Telling a Story in Pictures

Man in his early years was nothing more than kin to the monkey, hanging from branches in the tree and making it through life with very few thoughts in its head. This was millions of years ago.

Taken From: http://www.lovesanimals.com/images/animals/monkey/funny_monkey.jpghttp://www.lovesanimals.com/images/animals/monkey/funny_monkey.jpg


Man, during his evolution began to stand up right, and fashion tools for himself so that he could hunt, and survive. He romed the forests and hills about a million years ago.

Taken From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Neanderthal_2D.jpg/250px-Neanderthal_2D.jpg


Then Man's physique changed further and he lost his body hair and began to wear clothes all the while evolving. He began to move into huts, caves and crude shelters about a 30 thousand years ago.

Taken From: http://www.shadowmillproductions.com/photogallery/caveman.jpg


Then Man created society, moving out of his caves and into the world. He made cities to live in, clothes to wear and he worked with his fellow man to leave the forests. He started these empires a mere 10 thousand years ago.

Taken From: http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/r/images/roman_augustuspr.lg.JPG



Today Man is a creature that wears garments and lives in a society it has created. It no longer hunts for food but relies on its own creations and inventions to support its existence. Man has evolved away from the monkey it once was into a biped that walks the world over.

Taken From: http://www.britishcouncil.org/italy-education-290x459-man-in-suit.jpg


Notes on this Post:
This blog was annoying to say the least. The main reason for this was the posting ability of pictures in blogspot.com is atrocious. You would have to post a picture, then move around its corresponding code to where you would need it then type around it. You would then have to do this again with your next picture separately in order to prevent confusion and a blending of code. All in all a task that should have taken seconds took the better part of an hour. As far as finding the pictures this was a task that was both hard and easy. It was easy because you merely had to type in any word mildly associated with the picture you were aiming for, but then it was hard, very hard in fact to find a picture that was A) Decent B) Of non offending quality and content C) Able to be used and wouldn’t have a watermark and D) Actually fit the desired image in my head. So while this project gave the impression of ease, if one were to want something that looked good, and worked with the original image in one’s mind, it becomes harder and harder the better you want it to look.

Week 4 - History of Valentines Day and Commentary

A History of Valentine’s Day:
Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers to get together and share their bond. But this holiday’s origins are largely unknown. February has always been a month for romance and love, but St. Valentine, for whom the holiday is named, is shrouded in mystery. To date there are three catholic saints all named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend that strums the emotional heart strings is about a Valentine who was a priest during this century in Rome. During this time the Emperor Claudius the second came to the conclusion that single men made better soldiers, so using that simple logic forbade any and all marriages. This, being a terrible burden on the people and very unjust aroused the sympathies of one Valentine who, defying Claudius and his orders, continued to perform marriages for lovers in secret. However, upon his discovery Clauduis ordered the death of this Valentine. This story varies and one representation states how Valentine actually smuggled Christians out of Rome to avoid torture and persecution during this age. One version even tells how that Valentine when incarcerated in prison fell in love with a girl, possibly a jailer’s daughter, and it is alleged that he wrote her a love letter before his death signed, From your Valentine, a phrase still in repetitive use today. A very noble story, and one that could easily start such foundations as the Valentine holiday, but is it the true one? Let us observe another story.
Another version of the origins of Valentine’s Day state that it was an attempt to Christianize the celebrations of the Lupercalia festival which began around February 15th. This festival was dedicated to the Roman god of Agriculture as well as the founders of Rome Romulus and Remus and was when houses were ritualistically cleansed with sweeping and salt would be sprinkled inside. Additionally for this festival the Luperci members would gather at the legendary cave where Romulus and Remus were believed to have been reared by wolves and they would sacrifice a goat and a dog, for fertility and purification. The festival would eventually end in the tradition of using a lottery to pair off of young couples for the year, many of which would often end in marriage. This, however, was later deemed un-Christian in later years and outlawed. But St. Valentines days was officially declared by Pope Gelasius and placed on Feb 14th around 500 A.D. officiallizing the memorable holiday. Still to this day many are not sure if there was ever a real St. Valentine for whom the holiday originated or if February 14th was simply chosen because it was the beginning of the mating season for birds or some other simple piece of folklore. But to this day the oldest Valentine in known existence was a poem written by the Duke of Orleans to his wife during his term of imprisonment in the Tower of London. This was written in 1415 and is currently part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.

Commentary on Research for the History of Valentine’s Day:
History has always been an interesting topic to me. Google and other web based search engines have made the accessibility of history easier than ever, and I have to admit, this Valentine’s Day research paper was easy. By typing in ‘History of Valentine's Day you can find any number of websites that leap at the chance to tell you everything you wanted to know. The restriction placed on this assignment to not use a paying site was almost laughable. There is virtually no reason you would want to pay for this information, or almost any other with the internet out there, unless you want to make sure that the information you are getting is valid, but even so the likelihood of the information you would find on most websites being wrong is slim. People like to be right, they like to make sure their websites are correct and that you can reference them with no worries. Additionally there are several reputable websites out there for free that will also supply information of a confirmed nature as well, rendering most information pay sites out there virtually useless except for the one feature of having fewer ads and a guarantee, most of the time, for no popup ads. But all in all this project was very easy, with a topic as vastly broad and with such a large historical basis it was almost impossible not to find something to both intrigue the reader and to write about in general. I would be interested in seeing what a pay site would have to offer about this topic simply and for no other reason than to see if they can in any way justify the need for payment when the information is already at your fingertips.

Week 3 - Historical Website Review

Assignment: Review an approved History Website.Your review should cover the following issues:1) Usability;2) Content;3)Scholarship;4)Presentation;5)Use of New Media
Website: The Decameron Web - http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/dweb.shtml
This website is designed by Brown University Students for use in investigation and discussion concerning the Decameron texts. The Decameron texts are a collection of 100 stories by Italian author Giovanni Boccacio in the mid 1300s. They are presented on this website in full both in Italian and in English translation by J.M. Rigg.
This website is well constructed and has some wonderful attributes but also some severe flaws. First we will start with the Usability of this website. This website is very user friendly. However, it is primarily usable to someone who knows what the Decameron texts are. This website does describe what the Decameron texts are, but you must search a bit for the definition, whereas to a new user a quick reference would be much more helpful. But this one small thing aside this website is constructed masterfully. You have access to almost any piece of knowledge concerning these texts you could hope for. One major asset is the sheer search ability of the texts. This website offers search ability by word, character, place, or an advanced search. This is only hindered by the need to search for the Italian words. This website breaks down the characters in the stories, allowing for individual information on each for the reader, as well as breakdowns on the culture, art, black plague, society and a number of other aspects of the stories. It gives details on these components of the 100 stories, while maintaining search ability and providing a plethora of additional resources outside this website. It even has pictures of maps included to detail where events occur. In total, this website allows you to both better grasp the works, and to research them with an ease and thoroughness that is welcome. In short, very usable by someone who needs to do research. Additionally, it is very usable by the teachers too. There are sections for lesson plans, sample syllabus, and exercises for students. This website is constructed as if to host aid to a class devoted to the Decameron texts.
Though content has largely been touched on already, it must be re-iterated that this website provides a large amount of information concerning these texts. The html version of the texts are broken down in the numbered sections, and you may link between the Italian and English versions at almost any location to aid in content access. The information is thorough for a summary, which is what most of the links are. They summarize the information you look for without requiring the viewer to read through all 100 stories to analyze them for themselves. Additionally it presents histories on the author, and of the time period to help the reader get a broader picture of the dynamics of the stories. The scholarship and presentation are wrapped up largely in this as well. The information is well presented as well as well written. They are not opinion articles but are short pieces giving overall summaries of specific sections.
This website does not use too much new media however. It does offer as explained above, various additional reference sites, teaching techniques, and teaching resources, but it is fairly traditional in the website construction having a simple topics bar and a very useful search engine. The additional websites include several resources both to expand upon the research of the Decameron as well as expand upon medieval history, sources for images, and just general searches such as google.com. The website does not provide much in the way of videos or downloadable tools beyond texts, but it does have a very thorough bibliography, and resource guide for all texts, pictures, and maps used. The site also has a “What’s New” section where they keep the visitors posted on discussion board updates, and new sections of the website that are added. Beyond this there is little new technology used as this website does not even have a visible hit counter.
All in all, the website is built well for both the casual visitor and the intense researcher. It is easy enough to navigate so that a first time visitor will be able to find any information they require, while allowing them to gain an appreciation for the material presented here. It has room for improvement, mainly in presenting some of the more pertinent information in a more surface location, and it could expand itself by using some more modern technology, or perhaps some audio references without worrying about becoming too commercial, but in all it is still a very competent website, especially one that has been created solely as a source of discussion and not profit.

Week 2 - Website Review

How do these four web sites represent different approaches to history on the internet?
The four websites:

The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil Warhttp://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2
The History Channelhttp://www.historychannel.com
Do Historyhttp://www.dohistory.org
National Museum of American Historyhttp://americanhistory.si.edu/index.cfm

These are all websites that are based around supplying historical reference to people through the internet. These four websites, however, differ greatly in their approach to presenting historical information. The “Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War” opens onto a website that is built like an archive library. The hyperlink view is even designed to represent this showing what appears to be three floors of a library representing Beginning, During, and After the Civil War. You can then click through these “Library Floors” and access archive materials. Everything presented here is historical documents, pictures, letters etc. There is no running narrative describing this portion of history, only these materials to aid any researcher in their quest for Civil War knowledge. In short, this is an Online Archive granting anyone access to historical documents.

The second website is the History Channel website. This website is spawned off of the History Channel which has more recently become very popular on cable television and consequently, heavily commercialized. The website reflects this hosting a barrage of internet advertisements for DVD sales, and cars and many other items. However, once you get past all of this paraphernalia the History Channel website does offer some useful and original options. One this it has is a section called “History Now” which acts like a news reel of modern historical events. This and other aspects of the website including its shopping section and video playback section make the History Channel website seem almost like a History based version of Yahoo.com. But with some searching a viewer can find historical information. The presentation of historical information here tends to be more of the narrative quality, reading like a textbook and giving an overview of historical events and information instead of providing archived materials only. The website also hosts an interesting compilation of History lesson plans, giving information on teaching history, and providing it to others in a structured manner. In all, this website, while being commercialized to the fullest extent, provides people with historical information much like you would find in a book ranging across the years but in such abundance that it is almost impossible to find the materials you need. Unfortunately it is not too user friendly.

The third website is the Do History website. This is a very interesting and unique website whose goal is to “invites you to explore the process of piecing together the lives of ordinary people in the past. It is an experimental, interactive case study based on the research that went into the book and film A Midwife's Tale” This website details the history of one Martha Ballard, and shows how research and study was used to piece together her life story. It provides various tools and resources so that the internet visitor can be instructed as to how this sort of research is done, and how to create the life history of someone they would like to research. This website provides the user “skills and techniques for interpreting fragments that survive from any period in history” This website is a more detail oriented research tool used to research and map figures from history.

The third website is the website for the National Museum of American History. This is a fairly straightforward website that both advertises for, and informs about the National Museum of American History. While perusing this website the internet surfer will be able to find out anything they would like about the Museum, such as what is on display, what is new, what is on rotation through the museum, and when new displays will be arriving. This website is not a source of historical information but is more like the Valley of the Shadow website in that it displays materials that are stored elsewhere; however these materials can be viewed much easier by simply visiting the museum. This website is the sort of site you would use, not as an online research tool like the other three would be, but you would use it to plan your trip to the museum, finding out what you would like to see and view.

These four websites each view history in a different fashion, from archived resources, to displaying materials available on location, to historical summary, to teaching you how to do your own historical research. They each offer a different tool to those exploring the avenues of history and depending on the research you are conducting each holds unique possibilities.

Week 1 Homework - Apprently we need to Blog Post

1/22/08 Review of Blog: www.gizmodo.com

The web blog gizmodo.com is a website that reviews and discusses various new forms of technology, art, science, and information that has recently hit the market or the open forum of the internet. There are several people who contribute to this website. Gizmodo.com has a large team of writers, each who do their own research on different new topics and ideas and post personal reviews and opinions on these new pieces of technology.
Gizmodo.com is a comedic and informative web blog that instructs the reader on new technologies that are both attainable, such as the new Macbook Air, a new 0.16 inch thick laptop produced by Macintosh, and those that are merely hypothetical. One such new technology is for installing a video chip into a contact lens allowing a viewer to see the internet wherever they look using an array of optical lasers. Though viewing the internet is still the long term goal this technology can already allow the user to see an enhanced image of his surroundings, increasing the magnification several fold. But the website does not just inform about computer gadgets, though that is their bread and butter, it also tells about things such as video cameras, brain enhancing medicinal products, and scientific discoveries such as where a scientist at Rice University created the world's darkest material ever with pure carbon nanotubes, reflecting only .045 percent of all light shined on it. Impressive huh? Now while this web blog is primarily geared to one type of reader there is just so much available day to day that anyone can find something interesting. The web blog has a new post about every 30 minutes, and each post connects to sources for the information, pictures, relevant websites, and to multiple forums that discuss the topic on various levels. Additionally the forums are all monitored so that when concise and relevant material is discussed it can be linked to even more posted topics when relevant.
Now while this web blog is a great site, and hosts a series of reviews, pictures and commentary, it goes a step farther and makes streaming web available for most of its reviewed topics, allowing readers to view not only the web blog’s take on the technology, but so that they can see it in action. A recent video posted shows a product that you can place into water turning an entire bathtub of water into a scented gelatin for skin treatment. These videos show in detail the technology, its use, and the consumer likely to use it.
One of the most admirable qualities of this website is their dedication to both accuracy and to getting the story out first. On previous occasions when any incorrect information was posted they would always post a retraction and apology at a later date when their error was made apparent. Also, when new technology has hit the stands, such as when the Macbook Air was presented by the President of Macintosh at the Macworld convention last week, they were there and had mass amounts of data compiled, as well as numerous photos from the convention posted on their website within minutes of the unveiling of the new computer. They are quick to the mark and their dedication to accuracy and efficiency is coupled well with their personal tone and approach in their reviews and commentaries.

Day 3, Review of the Movie "Cloverfield"

Well to start I will be discussing Cloverfield, and hence spoiling it for you if you have not seen it. This is your last chance to turn away before I tell you the ending also.
Ready?
on three
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Alright, I warned you. Everybody dies. There, spoiled, now on to the review.

Brief Summary: Cloverfield is a classic Godzilla movie with a couple interesting twists. It takes the Disney flavor out of the 1998 Godzilla movie starring Matthew Broderick, and ads in the Blair Witch uncontrollable horror aspect. This movie is shot entirely in a first person viewer documentary fashion, much like Blair Witch, and the camera movement can turn the sensitive stomache. The movie starts with a goodbye party for the main character who is leaveing his friends and moving to Japan for a job. Halfway through the party the Villian makes itself known in the form of a rarely seen insectlike Godzilla creature that has crawled out of the ocean to wreak havoc on New York city. The movie then putts along as the group of main charaters travel deeper into the city after getting a call for help from a friend, all the while the events are documented by our lovable and sarcastic cameraman. In the long and short they find thier freind and then everyone dies through one gruesome form or another.
Now the Pros:
Gore: This movie was surprisingly non-gory for a horror movie. Granted it has it's moments of surgical need but in no means do you stuble across some monster of a person field dressing a cat. It is rather tastful in this fashion and I for one appreciate a movie that will not rely on gore or the visual stomache turning to draw in crowds.

Computer Monsters: The main monster and his little insectile babies are actually done rather well in this film. The aspect of these creatures at any time is so spaced out, and half hidden in an effort to create the mystery aspect that it masks any real defects in the CGI and makes the creatures look prety decent. Additionally the whole shaky camera thing adds to the masking of any defects, making the monsters a fun an non-cartoonish aspect of the movie.

The Camera Shaky Thing: This, as I said before, can make the stomache turn, but it is done very well. It is not like some person is walking around and subtly filming everything, haha got you audience members style, it appears that it is being done by someone scared to pissing themselves on the run. Consequently you spend a lot of time looking at someones thiye as they run, but it gives the film some real quality that something like Blair Witch lacked in it's first person filming.

Plot: Really, in all honesty what are you expecting in a monster/Godzilla movie. Creature comes from the sea, army shows up, everyone running around. It's about as deep as it sounds, the monster doesn't have any alterior motive like in Godzilla 1998 where it was laying eggs, it just wants to level the city, and it does a damn fine job of it too.

Characters: The camera man is the only likable one. I'll get to the rest in con's. But he will last you through the movie all on his own. He puts me in mind of 'Sock' from the 2007 ABC hit "Reaper", and if you've seen the show, keep him in mind when watching the movie.

Alright, on to the Cons:
Acting: What acting? I am a BIG fan of using no name people in movies, people who are a fresh face, but my goodness these people were about as deep as a saucer of milk. This is due in part to the quality of the writing (none) and in part of the directing of the characters as to thier personal motivations (very little). For a reference, in the beginning a character dies. Thier fience' and thier Brother don't really seem to have any emotional reaction to this. They continue on as if nothing had happened and the brother/fience is quickly forgotten to everyone's satisfaction. Additionally, this movie has the big flaw of going towards the monster. This is a flaw many movies have, but usually is offset by, oh I don't know, being in the military, being a superhero, and generally not being a big loser, two scared shitless women and a saucy cameraman ready to widdle himself. The commitment to thier parts did not make this leap of faith remotely believable. Lastly, the "Love Scene" at the end, where the planes are flying in the nukes and the guy and girl are the only ones left was perhaps the worst sensitive moment scene I have ever witnessed. They actually threw in a crappy "I love you" line.... twice! I was agog. But needless to say, acting? I have seen better by my goldfish and he's dead.

Needless Violence: There are stupid instances of violence that do not add to the movie in any fashion. One of the main characters dies half way through the movie when a bite from a monster consequently causes her to EXPLODE. Yes, for no reason what so ever, she freaking explodes. Thank goodness it was tastefully done behind a curtain, but still, explode? What causes that? Do these things have a bite with the potency of ten thousand kidney beans? Sheesh. Another pointless violent scene was where they killed off the only character I liked, the cameraman. Somehow they are standing there and did not see nor hear a 700 ton monster come over and stand right above them. And then it eats the cameraman. Pointless. It was as if the writer thought "Ok, I can draw the audience in by killing someone, and it leaves the romantic couple alone for that wonderful I love you line I have planned. I am so smart *pat on back*" I would SLAP you! You killed the only character I liked, and it didn't matter! He would have been dead in 3 minutes when you killed the other people with the nuke. I give this scene my certificate of lame.

Overall Review Summary and Reccomendation:
I am on the fence about reccomending this movie, but I will say watch it. There is no acting, but its a monster movie and doesn't need it, and the monsters are good enough to make it interesting. Additionally the film is shot in a way that is fun and new and keeps you interested. All I can say is don't expect to walk away feeling satisfied. If I could give any real advice, walk out when everyone is getting into the helicoptors and assume they made it. They don't, but lets just pretend they do.

Day 2, The Countdown Begins...again

Screw you blog! I just wrote something and you ate it, and I was rather proud of it. In short i was saying I will waste less time on this blog than you will occupy reading and thinking about it, and while I was in the green a moment ago, stupid blogspot ate the blog and now I am in the red. I will need to be exceptionally inventive to waste your time next blog. Boo!