Heat wave
Well, actually it's not a heat wave, it's just summer in Eastern Wa. Current temp, 98 degrees with no air conditioning, but the fans are whirling away. Still recovering from the headache I got after an hour of kick boxing in one of the two unariconditioned buildings on campus. That type of activity in that temp is dangerous!
Anyway, went home this weekend for my birthday and it was lovely. Though it was on sunday, my two best girlfriends came over on saturday for tasty pizza and we followed that up with s'mores at Trish's (my maid of honor) house, where my brother and another dear friend Ali joined us. Very chill and quite lovely. Mom took me shopping for books that I wanted and I got some much needed work out gear at Target. Set me back, but I won't need anything new for a loooong time now.
Sunday was the actual birthday. I'm 22 now. No big deal. Reese called me for a brief b'day wish at 12:06 and then again for a longer chat at 7:30 in the morning. Loved the chat, but I needed a nap later that day. Went to church 'cause my grandmother dedicated flowers to me for my birthday/graduation/wedding. Busy busy am I. Went to see my soon to be family and had a lovely chat out on the patio where we'll be married in less than three weeks (!!!!), and got some lovely flowers that Maurice had arranged for his uncle to, uh, arrange.
Had birthday brunch with the fam: a yummy cold crab and ceasar salad meal. It was a very pleasant day, only marred by my journey back to school. Didn't want to leave in the first place, then didn't take into account the longer sunday ferry traffic wait and ended up catching a ferry an hour later than I wanted. Got into Seattle only to get blocked AGAIN by a train (happened last week too and I waited for 15 minutes before saying 'screw it' and going another way). Took the alternate route but accidentally went south instead of north because some truck bent up the sign and I couldn't see the arrow until too late, got lost trying to turn around and finally got back on track 15 minutes later.
Needless to say, I needed ice cream to brighten my mood.
Today I encountered THE most confusing and messed up multiple choice section of a test I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty messed up ones. I think I may actually have to talk to that prof. I could have defined all the things had she just asked us to write them out, but the choices she gave where insane, and I think some were just down right wrong (she put polygyny on there instead of polygamy, I'm sure of it)... I thought the worse multiple choice section I'd ever seen had been written my a prof who spoke English as his third language, but no!! THIS one tops the pile and the woman (and she's not actually a professor, just a stand in for the summer) speaks English as her first language! I wanted to shake her!! The options were so ludicrous that I may just post that section on here so you all can marvel.
Now, I gotta tell you about this sandwich I made today!! Just kidding. :P It's my blog. I can talk about whatever I want, and you are more likely to see silly and/or boring things here than any deep conversation, and I'm okay with that.
Have a good week all.
posted by Amanda @ 7:30 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
was there bacon? I love bacon.
Hello Amanda, what purpose do you think a blog should have? i asked Mo and a few others about this aswell. The opinions have been interesting thus far.
Blogs are primarily un-edited publishing, so should there be any self analysis on the content?
The topic of what an individual should write about is clearly not at the crux, more to the point is whether that person should act reasonably within personal boundries. Yes?
most people are divided on which is more important, entertainment or understanding. The later believing a blog to be literature designed to show anothers understanding and perspective. Their own gatherings of which others are not usually privy to. Therefore expanding the intellectual or emotional pool.
Do you think a blog to be in the service of others or of the self?
It would be good to hear your view.
Domo
I wasn't criticizing your blog. I do consider a 'blog' to be more of a public presentation than livejournal, myspace, and whatever. This in my mind suggests actually presenting something to people. But I certainly don't do that all the time, and if there's one thing I'm just really hoping you will believe, it's that I'm not judging you on what you write in blogs or whatever. No need to defend yourself.
a blog is whatever you want it to be. BTW, my friend just posted a solution to expandable posts (sorry I couldn't really explain to you how I do it): http://candysecrets.blogspot.com/2006/06/quick-and-dirty-way-to-expandable.html>http://candysecrets.blogspot.com/2006/06/quick-and-dirty-way-to-expandable.html
Thanks Clay.
Reese, I didn't think you were attacking me, so no worries.
Blogs can be whatever you want them to be. That's the beauty of them. Many people use them more as a forum for conversation on a certain topic. I know many news and opinion shows on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, etc have blogs for many of their shows. Blogs are a great way to share and exchange information and dialogue.
A friend of mine has a blog specifically set up to document her gastric bypass surgery, recovery, and finally how it has changed/improved her life.
Reese likes to put up pictures of Japan, deep poems, thoughts, a little fluff and silliness too. I think his is a good blog. I also thoroughly enjoy Clay's; always something good to be found there. I myself generally prefer the lighthearted stuff with a dash of philosophical seriousness, or even a good healthy rant on (fill in the blank) now and then. This is why I'm a fan of all the ALT blogs Reese he has linked to his page. They are a delightful bunch of people, from what I have gathered and they write about the goings on in their lives for their own purposes, and to let others have a peek as well.
Blogs can also be filled with as much fluff and ridiculousness as the person wants to put in there. If people don't want to read it, then they don't have to.
I don't think a blog needs to be anything in particular. It's just a way to talk about anything you want, and get some responses from people who wish to comment. Entertainment or understanding? It's up to the writer.
Blogs can also be dangerous. Because it is written instead of spoken, and you cannot hear the tone or see the face, words can sometimes be misunderstood (that's why it's helpful if you write the way you speak -like I do!- so people can pretty much hear the words as they read them). However, I've seen many problems occur in the blog-o-sphere from misunderstandings and online arguments. The trouble often arises because it is much easier to write what you think than to say it, for most people. Consequently, some nasty things that would never be said to a person's face, can come out in writing during an angry blogging session. Most are not wise enough to angrily write something, and walk away for a few hours or even a day.
Mostly I've seen this in the past, but I dare say a little of that has been seen in this blog community (most specifically the comment section in Reese's blog) a few times in the last few months. I recently had to restrain myself from biting back at something someone (not Brandon) had said that had no business being in there. Danger, Will Robinson! Just breathe, and let it go...
Dangerous, fun filled, philosophical, self reflection, reporting,debate oriented... it's all of the above and more.
Thanks Amanda,
I really enjoy reading well constructed thoughts. The varying opinions on this topic would surfice a separate blog of their own.
Concise comment and dialogue such as this is one way of reducing Blog entropy. And this can only be a good thing.
I was wondering what you thought about self regulation with blog content? you did mention that the blogger could write whatever they wished. Considering free speech has limits, where does that limit exist with blogs?
I know the Uk has begun writing laws governing the internet with relation to incitement of religious hate and insergency, but i'm not sure about the States. Is it the same over there?
sorry if this is a little serious. I know you like to keep it light hearted :)
domo
I don't know about blog regulations as yet, but free speech over here goes very far. I think the uproar of trying to limit what blogs can talk about would have been so huge I would have heard about it if there had been an incedent.
In fact, the only time I ever remember hearing about any type of blocking of free speech in the States, was when someone wanted to publish instructions on building a nuclear weapon. He said it was his right under the first ammendment to write about whatever he wanted. The courts squashed him on that one, ruling something about national security. I heard about this back in my science class in '99, and the event had happened some time before. I wonder how that would apply today...
As for hate speech and the like, though I don't like it, I think it should be allowed. It's a person's right to write about whatever they want. People should be wary of what they post, for their own safety sometimes (monetary and physical), but often people wish to bring loads of attention on themselves and do so by saying radical and/or terrible things.
I wasn't alluding directly to any uproar in web regulations, but merely artistic conscience.
Cheers Amanda
good to hear opinions
Post a Comment
<< Home