Old Email

Ok you know that you have lots of emails when you get a
pop up screen telling you what percentage of your inbox
has been moved to the trash folder.



I hardly ever check this email address, that is why I had so much
mail. However, I can't bring myself to delete it. I've had this Yahoo! email
since I for about 10 years.

A Place for Hate

I love the internet. I practically live on the internet. However, like everything else
in this world nothing is perfect. The internet is not perfect; it has some very big flaws.
The major flaw I see on the internet is hate. From racism to homophobia- the internet
has it all. To make my point I'll use this snippet from a news article about the Bernard
Madoff scandal:

But the allegations against Madoff are particularly wrenching for some
in the Jewish community, who fear that the sensational case is fanning
vicious stereotypes about Jews that go back to the Middle Ages.


The Anti-Defamation League cites a spike in anti-Semitic
comments online after Madoff's Dec. 11 arrest. A columnist for
the Israeli newspaper Haaretz lamented the case as "the answer to every
Jew-hater's wish list."

I believe more good comes out of the internet than bad. I think that is important
to point out. People share thoughts and ideas like never before because of the
internet. It just makes life easier with speed and efficiency. That doesn't mean
it doesn't have its drawbacks.

I believe one of the biggest strength the internet holds is also its biggest drawback.
What is that strength/drawback? Anonymity. On the internet one can post practically
whatever they want without having to give their name. This can be a good thing. For
example, a victim of a crime can tell their story online without having to give their
name so they can prevent it from happening to others. Or perhaps someone from an
oppressed country can share what's going in their country anonymously with the world
because of the internet. See Tibet.

Anonymity also has its drawbacks. People can post hate online without being
publicly shamed by being anonymous. That is exactly what is happening. All one
has to do is take a stroll on YouTube. The article linked to in the beginning of my
post mention the increase of anti-Semitic comments because of the Madoff case.
Here's a Youtube video about the Madoff case and you can see there are several
anti-Semitic comments posted. Content Warning.

Last year I read a great article by Thomas Friedman about what it means about
the Hamas fighters wearing masks. These two paragraphs stood out to me:

Putting on a mask is also a way to gain power and enhance masculinity. People
in black masks are always more frightening - not only physically, but because
their sheer anonymity suggests that they answer to no one and no laws. In our
society, it’s usually only burglars, rapists or Ku Klux Klansmen who wear masks
- either to terrorize others or make it easier to break the law. The mask literally
says: “I don’t play by the rules. Be afraid, be very afraid.”

I had never thought about it until this article but terrorists thrive on anonymity.
They hide their faces. No I'm not comparing hate spewing anonymous commenters
on the internet to terrorists. They are no way equivalent! However, what I do find
relevant between this Thomas Friedman article and hate on the internet is anonymity.
I think evil can lurks in anonymity. People become more arrogant when they think
they won't be caught. They aren't going to be held accountable.

My post is not about censorship or anything like that. I'm not someone who likes to
censor. My post is mainly about acknowledging a flaw in a medium I adore. Perhaps
we should take the time to think about why hate prospers online.

'Real Life'

What do they mean by "real life"?:

Children growing up alongside the rise of social networking
websites may have a "potentially dangerous" view of the world,
says a leading psychiatrist.

Dr Himanshu Tyagi said sites such as Facebook and MySpace may
be harmful.

He told the Royal College of Psychiatrists annual meeting people with
active online identities might place less value on their real lives.

Oh, here is my Facebook account. I also use MySpace. I need more friends.

John McCain's Site Gets Redesigned

JohnMcCain.com has just been redesigned. Take a look:



The blue is less harsh on the eyes than his previous black background. I also
like the yellow accent color throughout the pages. I'm disappointed that his
Blip.tv videos are still hidden so you can't embed them. Blip.tv videos appear
in higher quality resolution than YouTube.

There's also a green theme in his Web site. Perhaps, signaling that he is supports
green environmental issues, thus, he's not George W. Bush, darn it!

All in all I think it looks much better than before. It's still not as visually appealing
as BarackObama.com but it's an improvement. Tell me what you think?

Also, my friend Faith Camp who works for WITF out of Pennsylvania recently
attended an McCain event and did a write up. So, check it out.

Karl Rove: The tail and the horns are retractable

One of the most upsetting things I've seen happen to political discourse over
the last four years is demonization of political opposition. People who are on
the other side of the aisle are no longer just wrong but they are pure evil and
out to destroy the world. I think this type of demonization especially runs
wild in the political blogsophere. That's why I enjoyed Karl Rove's response
in this video:



Wow! Can't you just see it in his eyes how he's out to steal the '08 election from
the Democrats. He's probably plotting in his head how to start 10 more wars in
10 years! Darn you, Karl Rove!

Take it away M.C. Rove:

Trying to start a conversation

Just wrote this email to a Yahoo! video blogging group I'm involved in
(edited my typos):

Ok, I know I'm probably going to take a lot of heat for saying
this but I'm just going to do it.

This has been a particularly politically active year. Everyone is
speaking their mind about this presidential election and that is
great! One thing I've noticed while following some of my favorite
video bloggers on Twitter, Flickr, etc. it seems that most subscribe
to a particular political ideology. Basically, most are supportive of
a Democratic candidate.

Recently, I found out about a Web site called Eyeblast.tv. It's a
conservative response to Youtube. I know some will say why do
conservatives need to separate themselves and create their own
video platform. Perhaps, the question should be "Why would they
do such a thing?" Maybe, it is a symptom of not being welcomed
in the video
blogging community. The same could be said about Godtube.
Perhaps it's not Christians wanting to separate themselves but
perhaps a feeling of not being welcomed in the online video community.

I know the demographics for the internet are young, which means
that a good portion will be more liberal in thought.

One of these things does not belong

I just finished watching President Bush's press conference
and I wanted to see what the news sites were reporting. Then
I saw this breaking banner headline in CNN:



Can someone please tell me why Jon Stewart is on this banner?

Parodying a Parody

As you've probably have noticed there is a lot of original content
on the internet. There's also a bunch of parodying of stuff that's
been done before. Sometimes it even leads to parodying a parody.
Fast Hugs has a good example of this. Even a Senator Clinton got
into the parody business. Remember her take on 'The Sopranos' finale?
Be honest how many parodies of the SNL skit 'Lazy Sunday' have you
seen? Or how many vloggers imitated that Leave Britney Alone! viral
video? I'm included in that list.

Parodying is not only seen on the entertainment side of online content
but also in the political commentary on the blogs. Ed Burns said the
following this weekend on "Fox News Watch," while discussing the
recent controversy over Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldier" comments:

"Why are the comments of a commentator overriding the actual news
out of Iraq?"

Most of the discourse in the blogosphere is commentary on traditional
news outlets' political commentary. For example, commenting on what
Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, or Keith Olbermann said. Basically, its all just
commentary on someone else's commentary.

I'm not sure why this is the trend on the internet. Perhaps, it is because
most (not all) of the people who produce content for the internet aren't
'professionals,' therefore, we look for traditional media for material. So
I guess my question is does all this parodying make us parrots to old
media?

Just like traditional media

Apparently, if your female and want to make waves
on the internet you have to look like these girls:



1. iJustine
2. Amanda Congdon
3. Obama Girl

I thought the internet was suppose be different from old media. How is
it different from movies and television if the talent online look like
models just like in traditional media? I know it is just like everywhere else
where appearances matter. I'm just saying the attention they're getting
is not equal to their actual talent.

Ok, I know I'm hating because I'm short and a brunette and if I ever walked
into a modeling agency they would laugh me out. But that's beside the point!



"That's just like the rules of feminism."

Search for Jesus

If you search for 'Jesus' in the new Yahoo! Search Assist
function this is what is on top of the list:



Yes, my friends, it says "sweet jesus i hate bill o'reilly."
Hap tip: Think Christian

Confessing at the alter of media

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for
each other so that you may be healed. "
- James 5:16

We all have sins. Some are more open with what their sins
are more than others. There is something cathartic about
letting others know what your vices are so you can be held
accountable or maybe find someone who can relate to what
you are struggling with and help you along. According to this
Wall Street Journal article (hat tip: ThinkChristian.net),
confession is making a unique comeback.

The unique comeback is partly do to online technology, as
discussed in the article. Anyone can write in a blog or make a
video and post it on Youtube pouring their heart and soul to a
bunch of strangers. There are also several confessing Web sites
like this to divulge your sins.

Perhaps, the appeal of broadcasting your problems on Youtube
and reality television is the documenting of one's life is almost like
confessing. People get to see all your bad habits and faults while they
happen or how you tell them to the camera. There it is your life before
all the world and for others to comment on or in the case of Youtube
to spam on. No more secrets.

Maybe this public airing of wrong doings is in fact an inner need
we all have to confess our sins to God. However, many have replaced
God with the general public and a video camera in the process. The
public can be very forgiving but other people can't wipe you clean of your
sins. God does that.

Which campaign site is getting the traffic?

It is no surprise that Obama is leading in unique visitors.
He has the young, internet savvy peeps behind him and like
I've said before he has the best designed and extensive content
on his Web site. I am sort of surprised that Romney is not doing
better online since he has the best campaign site, in my opinion, on
the Republican side. But then again Thompson does a lot of videos
like this:

Side note: I guess Fred Thompson is trying to get
the casual dresser vote wearing a cap?

Why ABCNews.com is slowly irritating me

1. It is poorly designed.
2. Bad headlines like, "General Argues War is Working,
Look at the Graphs," which happened to be changed while
I was writing this.
3. Comments allowed on every single news story.
I guess I wouldn't mind if comments were limited
to political and entertainment news but I don't like
that they are allowed in every top story. And how you
comment on a story is different in certain sections of the
Web site. Sometimes you have to log in and in some sections
you just have to submit an email address and name.
4. Comments read like DailyKos.com. 'Nuff said.
5. Every picture in the news story page is directly
above the new story. If you look at other news sites you
can see that they are usually to the left or right with text wrapped
around it. The photos are also too large. And is it ethical to for news
Web site to manipulate photos like this?

Headlines 08/30/2007

Texas governor spares getaway driver (AP)- "Gov. Rick Perry, longtime
head of the nation's busiest death penalty state, spared an inmate
Thursday hours before he was to have been executed for being a
killer's getaway driver."
Boston: The bloggiest city- 'Dem New Englanders and their fancy internet
connections and colleges. And is blogging the best thing to happen to
Philadelphia since the song 'Motownphilly' (just thought I would insert random
reference)?
You're a big kid now- Very interesting interview. I agree with her assessment.
I'm one of those adults who is still trying to 'find themselves,' I just need to
grow up already! I'm getting there:)
Web video aims to be like TV- I've always thought those Youtubers and
video bloggers just wanted a way to get their faces on television. So they've
decided, "Hey, let's just make the internet like television instead." Hence, the
word 'broadcast' on Youtube's slogan.

New MySpace Profile!!!

I just thought I would let my readers know that I have
changed my MySpace profile. So check it out!!! And
add me as a friend if haven't yet. Oh and if you are a
MySpace spammer don't even bother.

iAlways Connected

Yesterday I saw this now viral video about this girl
who received a 300 page I-Phone bill. It is now
featured on Yahoo! and Myspace:



I was curious about what type of person would
ring up a such a massive bill since I'm such a cell phone
loser and average one text message a month. Which led
me to her blog. Her name is Justine and she apparently
does live streaming throughout the day.

This incident got me to thinking about the whole nature
of the internet and access to the content creators. It seems
like now the cool thing to do online is become a 'web personality'
(for lack for a better term). One way to do that is by giving people
more access to you. Do live video chatting so throughout the day so
people can see what you are doing like Justine is doing. Upload

videos unto Youtube. Twitter throughout the day so you let people
know what are you doing at all hours of the day including when you
wake and what you eat. Use your digital camera to upload personal
pictures to Flickr. Then there are also social networking sites like
MySpace and Facebook so you can spread the word to a large list of
people what you are working on.

It seems now people want more access to the people they see online.
Even politicians have videos on Youtube, pictures on Flickr, and MySpace
accounts. But how much access to people should we have? Is all this
crossing the line?

I love blogging and I also like using all these neat tools. I do want to
connect with others through the internet and want to find out what all my
online and offline friends are up to. But are people like Justine giving
up way too much of their privacy for some notoriety (and I assume
she is also making a living doing this)?

I know a lot of people on the web believe in complete transparency
with their audience. I, however, am not of this view. I think there
needs to be a professional distance between the person producing the
content and the viewers, readers. Plus, I think it is only healthy to
be disconnect yourself from media sometimes and enjoy the world
around us. So, I believe I found out what type of person would receive
a 300 page cell phone bill. The type that doesn't disconnect from social
media.

P.S. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy receiving emails and comments
on my blog!!!