Computer Memories

Computer Memories

I had contact with computers sometime in middle school which was around 1995. My homeroom class had a green screen computer and I remember playing frogger on it as well as other games. My favorite game was Organ Trail; I'm sure many people have fond memories of this game. I also remember the dusty fragile floppy disks and how our teacher stressed to be extremely careful with them. Every Friday was our computer day and since we only had two computers in the classroom, we would always argue over who's turn it was to play.

In high school around 1998, I remember a friend of mine; Brian Burch bought a brand new computer. His mother financed it for him and he paid her back by burning Cds of the latest music and selling them. At the time, copying cds was a phenomenon and at three dollars a pop, they were selling like hot cakes. Despite the fact that burning cds was illegal, it was the main reason why I wanted to buy a computer. With the invention of the Cd burner I began to be exposed to new music.

Since I grew up in an extremely religious household, I was not allowed to listen to music. However, I eventually saved enough money to buy a discman and a few Cds from Brian. With the acquisition of music my ways of thinking began to change. For the longest I felt out of touch with other classmates and now that I was listening to the newest music, I was able to socialize better with classmates. I listened to variety of music: The Beatles, Wu-Tang, Rage against the Machine, Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

When you're frustrated with technology...

I bet we've all felt this way before at one time or another.

What would creative or innovative writing look like for a freshman composition class?

I asked a group of High School seniors how they would like a freshman composition class to be. A few students gave me blank stares and said that they didn't have a clue, others suggested more use of visuals, and others expressed that the formal essay was okay because writing is one's thought that can be jotted down and then those thoughts could be developed further.

After considering the different point of views, I came to the conclusion that too much of any medium wouldn't work. However, a combination of visuals such as magazine articles, music, music lyrics and other pop culture mediums combined with the traditional essay might hold students' attention. A possible suggestion would have students bring in advertisements that they found interesting or any kind of article about anything that they found interesting. Not to marginalize the future incoming freshman, but perhaps making course work look like a magazine might help.

To publish or not to publish? (response to Faigley)

If seems that when 93 million voices are hollering at the same time, one’s voice might be drowned out. While Faigley argues that the internet is a powerful tool to express one's ideas and opinions others argue that online publishing is ineffectual. Whatever the case may be, this medium of expression is easily accessible in this so called modern era. Even if one's voice is lost in the outskirts of the information superhighway, a small number of people will hear it and at the same time, the loudest voices remain the main attraction by seeking the pursuit of controversy.

Artificial Worlds

I agree somewhat with Mark Slouka who blames technology for our lack of civic engagement and I also agree with his statement that people seek artificial worlds because the real world is uncertain and unpleasant. When I look at cell phones and how they are now connected to the internet, it seems like a lot of this new technology is unnecessary. In many ways, technology has become a huge distraction to the truth of reality. People tweet about ridiculous mundane activities as if others actually care; no I don't need to know that you just ate at mediocre tasting Big Mac at McDonald's. Moreover, the online communities of myspace and facebook have now taken the place of real-life friendships.

My very first blog

This is a test to see if this works. If you are reading this then I was successful in creating a blog. More will be added soon....