Some Cool Music

Dillion Francis	Masta Blasta, Bootleg Fireworks (Rebirth)
Hucci	House Party, Vanish
Loudpvck	Mystica, Shakedown
Disclosure	F For You, When A Fire Starts To Burn
Flume	Holdin On, Slasher

Some electronic music that I enjoy. Check em out and let me know what you think! If you know who these people are we should be best friends like, now.

Reflection of Selfe

Cynthia L. Selfe's Technology and Literacy in the Twenty-First Century examines the importance technology has in our society and why it is up to us to use it properly. Technology is at its highest peak right now and has a hold on the way in which we interact with one another. Studying this aspect of literacy is important and will only better the way we communicate in the long run. Selfe states "By paying critical attention to lessons about technology, we can re-learn important lessons about literacy". This notion of "re-learning" is in my opinion most important for our generation to take notice of and apply it to the future.

It makes sense that something so powerful such as the internet is going to have its downfalls. However, its up to us to make sure we take the necessary steps in using it effectively. Like every new development it takes some time to become fully integrated within the "everyday" swing of things. 

Everything that is now old was once new. This process of development has always been a factor within our society that has continually shaped the way in which society works. Things need to be updated. New functions are created to fill voids where "old ideas" just don't cut it anymore and need to become a "new idea". Selfe poses great examples as to why it is important to literacy that technology must be examined. Even in 1999 were these aspects of technology were questioned. There needs to be an updated version of the way we look at things.

Twitter Backlash

The interview between Piers Morgan and Janet Mock titled "From Boy To A Girl" was completely blown out of proportion. Piers Morgan is a victim of social network. What enrages me the most was the fact that Mock posted a picture of them at the interview as a means of advertising. Following her post was a series of hate mail aimed at Piers. In my opinion I feel as though Mock knew what she was up to.  After learning of the attention she could grab with Piers non-malicios comment, she quickly exploited Piers bringing her new book to the forefront.

Twitter is becoming a great way to promote business and Janet Mock is using it to her advantage. As for Piers Morgan, his reputation was significantly damaged by this act of hate mail over social network. The many followers that both Janet and Piers have now been forced to read of this "mistake" and whether or not they know who these people are, their reputation has been hurt.

We must learn to use twitter in more productive ways and observe that these "tweets" have more impact then you think. A misunderstanding of words has led threatening and negative posts towards Piers Morgan. Its unnecessary and could have been easily avoided.

Making Connections

Brummett and Emig state valid theoretical standpoints that don't necessarily aim their targets at technology. Taking what we have learned and applying it to modern aspects can be tricky, but has obvious relevancy in a course about writing in a digital age. Brummets take on truth and how it can be discovered is being changed through digital media. Over time they way in which we communicate and determine what is actual truth is almost always being redefined. Technology features a new way to communicate that we may or may not realize at first.

Words as we know them can have different meaning as time goes on. Tons of new words are always being implemented and from technology we are being bombarded with the most updated version of them. Acronyms as well as slang words are seen within our age of technology and have created a bigger impact then you may have thought.

As for discovering the truth, how we come to understand these new developments is where our society must take responsibility and guide media towards new aged reality. All works of media have changed the way we think about the world whether we like it or not. Truth is in existence, and through rhetoric its image becomes distorted. This image is what is exactly what Brummet and Emig seek to define. However, with the implementation of modern technology, rhetoric is seen throughout its many forms of social media. Its impact is huge, and is important to a writing in a digital age class to fill in the gaps between the "old" and the new".

Technology and Music

Technology has played an enormous role in the lives of musicians since Mozart centered his success around the newly invented piano. When new technology surfaces, aspects of the music industry change and develop along side of it. Throughout history we see how this affects the music industry as we observe the fads that come and go with it. However, in this day in age, music has become available for almost anyone who can work a phone or get on the internet.

My entire reasoning behind getting a Twitter stems from music and the accessibility it gives me. Twitter has allowed me to know exactly what is on the cutting edge, as soon as it is delivered. Every artist has a twitter and is constantly posting updates with new songs or current tour dates. Being able to hash tag and post links to other sites has made the "twitter game" a necessity for every up and coming artist.

Not only does Twitter allow us to be connected with their music, we are connected with them as people. Being able to send a 140 character text with the band or singer you newly found, is brand new and is innovative. The connection we make with the artist is the inspiration we need to go the extra mile, and click the link to listen to the cutting edge.

As we see in the diagram above people who are using Twitter as a means of staying connected, have all gone out of their way to actually buy their music rather then non-tweeters. Twitter is helping the music industry while also bringing it new ideas for marketing. Twitter is essential to the music industry and it leads way to new aspects of technology where music can develop.

The Medium is The Massage

Theres no doubt about it that the media within our society has some control over our brains, but to a certain extent. Being ignorant and naive is one thing, but standing back while they consume our thoughts is a path we are trying to avoid. The Medium is The Massage written by Marshall McLuchan is a collage styled picture book that has no intentions of leaving us "untouched, unaffected, and unaltered". 

 "All media work us over completely" 

There is no escaping the media. In all forms, shapes, and sizes its coming down the tube and into our brains whether we like it or not. While reading through I immediately connected to the MTV show "The Jersey Shore". Everybody loved it while at the same time despised it for its unimaginable level of absurdity. However, we watched it. It was disturbing and has left us asking why? How was it possible that media was able to pull and stunt like that and project these people onto the big screen?

Media has more control then you think. McLuchan's book gives us the answers to these questions and exposes the unseen.

Knowing The Medium is The Massage was first published in 1967 and still rings truth within our society now then when it was written, is saying something. This process of being "worked over" is not knew and has been going on for a very long time. Some people are just too blind to recognize it. However, for the people living above a rock… this won't be too hard of a task.

The Damage Is Done

The damage has been done people! There is no use in complaining about the evolution of technology when its constantly changing. Everyone has their own opinion, but whats wrong with seeing new development? This groundbreaking technology we see today is not "bad" as many would put it, but allow us to see a new light of what is to come of how we interact within society. To many this aspect of change comes to a surprise and in some way or another has instilled fear in the select few who aren't on board with the program yet.

In Mike Masnick's article "Did Pencils Make Us Dumber", the presence of fear being instilled upon us is explored. It seems as though the ones who can't keep up with the times are the ones who have experienced this opression.

 "Often, it just seems to be a fear that there will be more competition and more innovation, and the old-timers are afraid they're not equipped or able to keep up."

The "old timers" as Mike puts it describes the people who just don't get it. They can't grasp their heads around the fact that at one point in their time so called "new technology" has been now long outdated or  the technology is updated to foreign concepts. However, this does not make them "bad". Either you bet of fold, the choice is yours whether you want to explore innovative ways of modern day communication or live life in the past.

"back when we had stone tablets, one mistake could destroy a month of chipping. Someone then figured out how to make crude paint and a month of work then took a few days. You bet ya the stone tablet maker was pissed off at that one too."- Anonymous Coward