Over the course of this blog project, I have learned quite a bit.
Though I was slow getting into it, I enjoyed it after spring break, as I got the hang of it.
I especially enjoyed writing posts commenting on articles that I had found on Slashdot or Digg.com.
I'm very glad that this project was proposed to the students, because while I may never be a genious in internet marketing, its very valuable to at least know the things you can do with tools such as blogspot.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Final WIKI
The 4 Wikipedia articles that I chose to create and edit are all from my life previously in Massachusetts.
My elementary and middle school St. John's, my high school Bishop Feehan, my swim club the Bluefish, and my lifeguarding job at the Hockomock area YMCA made up a huge portion of my experiences previous to college.
Throughout the progression of my wiki articles, I tried to give a more peronal feel to these four organizations, letting people who would read them understand what each was about.
My elementary and middle school St. John's, my high school Bishop Feehan, my swim club the Bluefish, and my lifeguarding job at the Hockomock area YMCA made up a huge portion of my experiences previous to college.
Throughout the progression of my wiki articles, I tried to give a more peronal feel to these four organizations, letting people who would read them understand what each was about.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Dubai Puts a New Spin on Skyscrapers
In Dubai, a group of architects and designers have come up with a plan to build a 66 story skyscraper. Ok. Cool.
The interesting thing about this building is that each individual floor will be able to rotate independent of every other floor.
The building will be in constant motion, and the shape of the tower will be constantly changing, as 1 floor will be able to rotate 360 degrees in about 90 minutes.
This is all very cool, albiet somewhat unneeded. However, something else caught my eye about the artice. The building will generate all its electricity from wind, as there will be wind turbines in between each floor of the building. 1 wind turbine will be able to generate enough electricity for 10 stories.
If you're going to make a ridiculous building, high five for making it energy independant and efficient at least.
Check out the video that they have of the design on the articles page: Dubai Puts a New Spin on Skyscrapers
The interesting thing about this building is that each individual floor will be able to rotate independent of every other floor.
The building will be in constant motion, and the shape of the tower will be constantly changing, as 1 floor will be able to rotate 360 degrees in about 90 minutes.
This is all very cool, albiet somewhat unneeded. However, something else caught my eye about the artice. The building will generate all its electricity from wind, as there will be wind turbines in between each floor of the building. 1 wind turbine will be able to generate enough electricity for 10 stories.
If you're going to make a ridiculous building, high five for making it energy independant and efficient at least.
Check out the video that they have of the design on the articles page: Dubai Puts a New Spin on Skyscrapers
DIGG.com: Carter: Bush's presidency has been 'worst in history'
Former President Jimmy Carter recently launched some aggressive comments at the Bush Presidency, calling it the ' worst in history'.
While I tend to agree with everything Carter said about Bush's policies from Iraq, to the overall policies of preemptive war, the environmental stances Bush has demonstrated, the most telling of Carter's rebukes was of Bush's 'faith based initiatives'.
I have a sore spot for religion getting involved in politics and government, so for me, the extreme involvement and power that many religious organizations in this country (the 'religious right' some have called it) is to the detrement of every citizen in the US as well as to the people who live outside our borders.
The reason I found it very interesting for Carter to include this policy on his shortlist of Bush blunders is because he himself is a devout and committed Baptist.
Carter talks of the $2.15 Billion given out to various religious charities during the Bush Administration, many of which use this money only for their own specific constituency (i.e Evangelical groups using money only to help other Evangelicals). He believes in a seperation of Church and state, and that religion should not creep into political policies of fiscal grants.
It is VERY refreshing for me to hear a person who has been a leader in this country, who is also devout, talk with common sense, as it has been lacking in both the religious comunities and political fields on the topics of church and state for as long as the Bush Administration has been in power.
While I tend to agree with everything Carter said about Bush's policies from Iraq, to the overall policies of preemptive war, the environmental stances Bush has demonstrated, the most telling of Carter's rebukes was of Bush's 'faith based initiatives'.
I have a sore spot for religion getting involved in politics and government, so for me, the extreme involvement and power that many religious organizations in this country (the 'religious right' some have called it) is to the detrement of every citizen in the US as well as to the people who live outside our borders.
The reason I found it very interesting for Carter to include this policy on his shortlist of Bush blunders is because he himself is a devout and committed Baptist.
Carter talks of the $2.15 Billion given out to various religious charities during the Bush Administration, many of which use this money only for their own specific constituency (i.e Evangelical groups using money only to help other Evangelicals). He believes in a seperation of Church and state, and that religion should not creep into political policies of fiscal grants.
It is VERY refreshing for me to hear a person who has been a leader in this country, who is also devout, talk with common sense, as it has been lacking in both the religious comunities and political fields on the topics of church and state for as long as the Bush Administration has been in power.
Reflecting on DIGG.com
I chose to write this last blog entry about class articles today for two reasons.
The first, more humerous answer is that I'm finishing up the requirements for my blog and I need one more article.
The second reason though, is that I've been using Digg.com as a recourse for news lately, and have found it to be a great source of information outside of the repetetive "BIG 4" news sources such as CNN or NBC or Fox.
Digg.com is still somewhat of a fledling news association, having about 180,000 registered users ( "Digging Up the News" ) but given time, network effects will dramatically increase the sample of people using the site.
This will only improve the credibility of the articles being voted upon, as well as making the information most viewed more representitive of the mainstreem public.
Though Digg.com only will be getting better with every new user, it has already accomplished what it seems to have set out to become: a democratic source for news.
The first, more humerous answer is that I'm finishing up the requirements for my blog and I need one more article.
The second reason though, is that I've been using Digg.com as a recourse for news lately, and have found it to be a great source of information outside of the repetetive "BIG 4" news sources such as CNN or NBC or Fox.
Digg.com is still somewhat of a fledling news association, having about 180,000 registered users ( "Digging Up the News" ) but given time, network effects will dramatically increase the sample of people using the site.
This will only improve the credibility of the articles being voted upon, as well as making the information most viewed more representitive of the mainstreem public.
Though Digg.com only will be getting better with every new user, it has already accomplished what it seems to have set out to become: a democratic source for news.
The Church of Barbaro
Reading the article "The Church of Barbaro", not only was I given another glimpse into the world of my Professor Alex Brown, I was given a look into the world of horse racing, and those who worship the sport and its participants. Though not as plastered about the media and prime time television, these fans of horse racing are as passionate about the horses as football or basketball fans are about the athletes that step on the field.
Alex Brown is one of these fans, and unlike the mainstreem sports fans previously mentioned, these horse racing fans have a good cause to back up their love for the sport.
Many members of the FOB (Fans of Barbaro) participate one way or another in fund raising opportunities to benefit horses who might otherwise be put down because of old age, injury, or lack of usability on the racetrack.
While these members of the Church of Barbaro are passionate about a sport, they seem to go further than the average sporting fan. They are fighting for what they believe in.
Alex Brown is one of these fans, and unlike the mainstreem sports fans previously mentioned, these horse racing fans have a good cause to back up their love for the sport.
Many members of the FOB (Fans of Barbaro) participate one way or another in fund raising opportunities to benefit horses who might otherwise be put down because of old age, injury, or lack of usability on the racetrack.
While these members of the Church of Barbaro are passionate about a sport, they seem to go further than the average sporting fan. They are fighting for what they believe in.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
3rd Wiki: Hockomock YMCA
Today I touched up my Hock YMCA wiki, adding information about the hours of operation, the address, phone and fax numbers.
I also updated the format to make it read easier.
Wikipedia: Hockomock YMCA
I also updated the format to make it read easier.
Wikipedia: Hockomock YMCA
3rd Wiki: Bluefish
Today I edited the Bluefish page on Wikipedia.
I had to adjust some of the body that I had previously done because there were complaints of the information being about an individual instead of a group.
I then added information about the levels of competition, as well as a link to the records that members of the Bluefish, including kids that I swam with have swum.
Wiki:Bluefish
I had to adjust some of the body that I had previously done because there were complaints of the information being about an individual instead of a group.
I then added information about the levels of competition, as well as a link to the records that members of the Bluefish, including kids that I swam with have swum.
Wiki:Bluefish
3rd Wiki: St. John the Evangelist
Today I added some information and a link to a letter that the Principle Sister Mary Jane openly wrote to the school.
Wikipedia: St. John the Evangelist School.
Wikipedia: St. John the Evangelist School.
3rd Wiki: Bishop Feehan HS
Today I edited the wiki post for Bishop Feehan, adding new information about the principle Bill Runey. Mr. Runey was not at Feehan when I attended, so I was interested to learn a little more about him.
Wikipedia: Bishop Feehan HS
Wikipedia: Bishop Feehan HS
Monday, May 14, 2007
NBA Playoffs: Spurs vs. Suns
Tonight the Pheonix Suns fought their way back from a 2nd half deficit to win game 4 of the series to tie the series 2-2.
The win was huge, as I don't think they would have been able to come back from a 3-1 deficit to the Spurs for the series.
However, there may be a problem, as near the end of the game, Robert Horry threw an elbow that leveled Steve Nash. Naturally, the Suns players weren't happy...
Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire got up off the bench and started to move towards a scuffle on the floor, but then were stopped and went back to the bench.
Unfortunately, the ruling in the NBA is that if you leave the bench and go to the floor during a fight, you will be suspended.
I understand the rule, but I think it would be extremely unfair for the Suns to the lose these 2 players in this crucial game 5.
It would simply not be fair, the reaction is understandable, yet they did not engage any other players on the floor. Had they, it would be an obvious suspention, but they did not.
Keep em in the game, David Stern.
The win was huge, as I don't think they would have been able to come back from a 3-1 deficit to the Spurs for the series.
However, there may be a problem, as near the end of the game, Robert Horry threw an elbow that leveled Steve Nash. Naturally, the Suns players weren't happy...
Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire got up off the bench and started to move towards a scuffle on the floor, but then were stopped and went back to the bench.
Unfortunately, the ruling in the NBA is that if you leave the bench and go to the floor during a fight, you will be suspended.
I understand the rule, but I think it would be extremely unfair for the Suns to the lose these 2 players in this crucial game 5.
It would simply not be fair, the reaction is understandable, yet they did not engage any other players on the floor. Had they, it would be an obvious suspention, but they did not.
Keep em in the game, David Stern.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
2nd Wikipedia: St. John's School
Today I did my 2nd update for my St. John's Wikipedia article, where I added the address and also a link to mapquest map of the area.
Giddy up.
Wikipedia: St. John the Evangelist School.
Giddy up.
Wikipedia: St. John the Evangelist School.
2nd Wikipedia: Attleboro Bluefish
Today I updated my Bluefish wikipedia post.
I added several of the skill level groups and a description about how the programs are run and their differences.
When I swam for the Bluefish, I was in the National Swim Group which competed on a national level.
I never made it to a national competition myself, but competed regionally up and down the east coast.
Wikipedia: Attleboro Bluefish.
I added several of the skill level groups and a description about how the programs are run and their differences.
When I swam for the Bluefish, I was in the National Swim Group which competed on a national level.
I never made it to a national competition myself, but competed regionally up and down the east coast.
Wikipedia: Attleboro Bluefish.
My Blog is SO SWEET
My blog is so sweet.
Its nearly 10 times better than Roger Carman's blog.
And a 1000 times better than Kerri Angell or Katie Sandy's.
This weekend, Roger and I jousted on Cleveland Avenue, using lysol cans as lances, and couch cushions as shields.
He won the first joust cause I fell down, but I beat him the next 2 times and captured victory.
I'm sick with the rock.
Its nearly 10 times better than Roger Carman's blog.
And a 1000 times better than Kerri Angell or Katie Sandy's.
This weekend, Roger and I jousted on Cleveland Avenue, using lysol cans as lances, and couch cushions as shields.
He won the first joust cause I fell down, but I beat him the next 2 times and captured victory.
I'm sick with the rock.
SlashDot Article: OLPC Project Rollout Begins In Uruguay
President Tabaré Vazquez has provided the funding for Uruguay's One Laptop Per Child plan, a plan hoping to give 1 laptop computer to every child in Uruguay's school systems.
The agressive plan has been implimented recently, with the children recieving their computers, the wireless internet infrastructure to be completed soon.
I think this is an amazing investment by the Uruguay government. I have been studying economic development this semeseter, and it is an unfortunate reality that many developing countries do so poorly in the department of education. Uruguay seems to have a great model for success here, as I believe education and health are the two most important sectors that a government can invest in to improve the living standards of its people.
For the money to trickle down to the people as we are seeing here, is something that should happen more...even in the US.
Read the article at Slashdot.
The agressive plan has been implimented recently, with the children recieving their computers, the wireless internet infrastructure to be completed soon.
I think this is an amazing investment by the Uruguay government. I have been studying economic development this semeseter, and it is an unfortunate reality that many developing countries do so poorly in the department of education. Uruguay seems to have a great model for success here, as I believe education and health are the two most important sectors that a government can invest in to improve the living standards of its people.
For the money to trickle down to the people as we are seeing here, is something that should happen more...even in the US.
Read the article at Slashdot.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Digg.com: Clinton Foundation
I was browsing Digg.com, a website we learned about in class, and I noticed an article about AIDS and the Clinton Foundation.
Clinton has been able to come to an agreement with drug companies which would lower the price of 2nd line Anti-retroviral drugs down about 45% per year (under $1 a day) for patients who have developed a resistance to the frontline drugs.
It is estimated that almost half a million people will be needing these drugs by 2010.
Clinton has been able to come to an agreement with drug companies which would lower the price of 2nd line Anti-retroviral drugs down about 45% per year (under $1 a day) for patients who have developed a resistance to the frontline drugs.
It is estimated that almost half a million people will be needing these drugs by 2010.
2nd Wikipedia: Hockomock YMCA
Updated program information and website
Available programs:
Swimming Lessons
Summer Camp: Camp Elmwood
--Horseback riding
--Archery
--Arts and Crafts
--Swimming Lessons
Gymnastics
Basketall, Soccer, Softball Leagues
[http://www.hockymca.com www.hockYMCA.org]
Available programs:
Swimming Lessons
Summer Camp: Camp Elmwood
--Horseback riding
--Archery
--Arts and Crafts
--Swimming Lessons
Gymnastics
Basketall, Soccer, Softball Leagues
[http://www.hockymca.com www.hockYMCA.org]
2nd Wikipedia: Bishop Feehan
Today I updated several lines of information about the school, including its status as an accredited high school, some of the athletic information, as well as Feehan balancing academics and spirituality.
Website: www.BishopFeehan.com
Website: www.BishopFeehan.com
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Wikipedia: Hockomock YMCA
The Hockomock Area YMCA is a string of YMCA facilities in Southeastern Massachusetts in the towns of Foxboro, Mansfield and North Attleboro. The mission of the Hockomock YMCA is as follows:
The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable community service organization of men, women, and children of all ages, ethnic origins, religious affiliations, and socioeconomic levels united in a common effort to positively influence the quality of life of its members, families, and communities. Based on the foundation of Judeo-Christian values, our programs and activities emphasize the development of the whole person in spirit, mind, and body and are available to all individuals regardless on their ability to pay.
The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable community service organization of men, women, and children of all ages, ethnic origins, religious affiliations, and socioeconomic levels united in a common effort to positively influence the quality of life of its members, families, and communities. Based on the foundation of Judeo-Christian values, our programs and activities emphasize the development of the whole person in spirit, mind, and body and are available to all individuals regardless on their ability to pay.
Wikipedia: Attleboro Bluefish
The Attleboro Bluefish was the club swim team that I swam for in High School:
The Attleboro Bluefish is an official registered USS Swim Club based in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Bluefish competes on all levels, from local to national, sending swimmers to a variety of levels of competition around the US.
As stated in their mission on ABFSwim.com:
ABF is a developmental program that strives to build the fastest swimmer while developing the whole person. Our goal is to provide a program that is a support system that will meet the needs of our swimmers from entry level through college. We stress hard work and dedication not only in the pool but within all other aspects of their lives. Successful swimmers need to master essential life skills; skills like time management, dedication, commitment, goal setting and especially, goal completion.
The Bluefish have the expertise to develop swimmers from the entry level into senior elite athletes. We have worked to create an environment that is conducive to producing dedicated and passionate student athletes.
The Attleboro Bluefish is an official registered USS Swim Club based in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Bluefish competes on all levels, from local to national, sending swimmers to a variety of levels of competition around the US.
As stated in their mission on ABFSwim.com:
ABF is a developmental program that strives to build the fastest swimmer while developing the whole person. Our goal is to provide a program that is a support system that will meet the needs of our swimmers from entry level through college. We stress hard work and dedication not only in the pool but within all other aspects of their lives. Successful swimmers need to master essential life skills; skills like time management, dedication, commitment, goal setting and especially, goal completion.
The Bluefish have the expertise to develop swimmers from the entry level into senior elite athletes. We have worked to create an environment that is conducive to producing dedicated and passionate student athletes.
Wikipedia: St. John the Evangelist School
This wikipedia post was about the middle school I attended, St. John the Evangelist School:
St. John the Evangelist School is a Catholic, private, K-8 elementary and middle school located in Attleboro, Massachusetts. St. John's was founded in 1954, and holds 1 class for each grade in the school.
The mission of the school, from their website SJE-school.com: Our mission is to proclaim THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, to prepare our students to be leaders spiritually, intellectually, academically and socially so that they will be able to create for themselves, and with others, a preferred future.
St. John the Evangelist School is a Catholic, private, K-8 elementary and middle school located in Attleboro, Massachusetts. St. John's was founded in 1954, and holds 1 class for each grade in the school.
The mission of the school, from their website SJE-school.com: Our mission is to proclaim THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, to prepare our students to be leaders spiritually, intellectually, academically and socially so that they will be able to create for themselves, and with others, a preferred future.
Wikipedia: Bishop Feehan High School
I added the section of information on BFHS titled Athletics:
==Athletics==Bishop Feehan has become a perenial powerhouse in a wide range of Athletics between both Catholic and Public schools in Massachusetts. The football team has won multiple Division championships, as have the soccer and tennis teams. The men's and women's basketball teams are competetive year in and year out, with some of the best school sporting events to attend being between Feehan and their 'cross town rival' Attleboro High School. The men's swim team is perennially competing for the state championship, placing many swimmers in winning positions on a state level.
==Athletics==Bishop Feehan has become a perenial powerhouse in a wide range of Athletics between both Catholic and Public schools in Massachusetts. The football team has won multiple Division championships, as have the soccer and tennis teams. The men's and women's basketball teams are competetive year in and year out, with some of the best school sporting events to attend being between Feehan and their 'cross town rival' Attleboro High School. The men's swim team is perennially competing for the state championship, placing many swimmers in winning positions on a state level.
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