Searching For Atticus...

Who inspires me to write?

The most influential man in my life - as a writer and as a person - is not a real person at all, but a literary character named Atticus Finch.  Ironically, Atticus came into my life the same summer my real father left it; the summer I was 12-years-old.
               I remember that summer well; it was the season that followed the spring that my dog got hit by a car.  Rascal lived, minus her lower-left hindquarter, and her resilience taught me that it was true what people say: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.  She learned how to run like the wind on only three legs when it came time to chase after me on my bike, as well as how to play the part of the brave invalid when in view of neighbors with dog treats.  The world may have shattered a bone or two in her body, but it did not break her spirit.  I wish I could say I had the same emotional fortitude as my dog did that summer, but that would almost be a lie – almost; because at some point that summer I became acquainted with Atticus Finch.  Who knew that a summer reading assignment would come to have such an influence on my life?

The school bell rang shortly after we had received our reading assignments, dismissing us to an awaiting ice cream truck and a world of summer freedoms; our summer homework assignments already forgotten, if just for the moment – our parents would see to it that we promptly remembered them.  Although our choices for entertainment were endless; our reading selections were not.  Accustomed to the usual Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume stories of our childhood past, we were a bit frightened by what the seventh grade had in store for us, as our assigned options appeared to reflect the démonté of our childhood.  I can still recall my friend Rachel repetitively droning on about how she planned to read To Kill a Mockingbird because she had heard it was a really good book.  She could not tell me anything about the story and I, who was making my way through the anthologies of Stephen King and J.R.R. Tolkien, thought the title To Kill a Mockingbird sounded far too much like the children’s poem “Who Killed Cock Robin?” I bought the book anyway because compared to my other choices – The Grapes of Wrath, The Old Man and the Sea and Animal Farm – it seemed to be the least offensive to my pre-teen sensibilities.  I considered myself to be far too mature to read about talking animals!  Once in hand I promptly decided that To Kill a Mockingbird was not worth my time.  This opinion was based on the book’s plain, un-illustrated, mustard-yellow cover.  Yes, bibliophile that I was (and still am), I judged a book by its cover. 

My copy of To Kill a Mockingbird – now creased and careworn – sat on my bedroom desk until the start of August which was when I realized that, like it or not, my mother was not going to allow me to buy the Cliff’s Notes version of it; the local librarian looked positively apoplectic when I had asked if she had a copy of the shelves.  Already miserable because my father had decided to take Paul Simon’s advice and “slip out the back, Jack” I figured my summer could get no worse.  I opened to the first page and read these words: “When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.”

“My brother Jem,” I thought.  “Isn’t Jem a girl’s name?” At the time Jem and the Holograms was Hasbro’s answer to Mattel’s Barbie.  I read a little further and discovered that the character of Scout was a girl and grew curious as to how people down South lived.  Being a native New Englander, I had only heard stories of the Deep South; none of them all that kind to Confederates.  As I got deeper and deeper into the tome that was my summer reading assignment, something inside me stirred.  My child-like sense of justice – of right and wrong being either/or but never both – flared inside of me.  Why did these people want to hurt Atticus?  What was wrong with them?  They were supposed to be his friends!  Why were they siding against Tom Robinson, an innocent man “whose only true sin was pity for white woman”? 

By the time I reached the end of the book I was so disgusted with Maycomb County that the enormity of what “Boo” Radley had done completely escaped me – which is why I read To Kill a Mockingbird again the very next summer; and the summer after that; and the summer after that; and every summer to this day.  It was on or around my twelfth reading of the book that I caught on to the fact that Jem did not kill Bob Ewell.  I cannot understand why I did not catch on sooner.  Perhaps it was my outrage at the sense of injustice I felt; perhaps it was my anger over being told (by native Alabamans) that not much has changed in Alabama since the Civil War, and that Harper Lee’s story could be as true today as it was when she wrote it.  I think the real reason it took so long for me to process the truth about who killed Bob Ewell was that Atticus could not process it.  Over the years, I had learned to look at Atticus as the father-figure I needed in my life.  To me, Atticus was a God among men; His only weakness his blind love for his children.  He was a man who believed in his children; a man who raised them to become the pillars of justice he sought for the future of humankind.  To a child who had been abandoned by her father, Atticus made a fine surrogate; a living example of all that was good in a world full of ugliness. 

I have spent the better part of my life searching for Atticus, inside and outside of myself.  I have never giving in to the pessimistic view that such a person can only exist in fiction; that the real world would have jaded him by now, worn his ideals down to a stub of their original grace or corrupted him in one of the many political trade-offs that occur in order to make the business of politics run, and keep the politics of business in check.  I know he is out there, though, for I have caught glimpses of him.  It is these glimpses that keep my hopes alive.  I know that Atticus lives; he lives in the hearts and the minds of all who seek to emulate him.
               It was the summer of my seventeenth reading of To Kill a Mockingbird that a young boy I watched over picked up a copy of it for himself.  He was eleven years old, a year younger than I was when I first felt the magic of Harper Lee’s masterpiece, and like me he was too young to process all of the goings-on in the world that Atticus, Jem, and Scout inhabited.  Small for his age, he curled in my lap and cried at the injustice of Tom Robinson’s conviction and death; at the blatant prejudice that engulfed the human psyche.  As he dried his tears, he looked up at me with watery eyes and said, “When I grow up I want to be just like Atticus!”  Holding back tears of pride, I kissed his forehead; rocked him gently; and told him I could think of no nobler calling. 

KJM

07.09.12

The Downside of Writing

Writing a daily column can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. Don't get me wrong - I love it, and would love for Ask Tazi! to go places financially, as well as socially (which is it currently doing) but sometimes I feel like I am not doing enough to promote it; and sometimes I feel like I am doing too much to promote it.

I love writing. Ever since I was a child, I have loved the creativity of it. I started reading Ann Landers when I was seven years old and read it every day until her final column. I owned the book she wrote until it got destroyed by water damage, and it was always a dream of mine to be an advice columnist myself - thus the purpose of continuing with Ask Tazi! The letters I get are real, but I sometimes wonder if I am choosing the right ones - those that an audience would find most interesting or most helpful or just most entertaining. I try to find a balance between offering serious help for widespread problems and letters that entertain others, in spite of the fact that they do reflect someone else's real-life issue - real enough that they felt the need to write to an advice columnist about it.

Having a degree in Communications helps me a lot in this career project (which is what it has become). I am able to read between the lines and tell if information is missing, or if someone is twisting the story. I can tell if a man is writing the letter pretending to be his wife or vice-versa (almost 80% of my letters are from women) and I can tell if a letter is real or fake. My degree specializations were Interpersonal Communications and Mass Communications, so I am happy to be using both to do something I love, but I still feel...afraid that it will all just end before I am ready to see it stop.

Ask Tazi! has its slow days. For some reason, traffic drags on Tuesdays. I have tried to increase it by printing what I think are the most interesting letters, but all that has done is result in less readership for some of my best topics. I have added a blog review feature, "Tazi Recommends..." for Sundays that seems to be going over well. I do not know if it attracting extra attention to the blogs reviewed, but it has certainly helped my numbers. And yet...

I know online pay-per-click advertising is a complete rip-off, but I do it anyway in the hope of getting something back for my efforts, in a financial sense. Thus the publication of Tails From Ask Tazi: Past Missives of Great Import (Vol. 1). I suppose I just lack patience...and that is the downside of writing. It is the downside of life, really: things move not at your pace, but the pace of the world around you. I'm just going to have to accept that fact...or spend my life aggravated.

Almost Famous

Ask Tazi! looked like it was going to go viral for a little while...but today the numbers are way down as the column that sent it skyrocketing fades with the passing of current events into political history. Interest in the Cranston Prayer Banner scandal in starting to wan, and the shot heard 'round the world is starting to lose its boom. The links remain on news-sources like WPRO-AM and FM, but page hits are again down.

On the same day as "Tazi" responded to a letter about the prayer banner decision, his column was picked up as a featured story in an international food and beverage organization's newsletter, adding to the international attention his column was receiving. I had to add a BabelFish Translator to the page, so everyone could read the column with ease. I have definitely attracted new readers - which is great, considering the book release of Ask Tazi! occurred yesterday - but I still feel a bit of a let-down. I knew the day would be coming, and it came much later than I expected; but it still leaves me feeling kinda blue...like my 15 minutes of fame ended five minutes too early.

On Plagiarism and Other Ills

Twice this week I have come across blogged articles that were blatantly plagiarized from known sources, yet no credit was given. These blogs were copied and pasted word-for-word - complete with accompanying pictures - yet the re-posters failed to acknowledge the fact that the work was not theirs. What is truly sickening is that one of these bloggers is a grad student, who should know better! At the end of the original blog she "apologizes" for not crediting the original author (who she could no longer find) but declares that she posted it in fun. Oh, well that makes it all better, doesn't it?

Plagiarism is one of the great ills of writing in an electronic environment. Because it is so easy for someone to "share" your work without properly crediting it, writers - and aspiring writers - often have their work stolen by those who mean no harm...and by some who maybe do mean to claim another's work as their own. The fact that Blogger offers copyright protection is of some help, but you still have to find the people who are stealing your work - something that is difficult enough when dealing with the printed page; nigh on impossible when publishing online.

I title this blog "...and Other Ills", but really it is just one other thing. The other day, I was watching an old episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, in which Frank decides he wants to be a writer after the Reader's Digest publishes one of his jokes. Suddenly, Frank feels he knows all there is about writing and goes wild sharing his prose with all he forces to listen. At his father's request - and out of pity - Raymond drops one of his father's "columns" in his Editor's inbox. The Editor calls the work "amateurish". Frank decides that the Editor does not know anything about writing, and proceeds to continue writing.

While watching the story-line unfold, I could see where it was going and could not help but compare it to real life. I have often complained about how, thanks to blogging, anyone with a keyboard can think themselves a writer (as opposed to one who writes). I know people who have never taken a Writing or Communications course beyond the General Education requirements of their college or university, yet they believe themselves capable of writing the Great American Novel. The truly sad thing is that although their ideas may be worthwhile, they refuse to take constructive criticism; seeing it as an insult instead of an assist. Furthermore, they will not allow anyone to suggest their precious prose be edited for wordiness. Oh no…every word out of their mouths is a sacred pearl of wisdom to be treasured! How dare someone try to toss these pearls before swine!

I have seen blogs go viral on the basis of one really good article; an article that is well-written, relevant, funny, and something to which the masses can relate. I am truly happy for writers who experience such unexpected success; but my happiness is tempered by the knowledge that pride often comes before the fall. I have seen the swelled heads that prevail after such viral success. Like a writer whose first novel becomes a New York Times Bestseller, they develop a large following very quickly; people clamor for more and the writer feels flattered to produce. However, often times what they produce is....amateurish. The lack of processing and editing is evident; as is the fact that the writer rushed to churn out something to please their legion of fans. As the quality drops, so does the fan base and the opportunity to grow at a slower pace shrivels. I call it the Hootie and the Blowfish syndrome.

For anyone who remembers the late-1990's, Hootie and the Blowfish rocked the scene with Hold My Hand - a bouncy tune that was easy to dance to and fun to sing. This song rocketed the band to stardom, and their CD sales were through the roof. Their follow-up CD, Fairweather Johnson, tanked due to a bad choice of opening release (Old Man and Me) and the band disappeared from the charts, reappearing briefly with I Go Blind (another pop-rock tune) before vanishing for good. The lead singer, Darrius Rucker (aka "Hootie"), is now a Country and Western singer. Whatever happened to The Blowfish is anybody's guess...

When I started writing Ask Tazi! I never expected to gain a following, let alone the continued interest people have shown; an interest that grows by the week. As I have said before, it was simply a class assignment to be launched and then dismantled over the course of a few weeks. I am pleased that it is doing so well, and hope that in time it will become a national phenomenon. I would love for it to go viral...but first, I would love for it to be picked up for syndication - just so I can stay one step ahead of the copycats who would steal my concept of an advice giving cat.

Icarus' Flight Plan Revisted

Last night, I decided to re-read the blogs I have posted this semester - the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly (as in that end-of-semester meltdown I had last week). As I write this, Tazi-Kat is sitting by my side (as usual), and I am reflecting on all I have learned - and the irony of one particular thing I wrote.

On September 15, 2011 I blogged about an article I had read on "blogs as clubhouses". It was a short reaction piece, in which I wrote:

...with the saturation of the medium this is where my thoughts split from the author's, who continues on to describe how your personal blog can become a money-maker. Unless you come up with a truly unique topic, such as the Julie and Julia blog; and you are a trained and/or professional writer; and you have the necessary knowledge to produce an accurate, well-researched blog, then the odds of such success occurring are astronomical. This is not to say that one should not try to beat the odds; just that one should not set their sights so high that they are blinded by the sun every time they look upward.

As you can see, in spite of my tendency to aim high, I keep my expectations quite low. I suppose it is so I will not rest on my laurels, but continue to give my all towards every project I undertake. This way of life can be quite draining, but it stems from something I learned while working in advertising: your own opinion of your work is not what matters. It is the opinion of the people who are judging your work that matters.

Now, I am sure there is a chorus of young - and not-so-young - idealists out there carping about how they would never alter their "art" to please another; and I can tell you right now that those same idealists will never make a living off of their "art" - be it writing, videography, film, or actual art. People may claim that they don't believe in commercial success, but those are generally the people who are either already commercially successful or who do not have to depend upon the income generated from their art in order to pay their way through life - or the people who have ended up like Vincent Van Gogh: poor, and more than a little crazy.

Anyhow, back to my main point: I find it ironic that my clubhouse blog may actually bring me commercial success. I wonder if this is how Icarus felt...

My Point Exactly! (A Promo For "The Art of Cyberdribble")

I normally don't repost other people's blogs for the simple fact that I can be a proprietory bitch when it comes to my blog-space; but this blog deals with the major issues of writing and communication in electronic environments, so I plan on promoing the crap out of it - just because I think it needs to be read by more people, especially Communications majors. Click on the link below to see what I mean!

The Art of Cyberdribble

There Is Always More To Learn

The learning process is a never-ending one; even though we may think we know all there is to know about something, there is always something that we do not yet know.

The final - FINAL - project for this class is to put together an online portfolio of our work. Sounds simple, right? My problem is that I once worked in the field of Marketing Communications, and had a stand-out reputation not only for my work, but for cutting-edge presentation, as well. While others were still supplying print versions of their portfolio, I was supplying mine of CD in order to illustrate my animated graphic work, as well as my print graphic designs. Even after I had returned to school, I still had the occasional headhunter calling me to see if they could woo me back into the field. Therefore, I am not comfortable putting just anythng online. If I am going to put a portfolio online, it is going to be a professional presentation of my work.

When it comes to online presentations, there is so much that can be done to keep the audience interested. However, you have to keep in mind that less is more. Too much stimulation results in overstimulation, and overkill of the presentation itself. I just finished reading an article on this very subject, and found myself agreeing with everything it had to say - especially the parts about choosing a theme and sticking with it; and understanding that your portfolio is a representation of your work as a whole - not a place to put every single thing you have ever written. Editing is key.

So what have I learned this semester? I have learned that if I step outside of my comfort zone, there is much for me to discover. In other words, I learned that there is always more to learn.

Okay, I am off to write Tazi-Kat's column for tomorrow...it is amazing the things people send to him. I suppose truth really is stranger than fiction - just one more thing that I have learned this semester!

Where's My Martini?

Somebody, get me a drink. I don't care that it is only 1:30 in the afternoon and that I just returned home from church, I need something to calm me before I post something I shouldn't.

My class is in the process of writing reflective essays on what we have learned this semester, and I noticed that Miss #%@^%# - the student I have been ranting about all semester - finally got her work in by deadline. Even though I was not assigned to her Peer Review group this time around, I gave in to the temptation to read what she had to say. She actually has the chutzpah to take credit for the work done on Project Three - website redesgin, the project where she did less than 1% of all the work involved and nothing towards the actual website redesign - and gives herself a large portion of credit for Project Four - original website design - even though she did nothing to contribute to the research or design of the project.

I am so angry I am surprised the heat of my temper has not caused me to spontaniously combust into flames!!!! The last time something like this happened to me, I was working for an advertising firm. My supervisor had secretly been taking credit for my work (which had led to a 125% increase in quarterly profits!). The man was promoted on the basis of my work, claiming it was his! I was so disgusted, I gave my two-weeks notice (I had been looking, and found a better job within a week). At least in that case I had the pleasure of hearing that three months after I left his dishonesty came back to bite him in the butt. When I left, so did my market research and forecasting skills; and quarterly accounts plummeted. The guy was demoted back to this old position and his former boss (who had left to look for better pay) was hired back as the new Manager, complete with the fat pay raise that had been my former supervisor's fat pay raise.

I will now take this anger and do something useful with it - like work on the book I am co-authoring. It is called The Obdicerous One (pronounced uhb-DICK-er-us), about a man who is the personification of "Excessive obnoxiousness, combined with a ridiculously inflated sense of self-worth to the point of being ludicrous; all rolled into one large package". My co-author came up with the word, a combination of "obnoxious", "ridiculous", and "ludicrous". Stay tuned for further details...my Wrting 235 class may be ending, but this process blog shall continue.

Peer Reviewing Reviewed

I have discovered that peer reviewing has its pros and cons and unfortunately, for this class, the cons are outweighing the pros as the semester wears on and approaches the finish line. I have learned a lot in this class, and one reason was the chance to receive feedback from my classmates on the work completed. In fact, it was assigned work that they do give feedback in the form of constructive criticism. However, that does not mean that everyone gave it on time (before deadline) or even gave it all.

For our first class asignment - clubhouse blogs - I got feedback from one student, and I have to say it really wasn't helpful. For some reason, she thought Ask Tazi-Kat! was an advice column for pet lovers, and that it should run tips on caring for pets. The column offers general advice on a range of subjects, and has hardly ever addressed issues dealing with pets. As of this writing, it is up to 1100 hits (in 11 weeks), with 100 of those hits coming in over the past 3 days and a third of the total hits coming in within the last three weeks; as well as an ebook of the archives planned for January publication through Amazon.com; and daily subscription numbers also on the rise. If I had taken the advice to change the format, I don't think it would have been so successful, as pet-care is a very niche market; nor is it my forte.

Project Two did offer some very helpful review advice on travel writing, offering hints on what people look for when they travel to Providence; but even so, one of the reviewers did not offer their thoughts until after the due date for the project. As luck would have it, I got paired with this person for the next two group projects; and as expected, all deadlines were ignored. Thank God that I lucked out on Project Three, as the other member of the three-person group - the only other person I consider to be a contributing member - is an amazing student and an amazing worker. I know I keep touting him, but he seriously is that good. He graduates in May, and I have no doubt I will be seeing his name in the Wall Street Journal some day! (FYI: He is a Business and Finance major).

For Project Three, the recreation of a restaurant website, only one person got their peer reivew in by deadline (others were a week late!) and he gave some very helpful suggestions that were incorporated, and acknowledged on our Peer Review forum message board (including the suggestion that we add a Directions page to the site). The remainder of the reviewers posted their thoughts a week late, and basically said the same exact thing as the first person - lighten the background and add a Directions page - ignoring the fact that the edits had been made a full week prior. Explanations as to why there were no pictures of the restaurant or its food were posted to the forum (after the first reviewer suggested they be added), and completely ignored. Criticisms that we should add some kept pouring into the forum. It was all I could do not to post in a bold, red font "PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOU A$$ AND READ THE G-D D-MN PROJECT UPDATE!!! FOR THE LOVE OF G-D YOU ARE A SENIOR IN COLLEGE!!! PULL THIS KIND OF CR@P IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AND YOU WON'T MAKE IT PAST YOUR FIRST 90-DAYS!!!!!!!" Thankfully, I have been practicing the art of patience since leaving the professional world of Marketing, and managed to keep my cool. (FYI, part 2: just in case you were wondering, we used placeholders [generic graphics] in place of actual pictures, so as to leave the picture choice open for the business owner to visualize).

With Project Four, the three contributing members of the group all agreed that the criticisms received were bulls--t, and only offered up because the reviewers had to say something. We received criticisms such as:

"You have too many links" (several of the links were required for the project, and could not be removed; the others were essential to the opertation of the site)

"I don't like the sports theme" (the page name is Intercepting Traffick and its purpose is to raise awareness of child sex trafficking at major league sporting events. DUH!)

"I think you have too much information on your site",with the suggestion that people would get bored and move on to another site (the site itself is an informational site with a targeted audience, not a general interest site.)

I have always tried to make my criticisms constructive...which is why this blog has so often turned into a rant. It's all just part of the process.

Technology: Rely On It To be Unreliable

I have been meaning to write this blog for a few weeks now, and have just been so busy putting together my final portfolio that my process blog got shifted to the bottom of the priority pile.

If you have been reading my blog you will know by now that my final group project for this class involves creating a social issues site at SocialGo.com. (If you have not been reading this blog, I suggest you go catch up and come back here when you have). When the syllabus was put together, SocialGo was free; now, it is only free for two weeks before they start to charge. THANKFULLY the good people in SocialGo's Finance Department understood the pleas of my professor, and the charges for our project sites have been waived through the end of the year. However, this situation illustrates why putting our faith in technology is not always a good thing.

I am reminded of a letter to Ann Landers that I read several years ago, about a man who knew he was dying (of illness) and wanted to leave some letters to his young granddaughter, for when she was old enough to read them. In order to keep them confidential, he typed them and saved them to a 3-inch disk. After he passed, his wife was uncertain if she should print them out, due to changing technology and the fear the letters would be lost. Ann Landers agreed with her, and got a heaping pile of mail from those who disagreed with her, saying to print them out would be a violantion of privacy. As I recap that letter, I am asking myself "How long has it been since anyone used disks?"

It is truly amazing how much technology has changed in my lifetime. I still remember 5-inch floppy disks...the TRS-80...and yes, Pong, which I still think is a balls-ass awesome video game, if you will pardon the expression. I am not exactly sure what "balls-ass" means, but it is what popped into my head when I was thinking about how awesome Pong was, and how I miss its quaint simplicity.

I often wonder what technological advances will come in the lifetime of the Wikipedia generation, and hope that it will help them to understand where I am coming from when I talk about the importance of learning to do things old school, instead of letting technology do everything for you - because if the computer systems are down and that research paper is due, it is always nice to know how to use the card catalog.

Group Poop

I am titling this blog "Group Poop" because Group Sh!t does not make for a very polite headline. My final group project for this class was submitted this morning, and I am sooooo glad to be done with it! Although the cause is important to me, group projects tend to go like this: one or two people do all of the work, while everyone else sits back and lets them do it. This project was a bit different, but there was still one obvious slacker in the group.

My problem with the group project dynamic is that I am a "recovering workaholic". I am the type of person who will dedicate all of my time to my work/school projects, to the detriment of other areas of my life. Often time I have said that "there is a reason I am [insert age here], never married with no children". Although those reasons are several, one of the big ones is my dedication to my work - and the sense of perfectionism that I bring with it. I can't just let stuff slide and hope that someone else will do the work because every time I try that I end up working double-time to catch up because nobody else bothered to do the work, either! Because I am aware of my tendency to drown my life in my work, I must make a conscious effort to STOP and balance myself or see my personal life suffer for it.

As for the technical extent of this project, I realize that I have experience in web-building; but my experience is in web graphics/design and writing HTML code. Six or seven years ago, web building software was in its infancy, and social host sites like Yola.com and SocialGo were either non-existent or very, very expensive to use ($1,500+ per yearly contract, as opposed to $100 - $300 now). I have had to make the time to learn how to use these sites, just like everybody else. My experience with HTML coding allowed me to work around some of the limitations of the paid-subscription-only features on sites like WuFoo Forms (BTW: I LOVE THIS SITE!!!), but this does not excuse the fact that one of the "founders" of the site that has been our group project contributed NOTHING except her personal profile and a very short, barely researched blog! In fact, her one source of research was a YouTube video that another member had already posted to our site! How ballsy is that? This person has a semester-long history of phoning it in, so to speak, but this move takes that attitude to new levels!

Overall, the group dynamic of this final project has worked well, with each of the remaining members contributing in some important way; I am just wondering if my dedication hasn't made it too easy for my group-mates to blow off a large portion of the assignment - i.e. learning how to use the social host software, or how to create a WuFoo form. Then again, if I were not so dedicated, I am not certain our site would be as professionally done as it is. Fjavascript:void(0)or my last group project, I was partnered with a different student, and the work he contributed was amazing. For this group project, we are separated; and the difference in the quality of work is obvious. I am really not impressed with his group's site, even though I love the topic [responsible government spending].

I just hope that my influence helps to bring out the best efforts of others, without me coming off as a total b!tch...because behind the scenes - away from work and the formal settings of the university - I can be immature, unorganized, crazy, and loud; but boy am I FUN!

Website Update

Intercepting Traffick is now a working website...and I am very, very tired. Yes, there is a causal connection between the two; so whoever is reading this, please support my hard work by "Liking" the cause on Facebook; visiting the website; and at least consider supporting the boycott and adding your name to the pledge.

Facebook Causes and What I Have Discovered About Them

In researching Facebook Causes I discovered two interesting facts: The first is that they are a private company that uses Facebook as its web host; the second is that they are actively hiring new employees. Although I have no desire to work for them - I am quite content with my current job and geographical location - I thought it very interesting that this seemingly altruistic feature is actually a very clever marketing plan by a for-profit company.

The basis of Facebook Causes is simple: the parent company represents the cause by managing their Facebook presence. Unlike Facebook Groups, the Causes feature allows for the donation of monies to the cause directly through Facebook, and uses a multi-level marketing scheme (a.k.a. a pyramid scheme) to reward members who get others to join and to donate. Rewards are not made in cash, but in a gain of status level, like it is some sort of competition. Judging by the number of competitive games on Facebook, I can see why this formation would be successful.

Although I am not certain I like the whole idea of a pyramid set-up to raise funds for worthy causes, I do suppose the end justifies the means. I admire the fact that Facebook Causes (yes, that is the name of the parent company) chose to use Facebook as an already existing platform of over 20-million users to launch their project. It kind of makes me wish that I was [Facebook Founder] Mark Zuckerberg's college roommate instead of [Causes founder] Joe Green (maybe then Ask Tazi-Kat would be a profitable venture by now!).


Source:
TechCrunch.com

Am I An Over-Achiever?

My latest assignment was to work with a group to build a website dedicated to a social cause (for those of you who have not been following). My group's cause is child sex-trafficking at the Super Bowl, and our purpose is raising awareness of the issue.

I have logged over 40 hours into this project, between site design and formatting, graphic design, blog research and writing, and general research on statistics and headlines related to this cause. The site truly looks amazing; if I do say do myself! If you have time, I ask that you please visit Intercepting Traffick today!

One of the few remaining parts of this assignment is to review the sites the other groups have created, and critique them; offering thoughts on one thing that works and one that does not. I have to say, I was quite disappointed with the other groups' sites. I am trying to keep in mind that they are still learning the art of web design, but the web builder offered through SocialGo.com seems pretty user-friendly. Plus, I, too, am still learning the art of writing for online environments (although I must add that this class has taught me a great deal already). I am starting to wonder if I am an over-achiever, because it is difficult for me to believe that so many others are under-achievers. Thoughts?

Group Project Mom

I don't have children, yet somethimes, I feel like such a Mom. Here is the latest post I put on the Group Project Forum:

Our submission draft of the website is due on Monday at 11:55 PM. For the most part, the group portions are done and only individual contributions remain.

I will be working on a better Facebook/Twitter default pic/graphic/logo. In the meantime, here is a list of what still needs to be done:

1) Personal profiles and pictures. If your profile and/or pic are not yet posted, this is just a friendly reminder that they are a required part of the assignment.

2) 1 blog post (minimum) from each of us - also part of the assignment. After signing in, at the top of the page will be a small link that says "Post New Blog". Be sure to post it to "A Word From The Refs". This is our blog page. (Sydney and I have already posted our submissions.)

3) Videos. songs, commercials, etc. Essentially, media! According to the assignment parameters, we are all required to have a minimum of ONE posting on the "Let's go To Video" page.

4) Thus far, the Organizations We Support page has only three listings. We need more!!


5) Game Analysis is our "Forums" page. We each need to post a topic and respond to the posts others have posted.

6) Calendar of events...how do we want to work this? An interactive calendar? I have looked online and am having trouble finding one...do we just want to have a list of dates and events in text form? This could work if we set it up in datebook form.

Although this last one is not required, it would be a nice touch if we all signed up as "Members" of the site by having a SocialGo.com log-in - this also allows us to Take The Pledge by signing in the Comments section of that page.

If anyone has any questions about how to work with the SocialGo software or how to post anything, please look through the other threads on this forum to see if your question has already been answered. If you still can't find an answer, please post what you need posted to this site (in a new thread) and someone who knows how to do it can see that it gets done!

GO TEAM!!!

I just feel like if I hadn't taken change, this project would have languished.

P.S. If you haven't checked it out yet, check go to the Intercepting Traffick website now!

Activism and Amendments

One thing I cannot stand is when someone proposes a Constitutional amendment based upon their pet cause. I find the idea of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" absolutely laughable, considering the fact that only 11% of Americans live debt free. I hear people complain that a flat-tax will eliminate the mortgage-interest deduction and kill the already flat real estate market and in the next breath demand that Congress "live within its means". The double-standard makes me want to choke.

I understand that the Federal deficit is dangerously large; so much so that it will probably never be paid down, but people do not seem to realize just how difficult it is to pass a bi-partisan Constitutional amendment, let alone a partisan one. With the exception of the post-Civil War era of the "radical reconstructionists" it has never been an expedient process to get two-thirds of both Congressional segments (the House and the Senate) to pass a partisan bill and then get three-fourths of the states to agree with it. Yet, when you read the email that makes the rounds - regarding whatever alleged amendment has "recently been proposed" - it states that "once it gets through Congress, approval by only 3/4 of the state legislatures is all that is needed!" Wow, is that all?

It took the 19th Amendment - the removal of the sex requirement to exercise the rights of suffrage - sixty years of activist activity to pass both the House and the Senate, and then an additional two years to receive ratification by the states. The Equal Rights Amendment - first proposed in 1923 - did not receive Congressional approval until 1972 - that's 49 years, for those who are counting. To this day, only 35 states have ratified it (38 are needed for approval)...almost 40 years after it finally received Congressional approval. This past February, Virginia sought to be the 36th state to ratify it, but the issue was tabled in their House of Representatives. This past June, E.R.A. ratification bills were re-introduced in the U.S. Senate. The issue is still alive and awaiting ratification.

These examples are why I laugh out loud when people demand the passage of Constitutional amendments like the "28th Amendment" that I see Tea-Partyists referring to on Facebook (written as such, like it has already passed into law). If they pulled their heads out of their collective asses, they would know that there already IS a proposed 28th Amendment in the works, that it was proposed long before the passage of Amendments 20 - 27, and it has nothing to do with limiting the power of Congress - it is the E.R.A., whose supporters are not so presumptuous to call it the "28th Amendment", just as the 19th Amendment was called the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment" before its passage*! To put it in plainer language, the "proposed" 28th Amendment of which these people write does not exist! It has never been proposed ! Knowing that, I hardly think passage of such an amendment to be an impending reality, and this is in complete disregard of the fact that it can take a lifetime or more for a controversial amendment to pass. Considering that slacktivism is de rigueur right now, I don't think Congress has any reason to worry.


*Had the Susan B. Anthony Amendment been so presumptuous to call itself "the proposed 18th Amendment", it would have been judged poorly by history. Prohibition passed first, thereby making it the 18th Amendment.

A Cheesehead's Worst Nightmare

Last year, my Green Bay Packers went to the Super Bowl. The glory of this moment - and their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers - was tainted by my newly discovered knowledge that the Super Bowl is one of the largest child sex trafficking events in America. Pimps kidnap and transport young girls and boys across state lines - and last year, since the game was in Dallas, across national borders - in order to provide young prostitutes for willing customers.

Thanks to Trafficking 911 and Change.org word of this horrific practice was spread to the American people, and the NFL players themselves spoke out against this horrid practice in the form of public service announcements. The FBI and the Texas Attorney General's office worked in conjunction with local airlines to spot the young victims of sex trafficking, but there is still so much more that needs to be done.

As of this writing, my Packers are 8 - 0 on the season! They stand a very good chance of returning to the big dance this year, which will be held in Indianapolis. What troubles me is that, according to the scant bit of research I have done so far for this project (a social cause website against child sex traffickign at the Super Bowl), America's heartland is the core of the American sex trafficking trade. With young girls seeking to leave home and find their fortune outside of the rural confines of the Midwest, they are prime targets for those who would take advantage of them sexually.

I love my team, and I love the NFL; but I will boycott all that has anything to do with the NFL if they don't step up their game against child sex trafficking.

Social Causes a Go-Go...and a Closing Reference to a Grito Serpentiono Poem

My next (and final) project for this class is to create an online presence with regard to a social issue. I have always been what I like to call a "silent activist" - someone who quietly goes about raising awareness and funds without getting in peoples' faces about it. For example, many years ago a child I used to babysit (who is now a sophomore in college!) fell ill with a step infection in her stomach. She spent several days in Hasbro Children's Hospital, and came very close to dying. That Christmas season, I made a donation to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital - and have continued to do so every Christmas season since, regardless of my personal financial picture. Why St. Jude's? Because they treat children whose families are uninsured, and do not have the ability to pay for hospital treatment. St. Jude's does not even have a patient accounts billing department, because the patient never receives a bill for services.

In return for my donation, St. Jude's always sends me return address labels with artwork, most of it crudely drawn, completed by their patients. Although my preference would be to use a more sophisticated looking label on my Christmas cards, I use every single one of them in the hope that those who see it will be inspired to donate as well. (Many of my friends tell me that they have been inspired to do just that). This is but one example of silent activism that I have found effective.

With the ever-evolving Internet being a daily presence in most peoples' lives, social networking has become an easy way for people to show support for the causes they would like to support, without actually doing it. There is actually a word for this: slacktivism. By clicking a button on Facebook, I can "Like" Breast Cancer Research, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Disabled Veterans', and other causes that I support financially; but I can also "Like" causes like Stop Pet Abuse NOW! and other causes that may or may not be actual non-profit organizations. In his article Digital Natives As Self-Actualizing Citizens, W. Lance Bennett comments on this phenonmenon.

Bennett points out that many of today's youth generation (i.e. students and adults under the age of 25, or at least this is how I interpret it) use social media as a way to get involved with the political and civic processes of society. However, as Bennett so perfectly puts it, "the bottom line is that digital natives largely do not participate in civic affairs out of a sense of duty or obligation but a sense of personal fulfillment." Slacktivism, anyone?

This sense of "what's in it for me" activism is what divides the old-school activists from the new-school activists, or what Bennett calls the "Dutiful Citizens (D.C.'s)" from the "self-Actualizing Citizens (A.C.'s)". According to Bennett, D.C.'s feel a duty to vote in government elections; participate in government; and seek out information from trusted sources, such as trational media like newspapers and the nightly news; and show their support for a cause by joining a physical organization, one with a Board of Directors and a voting membership.

A.C.'s, on the other hand, are more likely to vote for their favorite American Idol contestant than for their preferred Presidential candidate. According to Bennett, they feel less of an obligation to vote and/or participate in central forms of government. In fact, they mistrust the government; and this mistrust is fed through their choice of alternative forms of media. A.C.'s are more likely to have an online network of "friends" than in-person social ties, and subsequently any social causes in which they involve themselves follow this loose organizational structure.

Having pointed out the differences between the older generations and the younger generations, Bennett suggests that "schools should help students to develop their own public voices by using various digital media, allowing students to find their own means of engaging with and learning about issues, and forming peer-learning communities." I suggest that this slope is a dangerously slippery one, for several reasons.

1. Online content is treated differently than book content

Online content is designed to be consumed in quick bites - small chunks of information delivered in easily processable wording. Even when the content is not designed this way, it has come to be expected. As a Science Tutor, many of the students with whom I work are assigned homework through ChemSkillsBuilder, an online software program that really does help students improve their grade...if they treat it like a regular homework assignment by writing down the problems, solving them, and typing in their answers. My experience in working with Chemistry students is that most will attempt to solve the online problems in their heads, never taking notes on how the problem is done, or reviewing the advice given after a wrong answer is submitted. Consequently, grades are lower, frustration is higher, and nothing is accomplished.

2. Online media is not always accurate

Conspiricy theory sites abound on the Internet. Marketing themselves as "alternative media", they spew absolute farce that they then present as serious journalism. Their sources - when revealed - are quite questionable and usually biased; and many times the "facts" presented are unchecked - and inaccurate. However, their fans have been brainwashed to believe that all reporting is true and accurate - and those who would say otherwise are part of the government machine that seeks to silence the truth.

3. Peer-Learning Communities are invariably unbalanced

When students are assigned to a group learning community, be it a group project or a study group, natural leaders tend to rise to the top. These are the students who take the initiative to organize the project and create a working timeline, based upon the work that needs to be completed by the deadlines assigned for it. Less organized students naturally seek to follow - many will hold up their end of the work, but just as many will allow others to pull the load while they sit back and reap the benefits of the group efforts.

Bennett suggests that the ideal way of teaching students would be to combine the old styles with the new styles, in order to embrace this new form of activism; but I feel he is a bit utopian in his belief that "young people are using their power as consumers to communicate directly with corporations." This may in fact be true, but what are they communicating? That they can type a strongly worded email? Did they write to the CEO of Sony to complain of the harsh labor conditions under which ossium metal (required in the manufacture of smart phones and video gaming systems) is mined? Did they make a credible threat to stop buying PS3 games and consoles and Sony smart phones until the inhumane treatment of workers - mostly poor children of African nations - improves? If the answer from America's collective A.C.'s is "yes", then please excuse me while I put my hip-waders on, because the bullsh-- is getting a little deep.

Bennett ends his article with the thought "the vitality of our democracy rests on reconciling changing youth civic styles with the more traditional notions of citizen engagement that still characterize most schools, governments, and public interest spheres." I could not disagree more. Just because something is popular does not make it right. The popularity of social media has dehumanized youth - cyberbullying is a prime example of this occurance. Rather than give in to the beast, I say fight it. This leads me to another article I read this week, Can Social network Sites Enable Political Action?, by Danah Boyd.

Ms. Boyd write the article in 2008, while a PhD candidate at UC - Berkeley. Her specific area of study was "youth engagement in networked places", like MySpace (remember them?) and Facebook, the Serena Williams of social media*. The title of the article intrigued me, and I was not disappointed by its contents.

Ms. Boyd states her thesis concisely:

Activists have fantasized about ordinary citizens using SNSes for political action and speaking truth to power. Yet these daydreams are shattered through even a cursory look at actual practices...Typical SNS participants are more invested in adding glitter to pages and SuperPoking their “friends” than engaging in any form of civic-minded collective action.

Just when I thought I could not agree more, Boyd ups the ante with an argument that shatters the idea that Facebook and MySpace are places where youth can interact with politicians and their government representatives, resulting in even more vigorous head-nodding on my part. She states, "By and large, when politicians and activists talk about using MySpace and Facebook, they aren’t talking about using it the way most people do; they are talking about leveraging it as a spamming device." A giant spamming device, at that; and a misleading one, considering that many people actually think that politicians - and not their staff and handlers - are the ones reading and responding to their posts.

Personally, I try to keep politics off of my Facebook page for the simple reason that it is a form of social media. The age-old rule of never discussing politics or religion in a social setting carries over to my Facebook page 99% of the time. (There are occasions when I slip and my outrage gets expressed, but I never allow the debate that ensues to turn uncivil). However, there are those that use their Facebook and MySpace pages as political forums for their beliefs. My question is, how much support do they actually hope to garner for their cause?

The Occupy Wall Street movement started out as a social networking movement, in response to the success of the Arab Spring movement. The difference between the two is that in the time it took the Arab Spring movement to topple governments, OWS has only managed to get Bank of America to change its mind about charging a $5/month debit-card fee. The difference in the results speaks directly to the level of commitment from those supporting the cause. In the Arab world, their youth are willing to fight and die for their cause; in America, our youth is unwilling to be inconvenienced. Many years ago, when I saw a performance by Grito Serpentino**, he recited a piece titled "When The Revolution Comes (Ain't Gonna Be No Cappuccinos With It)". I always wondered if that would be true. Now, I guess I know.

*Facebook is younger than MySpace; but just as Serena overtook her older sister Venus in tennis success, Facebook has far outpaced MySpace in popularity.

**The man, not the group, as at the time he was a with the San Jose (CA) Poetry Slam Team.

Looking Back To When I Was Green

I am taking this class - Writing for Online Environments, for those who forgot - as a way to update my Communications degree. I am enjoying it a lot, but sometimes I forget that my classmates are still learning...and that they haven't experienced life in an advertising agency or in the sales office of a TV station. I get aggravated over missed deadlines, and I supppose I always will, but it is more than that.

I forget that my classmates have probably not yet taken classes in Research Methods...that the extent of their writing experience ends with Writing 101, the universal college writing requirement...and that they have yet to learn how to balance their time. My boss tells me all the time that it is very easy for students to waste time without even realizing it, and then complain that they just can't fit everything they need to complete into their schedules. (As a Tutor, part of my job is to assist students in time management).

Sometimes, I forget what it is like to be young and "green". Kermit the Frog was right - it ain't easy being green - and although I can't see myself being more accomodating of missed deadlines, I can control my response to the situation.

That Was My Last Nerve, So Please Stop Getting On It!!!!

I think I have finally discovered what my "pet peeve" is! There are a lot of things that really p!ss me off - people who lick their fingers before turning the pages of a newspaper; bad drivers; and poor manners among them - but my annoyance with that stuff is usually quite fleeting. This group project and peer review forum on which I have been working has led me to discover an annoyance that has reached levels I have never before known; in fact, I did not know I could be so p!ssed and still manage to not to (literally) tear someone a "new one". What is this pet peeve of which I speak? Ignorance for deadlines, especially among Communications majors.

Having spent the first several years of my career working in media advertising, I learned the hard way that a deadline is just that - a deadline. A drop-dead date after which material cannot and will not be accepted for editing or publication. I have seen salespeople whine and cry and beg for understanding, suffering complete breakdowns, because they missed a deadline and their client's advertisments were not to air (and their commissions were not to be in their paychecks).

For this Internet re-design project, Peer Reviews were due this past Thursday, by Midnight. Only ONE person responded and posted on time. One person out of THREE! The remaining two responded today - Sunday. The project is due tomorrow!! If they think I am even going to consider any more changes at 9:20 PM they are high on something! I seriously fear for their future careers, because unless they pull their heads out of their asses and learn the meaning of "deadline" they are not going to succeed in this field!

RANT OVER!!!

Thoughts and Memories On Internet Marketing

One thing that Facebook is always doing is "updating" their look and organizational scheme, much to the dismay of their users. I think this is partially because people do not like change, but also because it makes the site difficult to navigate. One new feature that I do like is the "real time" status update and comment scroll of my "favorite" friends, in the right sidebar. This allows me to see what is important to me right away, without having to fish around for it.

In spite of Facebook's success, I honestly think that if business websites changed their organizational formats as often as Facebook did the entire concept of the Internet would be one giant FAIL, simply because people would get tired of having to adjust to a new format every few months. I think this is why - on the flip-side of the coin - so many businesses are reluctant to update their website layout, even if it is outdated and/or disorganized.

Over the past 10 years, American businesses have adjusted to the use of the Internet and email as a vital - and expected - means of communication. I remember back in the late 1990's how I was one of the few people I knew to include an email address on my resume, in spite of the fact that no potential employer ever contacted me via email - and I was applying for jobs in the field of Communications and "New Media"!

I remember how back in 2000 while working for an advertising agency - a place where deadlines are always looming, and fast communication is key - my supervisor chastised me for using email instead of the telephone to contact my TV sales reps, saying that "the telephone is quicker; people are more likely to answer it than email". Oh, how times have changed.

I remember the work I did in designing the very first website for Pride Auto Group (which has since dwindled from seven successful dealerships to just Pride Hyundai). I remember trying to sell the owner and Executive Vice-President on investing in the web-software I needed to create a first-class website...and I remember when they fired the HTML code designer (I only handled the graphics, Flash, and layout) because the owner reasoned that "a website is a waste of money; people aren't going to use the Internet to buy cars". This was in 2002 - only 10 years ago.

It has really only been within the past 5 - 7 years that an Internet presence has been considered mandatory for a company to have - complete with Facebook and Twitter accounts - and it seems like many of the haphazard efforts of creating one are still out there and in use. Hopefully, within the next 5 - 7 years, these disorganized efforts will be pulled together into something more appealing to potential customers.

Website Overload

When one person is doing something it is special, unique, and eye-catching. When everyone starts doing something, the bar is raised to remain special, unique, and eye-catching. I have lived long enough to watch the Internet grow from 16-mbps (or was it 16-kbps?) to a tool that can download complex flash-animation in seconds. Once upon a time, flash animation was special...now, it is expected. Once upon a time, interactive features were exiting...now, they are routine. Once upon a time, websites were unique...now, they all blend one into the other.

I have been browsing the Internet this week looking at the different styles and layouts chosen by different companies and industries, and quite honestly it has all started to blend into one big swirl. How is a company to stand out when attention spans are too short to catch for more than a few seconds? These are the thoughts I am processing this week...more posts on this subject will follow as I figure out what I am thinking.

Big Steps

Today, I took a huge step: I submitted my Ask Tazi! column for suggested publication. I felt knots in my stomach as I wrote the email, but I also figure nothing ventured, nothing gained. A rejection will not be a reflection of my writing, or of the popularity of the column - just of the needs of the publication to which I submitted it.

Today, a friend posted a picture on her Facebook page. It said, "'It's impossible', said Pride; 'It's risky', said Experience; 'It's pointless', said Reason;'Give it a try', whispered The Heart". So to my heart I listened.

Knowing Is Half The Battle

This project - redesigning a website, for those outside my class who might be reading this - has been enlightening. It has confirmed for me that I do NOT want to go back to working in website design! As much as I have enjoyed this project, it was the opportunity to go back to my past that made it so much fun; like when you spend the day watching television shows from your childrood. A full day of The Muppet Show is a treat; a daily diet of it gets old really fast.

As I get closer to graduation, I have to make the hard choices of which path to take. I do believe my heart is set on teaching and/or writing, but there is a part of me that is sad to know - for certain - that I will be shutting the door on Marketing. I was only 7 years old when I decided that was what I wanted to do with me life, and started educating myself with that goal in mind ar age 12; taking enrichment classes in videography and television production; Economics classes at 14; and Marketing through my city's vocational high school a year later. I eventually graduated as the Outstanding Student (the equivelant of Valordictorian), with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a head full of hopes and dreams.

For almost 30 years, I lived, ate, and breathed Marketing. I saw changes that people once thought impossible - the launching of a fourth major TV network (FOX); the turn towards computer design over freehand artwork; the birth of the Internet...the future is here, and I am content to leave it to a new generation and to step off in a new direction - but it is nice to wallow in the past every once in a whie, if only to remember from whence I came.

Deadlines Aren't Arbitrary

It is 2:20 AM and I cannot sleep because this group project is on my mind. I have to say, I am extremely impressed with how Group Member #2 took the draft/template website I created and turned it into the amazing finished product that it is, and how s/he managed to do it in such a short time. It blows my own efforts away (and I have been told that my efforts were quite impressive!), and I am happy to have been teamed with this person...I truly am; but at the same time I am somewhat annoyed that I have to be exclusionary of our third group member, who thus far has contributed nothing because "web design" isn't their "strong point". The beauty of this forum is that it is a classroom - if something is not your strong point, then that is what you are here to learn and it is all the more reason that you should be actively participating instead of taking a back-seat to others. Layout formatting isn't my strongest point, but I gave it a shot; and some of my efforts even made it into the final draft of the site!

The complete lack of communication from Group Member #3 also bothers me, although s/he claims to have left messages for me on Facebook. I double checked the link to my page that I posted, and it is correct, yet no messages have been received there. Anything posted to Sakai goes directly to my URI email, so there is no reason to post outside the closed forum of our classroom. I only provided my Facebook info because it is a quick way to get in touch with me in the case of an emergency - but then poor planning on someone else's part does not constitute an emergency on mine.

Having been asked to wear the mantle of Group Leader, I posted a thread about the final leg of this project today - the proposal memo. I was planning on doing it myself since Group Member #2 worked so hard these past few days in turning what started as my vision into a first-class cooperative; and, quite honestly, because the third member of the group has proven that s/he feels deadlines are arbitrary. I am really excited about this project, and if Group Member #2 agrees to it, I would like to submit the proposed website to the owners of the company who's site we chose to improve. Although I have no plans to return to design work, this site would be a huge plus for any portfolio, student or professional.

Anyhow, the reason I can't sleep is because Group Member #3 has requested the assignment of doing the proposal memo. Seeing how s/he has contributed nothing to the project yet, I realize it is only fair to give them the chance to do something...and yet I wonder: had I not posted the request for input into it, would s/he had taken the initiative to draft the proposal anyway? The assignment was posted 12 days ago, and here it is only 3 or 4 days before deadline before s/he makes an effort to contribute - and business writing is what s/he called their "strong point". If that were me, I would have jumped on it a week ago!

I guess I just feel that this group member is only seeking to contribute at this point because s/he would otherwise face the very real possibility of getting a zero for the entire assignment, considering that is what s/he has contributed to it. Therein is my quandry: Do I trust this person's motivation? Do I trust that writing the business proposal will play to their strengths, and thus strengthen the overall impact of this project?

What has me second guessing my decision to give this person the go-ahead to handle the proposal memo is that I can't even refer to their "reaction writing" for the last two readings (Palmquist's piece on what constitutes a good website and the "Design for Non-Designers" chapter) to judge whether or not assigning them the proposal memo would be a solid decision. S/he hasn't posted either of these required reaction responses to our group's forum, even though the first was due a week ago and the second due a few hours ago. See what I mean when I say s/he has proven that s/he finds deadlines to be arbitrary?

This proposal memo has become a monkey on my back, one which I would love to send sailing off of a cliff. I have a Physics exam on Monday, and studying for it is going to require a lot of my time this weekend. I want to believe that the proposal memo is in good hands, and that when I wake Tuesday morning, it will be posted to our group forum where the completed*** website now sits; but I can't...something tells me that in order to shed the monkey I am going to have to put together a back-up proposal just in case the assigned proposal is not posted in time to be included with the rest of the project.

[***I added these stars because one thought led to another, but I did not want to digress (for a change): Group Member #3 has informed us that s/he will review the site we created and add their own edits, which we can include or reject. When I commented that the site was complete unless anyone had any more edits, it was worded inclusively because it is a group project, but directed at Group Member #2 since s/he is the only other one who has been working on it!! As far as I am concerned, the website looks perfect - to add to it would be like putting lipstick on a pig - and Group Member #3 has no right to make edits to the website when s/he has contributed nothing to the creative process thus far.]

Well, it is now 3:21 AM, and I have a long day ahead of me...now that this is all out of my system, maybe I will be able to sleep.

Thoughts On Leadership

It has been suggested that I be the Group Leader for Project 3 - Redesigning a Website; but I believe a person can only lead if others are willing to follow. I do my best to inspire, but if the message is not heard the result is the same as writing a blog that has no readers: zero impact.

A person must first be willing to be an active part of a group before they can follow. I will not accept the Captaincy of the Titanic knowing she is going to sink. Rather, I will Captain my own ship and whether she sinks or sails will be on me and not the result of another's apathy.

Project #3...

My new project is a group project, wherein we redesign a crappy website. Or should I say, "a website that needs help with its design"? Having spent the last few years of my Marketing career designing websites, I'd like to think I have earned the right to be blunt.

This project got me thinking about why I left creating Marketing, and when I saw the webpage (not even a site, just a page) that my old employer settled on (after I quit in disgust), I remembered. I remembered how I spent 20 hours a week - half of my 40 hours - busting my ass to design a site for the company, only to have the owner reject it because it "wasn't what he wanted" - not that he could tell me what he wanted; just that he'd "know it when he saw it". Gee, thanks for the creative input! I remembered how he brought in one of his buddies - a retired electrician, who had picked up website design as a hobby, and was trying to make a business of it - to "teach" me how to design a website.

That day, it was all I could do not to quit on the spot (which I did a few weeks later; and six weeks after that, my division was closed when they discovered that replacing me for what they were paying me proved to be harder than they thought. I still feel badly about that, considering it put some good people out of work). Anyhow, my point was that I went to school to learn Marketing and Design and Photography; to understand how different cultures reacted to different marketing techniques (the Japanese love pictures, the Germans love text); and in the process of climbing my career ladder, earned a reputation as one of the best in my field thanks to my education and creative skills. This man picked up web design as a hobby and - with no education whatsoever - decided to try and make a second career of it, starting with his buddy's company as his very first client!

I remember asking him if he had any artistic skills, and he responded, "No, I grab all of my pictures and graphics off of the Internet". Apparently, in addition to all his other shortcomings, the man had no understanding of copyright laws. I also remember him trying to tell me how to design a "successful website". Thankfully, the CFO walked in at that very moment and intervened before the flames shooting from my eyes incinerated the man.

At least they used the logo I had to redesign from nothing. (There was no electronic copy of the logo, and the only print copy they had of was so pixilated, it could not be used. The font was unique to the company, so I had to make an electronic version of it, pixel by pixel. It was hours of long, boring work, but at least it wasn't for nothing).

Anyhow, this project is reminding me why I do not want to go back into Marketing Communications - the stress and burn-out is too much to sacrifice. If I don't go the path of education, Public Relations will be what I choose. Why I ever left it in the first place, I can't remember...maybe this project will help with that, too.

Travel Writing

My WikiTravel project is completed - you can check it out here, if you would like - and I discovered that I enjoy travel writing almost as much as I do traveling. For me, this project brought a sense of exploration into something that was old and worn, although not uncomfortable - just too comfortable.

How often do we lose appreciation for that which has become routine to us? How many Rhode Islanders claim to love Newport during the summertime, but cannot remember the last time we actually went to Newport during the summer? How often do we take our relationships with others for granted, simply because they are always there? One thing I always do with John is to try and learn new things about him on a regular basis...and to work to surprise him with things he never knew about me. (Even after 4 1/2 years together, I can still surprize him by brekaing into an old school rap song!).

For me, my writing is like a relationship - I need to try new things in order to keep it fresh. Travel writing was new, but what is more it brought a newness to traveling; even if the trip was only a few miles down the highway. I almost feel like I have discovered a new hobby - almost. I am not saying I will commit to writing about the places I travel; but I think I will try to see them through a travel writer's eyes, if only for the thrill of discovery.

Writers vs. People Who Write...and Why Mark Patinikin Gets On My Nerves

Why is it anyone who puts their mind to recording their thoughts in print on a regular basis considers themselves a Writer? If someone does their own car repairs, do they consider themselves a Mechanic? No. If someone home-schools their children, do they consider themselves a Teacher? No. So why is it people who upchuck their every thought or idea into printed words consider themselves Writers? I believe the reason that the person who repairs their own car or home-schools their children are not considered professionals is because they cannot do what they do on a professional level. Why is writing so different?

I consider myself a Writer because once upon a career, that is how I made my living! People found my work to be of such merit that they actually paid me to produce it! I guess this is why I get so annoyed at people who call themselves writers, yet have never had a single word published by a discerning entity that pays its contributors - regardless of how many freelance contributions they have attempted to see published.

I know that this is why Mark Patinkin's column gets on my nerves - aside from the sexist commentary he has been producing since his marriage started to dissolve, which would upset me even if I was not a Writer. Until quite recently, half of the stuff he has been writing for the Providence Journal have been lists - which my seventh grade Writing teacher always told me to avoid, as they are "the fodder of the unimaginative". I get angry because I know the man has an amazing talent, and he is producing work that is beneath him; work that is on par with "people who write", who use the oft heard on Thayer Street phrase, "I've lost my muse" as they try to excuse the drivel they know they are producing.

Until this class lit in me the flame that had faded, I never thought I would go back to professional writing. Now, I am not so sure; and this confuses me as to what I am: Am I a former and possibly future Writer? Am I a Writer on hiatus? Or am I just someone who writes? The search for identity continues.

P.S. Over the last few months, Patinkin's stuff has been amazing...I do hope that he has got his grove back!

Our Precious Ecologies...

Information Ecologies: Using Technology With Heart” (© 1998, MIT Press)

The above link leads to the reading done for this week's class. I really enjoyed it, and I think the reason why I liked it so much was because it was written by Librarians. My friend Adrienne, a local Librarian, recently posted a jpg to her Facebook page that said, "The Internet will give you answers. A Librarian will give you correct answers". This article took what was expressed in that jpg and explained why it is so important that we protect our information ecologies, just as we protect our natural ecologies. I am hoping it is something that Generation Next takes to heart.

The Random Musings Of A Human Barometer

Oh my Lord, Oh Sweet Jesus! Who needs a barometer when you've got tendonitis? I feel like a giant biometric barometric measuring device. The closer the rain gets, the worse the pain is...and I am supposed to concentrate on writing through this physical agony? Isn't the mental agony of Wikipedia enough?

Having to discuss Wikipedia and its slim merits was bad enough, but having to write for it, too? For me, this whole project has been like having to eat big spoonfuls of shit; all the while keeping an open mind about the taste so as to grasp every nuance of the flavor in order to impartially review all of its qualities, both virtuous and vile.

Topping off this mental anguish is the smell-o-gram I am receiving from the compost which I mixed into the soil of my grapefruit tree's pot. (I brought it inside due to the cold snap we are supposed to get tonight). There is a slightly sulfurous smell coming from the decomposition of Heaven knows what...I woke to the smell and the thought that I should pray to Saint Isidore to make it go away. (Okay, what is weirder: The fact that I know St. Isidore is the patron saint of farmers or that I also happen to know that he is my patron saint by virtue of birth? His Feast Day is May 15th, my birthday).

The painkillers are clocking in, so I will be clocking out for now.

One Last Wiki Blog...Or So I Pray

I am seriously hoping this will be my last blog on the Internet scourge that is Wikipedia. I am seriously ready to gouge my eyes out just so I do not have to go back to another Wiki site. In discussing this issue with someone the other day, I told them that there is a difference between someone who is a writer and someone who writes. Just because you own a kepboard and have an Internet connection does not make you a writer, regardless of what Wikipedia allows you to believe.

I know my reviews of Wikipedia and its various branches sound harsh and bitchy, and may be they are...maybe WikiTravel is a great place for budding travel writers to build their portfolio before applying for paying work; but their work is the diamond that is buried somewhere in the rough.

I have pretty much finished my paste-up of my WikiTravel piece, and am just waiting on my peer review of it before putting together the final copy; and am trying to decide where it would best serve travelers - because isn't that the point of WikiTravel articles? Isn't the purpose of this site to be of service to travelers trying to make plans in a territory that is unknown to them?

Obviously, my choice of location - Fox Point/Wickenden Street - does not belong among the most broad of categaories, or even a broad category at all. It definitely fits into the "District" category WikiTravel offers - anybody who knows Fox Point knows that Wickenden Street is the heart of Fox Point, which is more of a neighborhood than a district - but I think Wikitravel could narrow the selection even further. If I were search Bourbon Street, in what category would I find it? Some streets are destinations in and of themselves, and I think they deserve their own category.

In short, I would guess my place choices for my entry would be "District", which does exist; "Neighborhood", which should exist but does not; and "Famous Streets", another non-existant category.

I Still Hate Wikipedia

I just can't get into this whole Wikipedia assignment. Last night, when I was uploading and making minor edits to my article, someone else jumped onto it and started changing it on me. To me, that is the height of rudeness to go in and change someone else's work because you THINK what you have to say is better. I can understand if it were a regular Wikipedia article and incorrect information was posted; but to rearrange my sentence structure because you think ending sentences with prepositions sounds better than using proper grammar? I have two words for that Bozo, and one of them is "off". Seriously, if we are to write for audiences that may not have a full grasp of the English language, improper grammar is not going to make the article any easier for them to comprehend.

Anyhow, I believe that all clouds have silver linings, and for me Wikitravel's glimmer of argentum is its Manual of Style. As someone who is new to writing for the Wiki sites, there were a few helpful sections. The first would have to be the Structural Style Guide, which offers helpful writing tips to writers on where exactly their article will fit into the scheme of Wikitravel; as well as advice on when to start a new article or simply edit an existing one. I am not sure how many people actually read these instructions, but they are pretty darn comprehensive. The importance of this concept should be obvious: it eliminates redundancy, something which there is already way too much of on the web.

The other section of the Manual of Style that I found helpful is the section on Writing Style. This portion of the manual offers over a dozen links to elaborate on simple instructional phrases, such as "Don't tout"; Words to avoid"; and my personal favorite, "No advice from Captain Obvious".

I found "Don't tout" to be interesting, because I did not know what professional touting was, even though I frequently see it on the Internet and the inherent dishonesty of it has always upset me. I think it is important for contributors in general to remember this rule lest their articles be marked as SPAM and deleted from the site. Sometimes, you have to curb your enthusiasm in order to be heard.

"Words to avoid" made me laugh because there is nothing I hate more than pretense. It is one thing to drop a fancy sounding word here or there if it comes naturally to you. As a Science major, my brain is filled with both the English and Latin names for so many things. Combine this fact with the fact that I also speak French and you can see that I have three different languages spinning through my brain at the speed of thought. Is it any wonder that words like "argentum" spill out of my mind and into this process blog? However, this process blog has a limited audience, one that is presumed to be college educated. The same cannot be assumed of WikiTravel, so to fill an article with "50-cent words" would be foolish - unless your goal is to sound like a pretentious snot; then, by all means, write like you are submitting a court brief instead of a travel article.

The guideline "No advice from Captain Obvious" was by far my personal favorite for its simplicity, which is something people often forget about in their attempts to sound knowledgeable. I think it is important to keep the obvious out of the article for a few reasons. The first and most obvious is that including such information insults the intelligence of the reader. The second and less obvious is that it also bores the reader. When writing for the Internet, you need to keep your readers focused on what you are writing while maintaining their interest in your topic. If you lose the reader's interest, they will click on a link that will take them elsewhere and - eventually - lead them far from your article.

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My one problem with WikiTravel is that it is so broad that it seems difficult to be useful in planning a trip. I would be more likely to use it for local or regional travel than to plan a longer, more expansive trip. For example, if I were to take a day-trip to New Hampshire and wanted to know about restaurants in the area where I would be going, I might search the region or district on Wikitravel. Most likely, though, I would just CitySearch it.

P.S. Does anyone outside of science and/or academia know what argentum is?

Wickenden Wanderings

As part of my research for my Wikitravel project I took a wander down Wickenden Street this week, looking at it with new eyes. Instead of just passing by the art galleries, I stopped into them and explored their offerings. It turns out OOP isn't the only local gallery with overpriced art. I could go to the glassblowers in Vermont and purchase the same pieces for a quarter of what the Wickenden Street artists were charging...but then I guess that is the difference between a bustling city like Providence and a rural, economically depressed region like Quechee, VT.

I also noticed how much the economic downturn has cut into the commerce of Wickenden Street - many businesses have closed shop, although many of those many were hair salons; and there are still several of those left. There were also a few foreclosed houses, the sight of which always makes me sad. If the American dream is to own your own home, foreclosure must be the American nightmare.

Store proprietors, noticing my notebook, asked me if I was writing for publication. "Sort of", was my reply, explaining my situation, which always makes me feel like I am "somewhere in between halfway there and someplace else". (I put that in quotes because as much as I would like to take full credit for those words, they are a twisted paraphrase of something posted on the wall at the Roger Williams University Library, where I spent much of my time the year I studied there. I was an "older" student, and was often made to feel like a square peg in a round hole; but the library was the one place where I always felt welcome). Sigh...now, I am rambling. How embarassing.

I have the credentials of a professional writer, along with an impressive portfolio - or rather, I had an impressive portfolio, until it was destroyed in a flood. At the time, that had felt like the final break between me and my "old life"...and that was when I started thinking about whether or not I truly wanted to leave that "old" life behind, or just wanted to update it. But then I digress, which is something I am known for in my writing...or rather, something I used to be known for in my writing. Maybe it is something for which I will be known for again? It was, after all, my niche.

Anyhow, most proprietors welcomed the attention, but others looked at me suspiciously; as if I was trying to publicize something secret - and maybe, in a way, I am. Wickenden Street is far less populated than the bloated Thayer Street, and is far less pretentious. Its inhabitants are older, and have a more mature view of the world; the kind that can only come from experiencing life, as opposed to just living it, and being able to compare the decades as they pass. This new knowledge has caused me to change the style of my article. I know it is last minute, but at the same time I know that this re-write will result in a much better project.

I Just Can't Process It All!!!!

I have been having trouble keeping up with my process blog for the simple fact that I have so much to process in my personal life (that is definitely affecting my writing).

For the past year and a half, I have been wrestling with the direction I wish to pursue after graduation. I KNOW that I want to work in the Sciences - no change of major is necessary. However, like Robert Plante crooned in Stairway to Heaven, "there are two paths you can go by; but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on. And it makes me wonder". And it does make me wonder...in fact, I have been wondering for the last 18 months...and I finally made my decision.

This writing class has taught me more than how to improve my craft for online audiences; it has taught me that I really, really, miss writing; miss working in Communications; and that I do not wish to simply abandon my first degree because I will have attained a second. Which is why I have "changed the road I'm on". (Good Lord, how I HATE ending a sentence with a preposition!).

As a Science student, my goal was to work in a research lab. As a Science Tutor, I found my heart yearning to teach what others have researched. I tried to convince myself that I could do both - first, a career in research; then teaching, after retirement. I think I may have been able to convince myself that this path was okay, too. I know I convinced myself of it long enough to attain my A.S. in General Science, as opposed to the easier A.A. (which truly is the science equivalent of a degree in basket-weaving).

I do not regret my A.S.; in fact, I am happy I got it; because it was in attaining the degree that I discovered I was capable of all I thought I could not accomplish - namely, A's in Algebra and Chemistry, and pass Calculus I with a better than decent grade. However, I now stand at a crossroads: If I were to stay on the path of Research, a B.S. in Biological Sciences would be the minimum educational requirement. If I took the path of Scientific Communications - either as a teacher or as a Public Relations Officer for a Biotech company - a B.A. would suffice. The only problem with a B.A. is that Scientists look down on it.

Just like PhD's will look down on the person who "only" has a Masters degree, a B.S. in Science will look down on a B.A., assuming that they "couldn't hack" the rigors of the B.S. program. I know in my heart that this is not true - as I was sitting in my Organic Chemistry lecture I discovered that in spite of the fact that I was fascinated by the subject, I had no desire to study it to the depth required of a B.S. student. The following week, however, I felt myself light up as I assisted one of my classmates through a problem of some difficulty. When he told me "you make this stuff easy", I knew that it was time to change the road I was on and pursue the B.A. in Biology; with a possible minor in writing - just to keep my other B.A. fresh!

Re-reading this post, it all sounds so simple; and yet it took me two full weeks of pure thought-processing to reach this point: the point where I can put into concise and understandable words exactly what has been possessing my mind to the detriment of all other projects.

Time Flies...

I can't believe it has been 10 days since my last process posting. The good news is, I have been busy writing. I really enjoy writing Ask Tazi!, and have been making time in my busy schedule to write it six days a week. For the first time since As the Tummy Turns I am enjoying writing a regular blog.

In addition to writing Tazi-Kat's column, I have been researching a Wikitravel project for class. To start, I really should point out that I F!!!!!!!!ING HATE WIKIPEDIA!!!!! Seriously, the idea of a site that anybody can log-on and edit goes against every professional fiber of my being; so the idea that I have to write an article for a Wiki site really gnaws at me. On the other hand, I suppose it is an opportunity to re-visit an old haunt; and to share what I find so fascinating.

Once upon a time, I did a lot of traveling; for both work and pleasure, so I have seen a great deal of America...yet, like Dorothy Gale discovered during her trip to Oz, there's no place like home. Like I said to an out of state classmate this morning, as we walked through downtown Providence to the CCE building, "Rhode Island is quirky, but it grows on you". I find one of the quirkiest places in RI to be the East-Side/Fox Point corridor, which runs from Thayer Street to Wickenden Street. For this reason, I decided to write about this area for my Wikitravel article...and so, in a roundabout way, I return to my blogging roots: My late friend Jimmy (co-founder of Tummy) is the one who introduced me this area.

Currently, I spend a lot of time on Wickenden since my boyfriend works on that street and I stop by frequently to say hello; bring him coffee; and shop. Now that Autumn is here, I am looking forward to spending the day strolling through the area and reconnecting with all the area has to offer - things like Rory Raven's annual Ghost Walk tours (I still hope to see Edgar Allen Poe's ghost one of these days!); followed by an early dinner at Andrea's on Thayer Street or pizza at Fellini's on Wickenden.

I suppose one of the best things about travel writing is the first-person research that goes along with it.