Retail Director of Campus Services at the Student Center. Usually, she is in charge of technical preparation, assigning employees to their various stations of the day, taking inventory of what food is being served and what needs to be re-ordered, and, overall, making sure that each service facility is prepared to operate smoothly. Today, however, the Student Center is down an employee. So Stewart humbly sits behind a cash register, ringing up her customers items, and working amongst her staff.
"You do what you need to do to make the customers happy," she comments, after ringing up a student's breakfast omelette. "I'm here for them."
At two of the more frequented stations of the Student Center, the deli and italian-style eatery, Dottie and Annie feverishly set up their areas, respectively, assembling their foods with a degree of care, knowing that in just a few hours it will be gone. Despite being rather focused and diligently, the two appear relaxed while preparing their foods for the upcoming day, taking the time to talk with each other and the many employees working in the student center that morning.
"I prepare all the sandwhiches every morning," Dottie says, placing another turkey and cheese sandwhich in it's 'Grab-n-Go' plastic container. "Classes come out at all different times, so you never know when you'll need extra."
The Student Center is not the only place Dottie will be outfitting with her delicious items. The C-Store Convenience Store, Bey Hall kiosk, and the new Guggenheim Library Cafe also offers sandwhiches made in the deli. In fact, most of the foods and beverages sold at campus food facilities are prepared and delivered from the Student Center, including soups and salads. Acting as an the university's food epicenter, the Student Center not only preps itself for customer service, but the entire campus as well.
"Preparation is always necessary," said Annie, who's culinary fame comes in the form of sausage and peppers pizza, or a new student favorite: meatball subs. "When classes are out, it helps to have things ready."
Though so much time spent in getting ready for the day, the employees take little time to take breath. Annie claims she only takes 30 minutes out of her day for a breather. However, she says that experience and routine make breaks relatively unnecessary.
"You get used to it," she comments, placing a finishing touch of toppings on a pizza. "I've been her for 25 years, and you go from one thing to another. It goes by quick, because there is always something to do."
"There is really no time to relax," says Stewart. "My moment is the time I spend walking over to the dining hall for lunch. I have to be here for my customers, and keep them happy."
At 9:30, another student walks to a table, carrying a bagel and orange juice. By now, the quiet hum of the early morning Student Center has risen to louder sounds of students conversations, and television broadcasts. In another two hours, the dining area will become a living entity of students and staff, sitting for their lunch, or running through for a quick cup of coffee. Only at 7:30 PM will the staff of the Student Center breath a sigh of relief, reveling in another routine day of customer service.
The Student Center plays host to all walks of campus patrons, ranging from commuters, faculty, and even resident students. With a wide array of facilities and services available to it's visitors, much preparation is put into getting things ready for the daily traffic that will make its way through.
"There is a lot of food to prepare before the day begins," said Cheryl Stewart, Retail Director of Campus Services at the Student Center. Usually, she is in charge of technical preparation, assigning employees to their various stations of the day, taking inventory of what food is being served and what needs to be re-ordered, and, overall, making sure that each service facility is prepared to operate smoothly. Today, however, the Student Center is down an employee. So Stewart humbly sits behind a cash register, ringing up her customers items, and working amongst her staff.
"You do what you need to do to make the customers happy," she comments, after ringing up a student's breakfast omelette. "I'm here for them."
At two of the more frequented stations of the Student Center, the deli and italian-style eatery, Dottie and Annie feverishly set up their areas, respectively, assembling their foods with a degree of care, knowing that in just a few hours it will be gone. Despite being rather focused and diligently, the two appear relaxed while preparing their foods for the upcoming day, taking the time to talk with each other and the many employees working in the student center that morning.
"I prepare all the sandwhiches every morning," Dottie says, placing another turkey and cheese sandwhich in it's 'Grab-n-Go' plastic container. "Classes come out at all different times, so you never know when you'll need extra."
The Student Center is not the only place Dottie will be outfitting with her delicious items. The C-Store Convenience Store, Bey Hall kiosk, and the new Guggenheim Library Cafe also offers sandwhiches made in the deli. In fact, most of the foods and beverages sold at campus food facilities are prepared and delivered from the Student Center, including soups and salads. Acting as an the university's food epicenter, the Student Center not only preps itself for customer service, but the entire campus as well.
"Preparation is always necessary," said Annie, who's culinary fame comes in the form of sausage and peppers pizza, or a new student favorite: meatball subs. "When classes are out, it helps to have things ready."
Though so much time spent in getting ready for the day, the employees take little time to take breath. Annie claims she only takes 30 minutes out of her day for a breather. However, she says that experience and routine make breaks relatively unnecessary.
"You get used to it," she comments, placing a finishing touch of toppings on a pizza. "I've been her for 25 years, and you go from one thing to another. It goes by quick, because there is always something to do."
"There is really no time to relax," says Stewart. "My moment is the time I spend walking over to the dining hall for lunch. I have to be here for my customers, and keep them happy."
At 9:30, another student walks to a table, carrying a bagel and orange juice. By now, the quiet hum of the early morning Student Center has risen to louder sounds of students conversations, and television broadcasts. In another two hours, the dining area will become a living entity of students and staff, sitting for their lunch, or running through for a quick cup of coffee. Only at 7:30 PM will the staff of the Student Center breath a sigh of relief, reveling in another routine day of customer service.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Sharing the spotlight , then stealing it back for myself
So, our assignment is to find a blog of another Monmouth student. Being that choosing another person in class was out of the question, I went with a friend who I knew had a blog, and kept it updated frequently without (gasp) having to do it because of a class assignment.
Then it got me thinking (::enter free rant post::).
Wes's Inner Voice (that sounds oddly like Love Connection's Scott Woolery) : Hey , Wes...
Wes (which appropriately sounds like me): Yeah?
WIV : Why are people who do things differently who aren't already established figures of public notoriety ever awknowledged for being interesting, free-spirited, out-of-the-box thinkers?
WES : A very interesting thought, Inner Voice. I think it's because society today values creativity a lot less when it's safer to conform and digest what they already know. It's clear that the unique never gain full acceptance by the generalized public until someone can either market it and sell it back at a gain, or until some glittering so called purveyor of whatever it is deem it trendy or quasi stylish at the moment.
WIV : Wow, that was a mouthful.
WES : Yeah, I know. I've been sitting on that for awhile now.
WIV : Now what do you mean by "glittering"? Do you mean the perceived attitude emanating off these people, the "it's not cool until I say it is or it goes out of style" type deal?
WES : Exactaly. Kind of like those people who would never read Palahniuk before Fight Club, and claimed him as a literary genius shortly after. What once grotesque and controversial transforms into "dark" and "conversational".
WIV : I gotcha. Well, I think you should get back to your audience now, and stop wasting time speaking in a satirical feigned monologue that your reader probably stopped listened to by the first line.
WES : You're right. I'll talk to you later, when it comes time to repress traumatic childhood memories and low self-esteem sentiments.
WIV : Sounds good. See you in 10.
When I discovered that people would actually be forced to read some of my writing in class, it was like Christmas and my birthday had a love child. And they named it "Tuesday, 8:30". It gives me a chance to really voice my opinion to those who otherwise would not know it, or tell me shut up and walk away.
Then I find out that 2/3rds of our posts are assignment based: ie - find links to other sites that link to other sites, etc etc. And this made me sad. Like Christmas and my birthday just got a divorce, and poor baby "Tuesday, 8:30" has to spend weekends in a my birthday's 1-bedroom apartment on the scummy part of town. ::sigh::
And the cause of this, I suppose, is the fact that we don't want control. We don't want free reign of our creative thoughts, or opinions, or ideas. What we want, as a class, is mindless assignments (sorry, Prof. That's what blogs are for : sharing feelings) that gauge whether or not we can A) Access a site ; B) Describe what we see ; C) Rinse and repeat. Boring!
I write differently, and that's just a fact. And I don't care. I don't care if girl two seats to the right thinks I'm weird because I voice my opinion differenty. Or that guy 1 seat to the right, then moving back 3 to the left, another 2 the right, and 204 seats to the left hates determining the tone of the post (which I guess is a somewhat trying task).
But we're journalism students (atleast most of us), taking a class that's heavily based on the web, a place that certainly has much more "way out there" writers than myself. We're not lenient or accepting enough of different styles of writing. It's a simple ABC operation for the majority. Nor do we take up this opportunity to complete freedom of literary banter and ride it into the sunset. Isn't that what the internet is for: saying whatever you want with absolutely zero face-to-face human contact or embarrassment? It's type, publish, walk away. How much easier do grades have to get in this class?
Assignment #1 - Write about anything ..... 500000 points.
Does it have to be personal? No. But a part of you should be in your writing. This is the best way to establish your own personal styles; to see how it feels to try out a new pen and cut loose.
And please, person who inevitably came from 11 billion seats from the right: if you are going to comment, please login with your own blogspot ID, so I can differentiate the people idlely responding to stuff they can care less about. And, of course, it's because I want to stalk you. Duh.
Then it got me thinking (::enter free rant post::).
Wes's Inner Voice (that sounds oddly like Love Connection's Scott Woolery) : Hey , Wes...
Wes (which appropriately sounds like me): Yeah?
WIV : Why are people who do things differently who aren't already established figures of public notoriety ever awknowledged for being interesting, free-spirited, out-of-the-box thinkers?
WES : A very interesting thought, Inner Voice. I think it's because society today values creativity a lot less when it's safer to conform and digest what they already know. It's clear that the unique never gain full acceptance by the generalized public until someone can either market it and sell it back at a gain, or until some glittering so called purveyor of whatever it is deem it trendy or quasi stylish at the moment.
WIV : Wow, that was a mouthful.
WES : Yeah, I know. I've been sitting on that for awhile now.
WIV : Now what do you mean by "glittering"? Do you mean the perceived attitude emanating off these people, the "it's not cool until I say it is or it goes out of style" type deal?
WES : Exactaly. Kind of like those people who would never read Palahniuk before Fight Club, and claimed him as a literary genius shortly after. What once grotesque and controversial transforms into "dark" and "conversational".
WIV : I gotcha. Well, I think you should get back to your audience now, and stop wasting time speaking in a satirical feigned monologue that your reader probably stopped listened to by the first line.
WES : You're right. I'll talk to you later, when it comes time to repress traumatic childhood memories and low self-esteem sentiments.
WIV : Sounds good. See you in 10.
When I discovered that people would actually be forced to read some of my writing in class, it was like Christmas and my birthday had a love child. And they named it "Tuesday, 8:30". It gives me a chance to really voice my opinion to those who otherwise would not know it, or tell me shut up and walk away.
Then I find out that 2/3rds of our posts are assignment based: ie - find links to other sites that link to other sites, etc etc. And this made me sad. Like Christmas and my birthday just got a divorce, and poor baby "Tuesday, 8:30" has to spend weekends in a my birthday's 1-bedroom apartment on the scummy part of town. ::sigh::
And the cause of this, I suppose, is the fact that we don't want control. We don't want free reign of our creative thoughts, or opinions, or ideas. What we want, as a class, is mindless assignments (sorry, Prof. That's what blogs are for : sharing feelings) that gauge whether or not we can A) Access a site ; B) Describe what we see ; C) Rinse and repeat. Boring!
I write differently, and that's just a fact. And I don't care. I don't care if girl two seats to the right thinks I'm weird because I voice my opinion differenty. Or that guy 1 seat to the right, then moving back 3 to the left, another 2 the right, and 204 seats to the left hates determining the tone of the post (which I guess is a somewhat trying task).
But we're journalism students (atleast most of us), taking a class that's heavily based on the web, a place that certainly has much more "way out there" writers than myself. We're not lenient or accepting enough of different styles of writing. It's a simple ABC operation for the majority. Nor do we take up this opportunity to complete freedom of literary banter and ride it into the sunset. Isn't that what the internet is for: saying whatever you want with absolutely zero face-to-face human contact or embarrassment? It's type, publish, walk away. How much easier do grades have to get in this class?
Assignment #1 - Write about anything ..... 500000 points.
Does it have to be personal? No. But a part of you should be in your writing. This is the best way to establish your own personal styles; to see how it feels to try out a new pen and cut loose.
And please, person who inevitably came from 11 billion seats from the right: if you are going to comment, please login with your own blogspot ID, so I can differentiate the people idlely responding to stuff they can care less about. And, of course, it's because I want to stalk you. Duh.
What will link to New Jersey's Official State Website ... hmmm?
For starters:
New Jersey Tourism
An obvious (of many obvious that will follow) choice that would link to the state website. It's an affiliate of the official website, so it would most likely need a link to the main page.
Office of the Governor Website
Another duh choice on this one. He's the governor .. he needs to be linked to the main page.
Smokey The Bear Forest Fire Prevention Website
Only you can prevent forest fires ... as long as you click on the link to the Official State Website. It would most likely be used to obtain data on New Jersey forests, how many fires happened each year, etc.
New Jersey State Police
Probably the only link that I could find that doesn't have the state.nj.us portion in the URL. This website would link to the official site because (hmmm) they're New Jersey's police. WOuld probably link to law statistics: crimes prevented, committed, etc.
Jersey Shore
OK, I cracked. I didnt' end with a good one, but hey, it's a site, right? And what better way to end than on a link for the Jersey Shore. This would link to the main page because it would give locations of Jersey beaches, annual visitors, businesses, etc.
New Jersey Tourism
An obvious (of many obvious that will follow) choice that would link to the state website. It's an affiliate of the official website, so it would most likely need a link to the main page.
Office of the Governor Website
Another duh choice on this one. He's the governor .. he needs to be linked to the main page.
Smokey The Bear Forest Fire Prevention Website
Only you can prevent forest fires ... as long as you click on the link to the Official State Website. It would most likely be used to obtain data on New Jersey forests, how many fires happened each year, etc.
New Jersey State Police
Probably the only link that I could find that doesn't have the state.nj.us portion in the URL. This website would link to the official site because (hmmm) they're New Jersey's police. WOuld probably link to law statistics: crimes prevented, committed, etc.
Jersey Shore
OK, I cracked. I didnt' end with a good one, but hey, it's a site, right? And what better way to end than on a link for the Jersey Shore. This would link to the main page because it would give locations of Jersey beaches, annual visitors, businesses, etc.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Oh hunting we will go, oh hunting we will go ...for jobs
I'm a realistic person: I know the job I get right after college will most likely not be the one I will hold on for an extended period of time. Jobs pay for things: rent, food, amenities, etc. It's getting the career that's more important: a career as a writer, author, journalist, rock star, etc.
The job I'd look for after college would be adventurous, life-altering, and, of course, pays decently. Many international jobs offer all these aspects. Teaching positions in China allow students, even without teaching backgrounds, the opportunity to make a difference in others lives. Even simple jobs, such as bartenders, waiters, tour guides, and other service jobs in London are available with temporary work-visas. These post-graduate jobs will allow the non-academic education and growth set in before starting in on a dream career.
My dream career/job would be to become a writer. Author, critic, journalist, etc... anything writing would be a dream of mine. Knowing that someone, somewhere, is reading my thoughts and ideas and actually enjoying them: it's just a great feeling. Through publication, you're (essentially) immortalize in time, having your work stand as a testament to your work and time. If that's not the greatest job, then I don't know what is.
The job I'd look for after college would be adventurous, life-altering, and, of course, pays decently. Many international jobs offer all these aspects. Teaching positions in China allow students, even without teaching backgrounds, the opportunity to make a difference in others lives. Even simple jobs, such as bartenders, waiters, tour guides, and other service jobs in London are available with temporary work-visas. These post-graduate jobs will allow the non-academic education and growth set in before starting in on a dream career.
My dream career/job would be to become a writer. Author, critic, journalist, etc... anything writing would be a dream of mine. Knowing that someone, somewhere, is reading my thoughts and ideas and actually enjoying them: it's just a great feeling. Through publication, you're (essentially) immortalize in time, having your work stand as a testament to your work and time. If that's not the greatest job, then I don't know what is.
If there is one thing about Monmouth I would like to know, it would be this: where the hell the do squirrels go in the winter?
Is there some squirrel vacation resort, that the entire squirrel population gets some grandiose group discount? It seems that they simply pick up and leave. I'd imagine that Monmouth would try and curb the amount of squirrels, because of their burrowing habits. The existance of squirrels is an example of living irony. Like many animals, they prepare for the winter by storing food. So what squirrels do are dig holes in the ground and throw various nuts, berries, etc. into them for later eating. However, like many of students of the 8:30, their memories are shot. So, they forget where they bury their food, and wander aimlessly in search of where it is stored. Kind of like the Parking Garage episode of Seinfeld... only with squirrels.
So the thing I want to know is squirrels. What's the deal, Monmouth?
Is there some squirrel vacation resort, that the entire squirrel population gets some grandiose group discount? It seems that they simply pick up and leave. I'd imagine that Monmouth would try and curb the amount of squirrels, because of their burrowing habits. The existance of squirrels is an example of living irony. Like many animals, they prepare for the winter by storing food. So what squirrels do are dig holes in the ground and throw various nuts, berries, etc. into them for later eating. However, like many of students of the 8:30, their memories are shot. So, they forget where they bury their food, and wander aimlessly in search of where it is stored. Kind of like the Parking Garage episode of Seinfeld... only with squirrels.
So the thing I want to know is squirrels. What's the deal, Monmouth?
Lawrence.com of Arabia
Lawrence.com is the interactive entertainment hub for the university. All students can converse with others on countless facets of campus university, find out information on concerts, best places to drink and eat, and much more. The aspect of site I would find most appealing is the interactive aspects. Users can directly feed their blogs onto the site, where people can read and comment about different aspects. They can also submit their own reviews for bars, resteraunts, and other night life places, giving it a more geniune feel for the atmosphere.
The audience of Lawrence.com is definately young, college kids, 21-28. Anyone who still plans their Friday around how their Thursday night will go will be the ideal readership of the website. The writing style is informal, and easy to scan for simple information. There's a fun vocabulary that makes it enjoyable to read about the various aspects of Lawrence.
The audience of Lawrence.com is definately young, college kids, 21-28. Anyone who still plans their Friday around how their Thursday night will go will be the ideal readership of the website. The writing style is informal, and easy to scan for simple information. There's a fun vocabulary that makes it enjoyable to read about the various aspects of Lawrence.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Fark.com ... viva la revolution!
Talk about your participatory journalism. Introducting Fark.com, a quasi-news, quasi-entertainment web site where you, the web surfer, can determine what is news-worthy ... or according to Fark, what is not-news worthy. Confusing? It's quite simple.
They generate content by submissions, based on what users may find funny, disturbing, etc. Then, these submissions are submitted, posted, and are ranked based on the number of comments supplied by readers. Judging by the most recent top ranked stories, it appears you shouldn't come to Fark if you're looking to learn up on anything educational.
OK, I lied. There are some education worthy stories, but mostly secondary interest topics. The problem I have with Fark is that each link is fixed so that the website gets credit for every click that site gets.
For example:
- User A posts www.bobbysbits.com on Fark.com
- Fark.com writes witty headline "Bobby's Bits ... more like Tommy's ... Socks" link, which is scripted to generate ad-clicks for Fark profit.
- User B clicks on witty headline link, and reads a story on, well , Bobby's Bits.
- Fark.com deposits cash per click.
I suppose its the only way the site can generate any profit. But I still don't like the fact they have to hide it away to earn a buck. Actually, more like 50 cents a click. Maybe less.
They generate content by submissions, based on what users may find funny, disturbing, etc. Then, these submissions are submitted, posted, and are ranked based on the number of comments supplied by readers. Judging by the most recent top ranked stories, it appears you shouldn't come to Fark if you're looking to learn up on anything educational.
OK, I lied. There are some education worthy stories, but mostly secondary interest topics. The problem I have with Fark is that each link is fixed so that the website gets credit for every click that site gets.
For example:
- User A posts www.bobbysbits.com on Fark.com
- Fark.com writes witty headline "Bobby's Bits ... more like Tommy's ... Socks" link, which is scripted to generate ad-clicks for Fark profit.
- User B clicks on witty headline link, and reads a story on, well , Bobby's Bits.
- Fark.com deposits cash per click.
I suppose its the only way the site can generate any profit. But I still don't like the fact they have to hide it away to earn a buck. Actually, more like 50 cents a click. Maybe less.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Hard(ly) work, and no play?
Technology is great. Let's never forget that. But it's flawed, and that's undeniable.
Not too long ago, I signed up with Monster.com, because, you know, I kind of want a job after I graduate. It's been a fairly reputable online company to find work. To be honest, I haven't put much stock into it. I don't really trust an online web site to dictate how I will be making a semi-decent income for the immediate future. And here is why:
According to Monster.com's Search Agent results based on Journalism/Writing background, I can have one of the following jobs:
US-NJ-Morristown Information Systems Consultant MetLife
Ok, semi-believable
US-NJ-Northern Central Director of Marketing - Specialty Global Northern Central NJ Biopharma MRINetwork
Umm, hmmm ... guys?
US-NJ-Central Mammalian Cell Line Development Scientist Hudson Scientific
What?! No, come on Monster, seriously, that's not what I want to do ...
US-NJ-Central Protein Manufacturing Scientist Opportunity with Quickly Growing Biopharmaceutical Hudson Scientific
Ok, I officially give up
The moral of the story: nothing substitutes hard work. Peruse the newspaper, call up companies of prospective employers, and get out there and be pro-active in your pursuit for employment. Monster.com and other online job sites (though convenient) just prove how lazy and needy we are; that even in trying to get work, we need someone, or something, to do it for us.
Unless, of course, Protein Manufacturers take in a big check. Then bring it on, Hudson Scientific!
Not too long ago, I signed up with Monster.com, because, you know, I kind of want a job after I graduate. It's been a fairly reputable online company to find work. To be honest, I haven't put much stock into it. I don't really trust an online web site to dictate how I will be making a semi-decent income for the immediate future. And here is why:
According to Monster.com's Search Agent results based on Journalism/Writing background, I can have one of the following jobs:
US-NJ-Morristown Information Systems Consultant MetLife
Ok, semi-believable
US-NJ-Northern Central Director of Marketing - Specialty Global Northern Central NJ Biopharma MRINetwork
Umm, hmmm ... guys?
US-NJ-Central Mammalian Cell Line Development Scientist Hudson Scientific
What?! No, come on Monster, seriously, that's not what I want to do ...
US-NJ-Central Protein Manufacturing Scientist Opportunity with Quickly Growing Biopharmaceutical Hudson Scientific
Ok, I officially give up
The moral of the story: nothing substitutes hard work. Peruse the newspaper, call up companies of prospective employers, and get out there and be pro-active in your pursuit for employment. Monster.com and other online job sites (though convenient) just prove how lazy and needy we are; that even in trying to get work, we need someone, or something, to do it for us.
Unless, of course, Protein Manufacturers take in a big check. Then bring it on, Hudson Scientific!
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Super! ...bowl
The Super Bowl is coming up, and I can't wait to not care less. Call me cynical, but I'm a Packers fan, so figure out where the source of my frustration comes from.
It's a time when we order an overabundance of food, plop down on our butts, and let the good times roll. If we, as an American people, were really concerned with time management, the NFL would make the Super Bowl on Thanksgiving. Because then, it isn't a feigned over-night interest in football. No, it's MULTI-TASKING! It's a pure family oriented evening.
Every Super Bowl, you essentially have 3 groups. And for a successful, true Super Bowl experience to take place, you cannot mix these groups.
The first group are the true football fans. They watch many games, big or small. They check stats on ESPN, watch the draft, read up on scouting reports. In essence, they are true blue football fans.
The next group are the feigns. They're the ones who don't watch the Super Bowl for the game, but love to tell everyone that they are. They're the ones who learn the key players names and numbers the night before the game, and pretend to semi-know about the teams that are playing. But in reality, it's only some BS posturing method to make other people think they're actually interested.
The last group, which I am proud to be apart of, is the "who gives a crap"s. We contribute the cynical but realistic view that the Super Bowl is nothing but an indication of how far gone we as a people are. We don't particularly care about the game, and we'll let you know that, and we'll chastise anyone we think is apart of the "feigns".
Think about it. People commit an entire day to the Super Bowl, in which the game in question is merely fractional to the amount of on-air broadcasting is used for it. What's worse, you have people who openly admidt that they don't watch the Super Bowl for the game, but they watch it for the commercials!
Are they insane? We, the TiVo generation of history, are willingly sitting through the "grueling mundanity" of the football game to get to the commercials, the time of any regular television program that we have historically wished to fast forward and avoid. And we wonder why advertisers and marketing firms believe that the average American consumer will buy whatever they parade in their faces?
So Super Bowl gatherings beware. Mixing groups may result in sarcastic remarks and food grubbing from all factions. And I wonder why I'm never invited to these parties.
It's a time when we order an overabundance of food, plop down on our butts, and let the good times roll. If we, as an American people, were really concerned with time management, the NFL would make the Super Bowl on Thanksgiving. Because then, it isn't a feigned over-night interest in football. No, it's MULTI-TASKING! It's a pure family oriented evening.
Every Super Bowl, you essentially have 3 groups. And for a successful, true Super Bowl experience to take place, you cannot mix these groups.
The first group are the true football fans. They watch many games, big or small. They check stats on ESPN, watch the draft, read up on scouting reports. In essence, they are true blue football fans.
The next group are the feigns. They're the ones who don't watch the Super Bowl for the game, but love to tell everyone that they are. They're the ones who learn the key players names and numbers the night before the game, and pretend to semi-know about the teams that are playing. But in reality, it's only some BS posturing method to make other people think they're actually interested.
The last group, which I am proud to be apart of, is the "who gives a crap"s. We contribute the cynical but realistic view that the Super Bowl is nothing but an indication of how far gone we as a people are. We don't particularly care about the game, and we'll let you know that, and we'll chastise anyone we think is apart of the "feigns".
Think about it. People commit an entire day to the Super Bowl, in which the game in question is merely fractional to the amount of on-air broadcasting is used for it. What's worse, you have people who openly admidt that they don't watch the Super Bowl for the game, but they watch it for the commercials!
Are they insane? We, the TiVo generation of history, are willingly sitting through the "grueling mundanity" of the football game to get to the commercials, the time of any regular television program that we have historically wished to fast forward and avoid. And we wonder why advertisers and marketing firms believe that the average American consumer will buy whatever they parade in their faces?
So Super Bowl gatherings beware. Mixing groups may result in sarcastic remarks and food grubbing from all factions. And I wonder why I'm never invited to these parties.
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