Monday, March 08, 2004
Yes i Do agree with Sinclair. One of the foundations of a community or any freindship is the communication that goes on between the people. A blog is just another way of sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences. That is why ithink that a blog can establish a sense of 'community' between fellow bloggers.
A difference i see in blogging, the sense fo community is not as intense as the feeling you would get around freinds. You never know exactly where a person is when you read their blog. That is why you feel connected to the 'virtual world'. Which is a very good thing in my opinion as it eliminates discrimination because it shows you that people of other ethnicity are not necesarily different in thoughts and feelings.
*If only people like terrorists read blogs and realized that their victims were people just like demselves*
One site i found that had a central blog where people could publish there own post was Typepad.com. It is really good seeing people communicaitng with other people and discussing personal issues like bullying and asking for advice.
Cincomsamlltalk was a very community-based type of blog. You chose the area you lived in and posted blogs that other people from your community could read.
This site contains blogs of people who are New York residents. most of the entries for the later part of '01 and the early months of '02 were concerning the 9\11 attacks.
A difference i see in blogging, the sense fo community is not as intense as the feeling you would get around freinds. You never know exactly where a person is when you read their blog. That is why you feel connected to the 'virtual world'. Which is a very good thing in my opinion as it eliminates discrimination because it shows you that people of other ethnicity are not necesarily different in thoughts and feelings.
*If only people like terrorists read blogs and realized that their victims were people just like demselves*
One site i found that had a central blog where people could publish there own post was Typepad.com. It is really good seeing people communicaitng with other people and discussing personal issues like bullying and asking for advice.
Cincomsamlltalk was a very community-based type of blog. You chose the area you lived in and posted blogs that other people from your community could read.
This site contains blogs of people who are New York residents. most of the entries for the later part of '01 and the early months of '02 were concerning the 9\11 attacks.
Yes i Do agree with Sinclair. One of the foundations of a community or any freindship is the communication that goes on between the people. A blog is just another way of sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences. That is why ithink that a blog can establish a sense of 'community' between fellow bloggers.
A difference i see in blogging, the sense fo community is not as intense as the feeling you would get around freinds. You never know exactly where a person is when you read their blog. That is why you feel connected to the 'virtual world'. Which is a very good thing in my opinion as it eliminates discrimination because it shows you that people of other ethnicity are not necesarily different in thoughts and feelings.
*If only people like terrorists read blogs and realized that their victims were people just like demselves*
One site i found that had a central blog where people could publish there own post was Typepad.com. It is really good seeing people communicaitng with other people and discussing personal issues like bullying and asking for advice.
Cincomsamlltalk was a very community-based type of blog. You chose the area you lived in and posted blogs that other people from your community could read.
This site contains blogs of people who are New York residents. most of the entries for the later part of '01 and the early months of '02 were concerning the 9\11 attacks.
A difference i see in blogging, the sense fo community is not as intense as the feeling you would get around freinds. You never know exactly where a person is when you read their blog. That is why you feel connected to the 'virtual world'. Which is a very good thing in my opinion as it eliminates discrimination because it shows you that people of other ethnicity are not necesarily different in thoughts and feelings.
*If only people like terrorists read blogs and realized that their victims were people just like demselves*
One site i found that had a central blog where people could publish there own post was Typepad.com. It is really good seeing people communicaitng with other people and discussing personal issues like bullying and asking for advice.
Cincomsamlltalk was a very community-based type of blog. You chose the area you lived in and posted blogs that other people from your community could read.
This site contains blogs of people who are New York residents. most of the entries for the later part of '01 and the early months of '02 were concerning the 9\11 attacks.
'the medium is the message'
i think that this can also be said as 'its not what is said as much as how it is said'
it is just a different way of communicating. In this high tech world, you are showing people that you know how to command computers by communicating to others through computers.
Marshall McLuhan was a writer. The important thing was that he adapted to modern media. He was a learned person, going to various universities, earning many academic rewards and acknowledgements. He went on to teach at some of these institutions.
This site contains some of his quotes. He was an excellent bon mot-ist. The Marshall McLuhan Global Research
A site I would recommend for meticulous research.
The Hypertext Theory states that everything on the web is connected electronically by one link or another. By saying "connectedness in the virtual world", i think that Sinclair means having connections to other 'places' on this virtual world which is the internet. A
link serves a reason much like the sign post; to direct visitors to different places. and in a world where information travels around at dizzying speeds, a link is jus a way of attching your blog memo, whatever to the much bigger 'world' of cyberspace.
i think that this can also be said as 'its not what is said as much as how it is said'
it is just a different way of communicating. In this high tech world, you are showing people that you know how to command computers by communicating to others through computers.
Marshall McLuhan was a writer. The important thing was that he adapted to modern media. He was a learned person, going to various universities, earning many academic rewards and acknowledgements. He went on to teach at some of these institutions.
This site contains some of his quotes. He was an excellent bon mot-ist. The Marshall McLuhan Global Research
A site I would recommend for meticulous research.
The Hypertext Theory states that everything on the web is connected electronically by one link or another. By saying "connectedness in the virtual world", i think that Sinclair means having connections to other 'places' on this virtual world which is the internet. A
link serves a reason much like the sign post; to direct visitors to different places. and in a world where information travels around at dizzying speeds, a link is jus a way of attching your blog memo, whatever to the much bigger 'world' of cyberspace.
Blogs are created for different reasons, but i think a good blog needs to have a personal touch to it. a blog is meant to be an online diary entry, people shouldn't be holding back their real thoughts, because that defeats the reason of blogging in the first place.
*characteristics of a good blog*
1.) Dont try to be cute by adding all sorts of smiles like 'hello =P'. Not only is it extremely annoying... it makes you seem like a bimbo.
2.) Dont right as if your blog is gion to be graded.. make it personal.
3.) If you are trying to put a point across, make you blog continious and short.
*Here are som examples of blogs made for specific reasons*
This blog is a blog written by a californian journalist. Visit it and see the difference in the way he wirtes. the entries really seem more personal... not glossy or designed to appeal to the audience.
This blog is about family.
this site contains blogs about animals. It also conatins a forum where you can share your views.
I think that sinclair had a very good point when she said that. a blog may not be 100% truth but it is the raw opinion of another person. This stuff isnt designed to sell or make profits, they are just people sharing their emotions and thouhgts.
*characteristics of a good blog*
1.) Dont try to be cute by adding all sorts of smiles like 'hello =P'. Not only is it extremely annoying... it makes you seem like a bimbo.
2.) Dont right as if your blog is gion to be graded.. make it personal.
3.) If you are trying to put a point across, make you blog continious and short.
*Here are som examples of blogs made for specific reasons*
This blog is a blog written by a californian journalist. Visit it and see the difference in the way he wirtes. the entries really seem more personal... not glossy or designed to appeal to the audience.
This blog is about family.
this site contains blogs about animals. It also conatins a forum where you can share your views.
I think that sinclair had a very good point when she said that. a blog may not be 100% truth but it is the raw opinion of another person. This stuff isnt designed to sell or make profits, they are just people sharing their emotions and thouhgts.
About Sinclair...
I think that blogging is just another way of making our everyday habits a little cooler... or entertaining. Just think bowt it... bloggin is basically an online diary, wats wrong with the traditional paper n pen version???
I think that online blogging is just a more fun way of writing down experiences from a day to day basis. It enhances personality in my opinion. I think this because blogging shares a writer's personal life to the whole world. It lets millions of people see what another person is thinking and feeling.
Personal info isnt really easily shared. I think that this is why blogging has become so popular; it lets you share your thoughts, feelings and views with an enormous audience. But it also gives you the luxury of anonymity, which is what we would all want in case our thoughts did not receive the response we wanted.
I think that blogging is just another way of making our everyday habits a little cooler... or entertaining. Just think bowt it... bloggin is basically an online diary, wats wrong with the traditional paper n pen version???
I think that online blogging is just a more fun way of writing down experiences from a day to day basis. It enhances personality in my opinion. I think this because blogging shares a writer's personal life to the whole world. It lets millions of people see what another person is thinking and feeling.
Personal info isnt really easily shared. I think that this is why blogging has become so popular; it lets you share your thoughts, feelings and views with an enormous audience. But it also gives you the luxury of anonymity, which is what we would all want in case our thoughts did not receive the response we wanted.
About other blog-providing services
Yeah well...
pitas.comdoesn't look as good as blogger.com. In my opinion blogger looks more profesional. But on the other hand pits looks alot malized.
Diaryland looked like something outv a fairytale. I think it was targetting younger children or girls. The thing is it also looked less user freindly. Blogspot offered alot of extra services and feature for a fee of around 5 bucks, i think. stuff like no ads, multiple blogs, and the ability to put on alot of pictures and videos. It looked like a really well done site... but what i wonder is how do they support such labour intensize sites??? think aobut it, who would want to pay 5 bucks jes to be able to spend 2 hours of their time writing fancy diary entries???
Yeah well...
pitas.comdoesn't look as good as blogger.com. In my opinion blogger looks more profesional. But on the other hand pits looks alot malized.
Diaryland looked like something outv a fairytale. I think it was targetting younger children or girls. The thing is it also looked less user freindly. Blogspot offered alot of extra services and feature for a fee of around 5 bucks, i think. stuff like no ads, multiple blogs, and the ability to put on alot of pictures and videos. It looked like a really well done site... but what i wonder is how do they support such labour intensize sites??? think aobut it, who would want to pay 5 bucks jes to be able to spend 2 hours of their time writing fancy diary entries???
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Azerbaijan: land of fire.
Some of us never leave our lands of birth. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to travel. What I'm about to write is a short story, if you may, of my experiences there in a land called Azerbaijan.
When I first heard of "Azerbaijan" from my father, I thought he made the word up. I mean, really, who's heard of Azerbaijan? But surely enough, when I looked at my atlas closely, lying next to the Caspian sea, bordering with countries such as Turkey and Russia, was a little eagle shaped land called Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan lies on vital passes of various ancient and present trade routes, in including what was the Silk Trade Route. Because of this, various forces have fought to control it, including Russia, Ghengis Khan, Turkey, the Arab Nomads and the Romans. The lists goes on and on so if you would like to take a look at Azerbaijan's history see one of the links listed. The land is also valued for its abundant resource of oil. It was the main oil-producing nation that fueled the Russians in world War II.
Azerbaijan is a Muslim country with a culture tied with Turkish influence. The people(referred to as 'Azeri's) speak Azeri as their national language but Russian is also spoken. The people are very closely tied to their gender. Men are extremely masculine and strength and courage is deeply praise. Not meaning offence to the population but women are not highly valued in society. But they sure know how to apply make-up... in thick layers... very feminine, I'm sure.
I would love to tell you that Azerbaijan people (called Azeri's) were very happy and living comfortably, but the truth is that Azerbaijan has been in Economic woes for most of the nineties and eighties. My father was sent there to manage a development programs aimed at bettering urban communities. Azerbaijan has also just been in a war with neighboring Armenia. In the conflict Armenia occupied (and is still occupying) twenty percent of azeri lands. As I have said oil is abundant in Azerbaijan. That is the main source of income for the country. But with all this oil the population is till plagued with poverty. Most say the money generated from the oil is used to fuel the presidents armada of M.Benzs and Jaguars.
The country side is a very beautiful thing, with big green forests and the Caucaus's in the background. There are many forts and other historical landmarks. One of these is the 'Caravan Sarai', an old inn where merchants used to rest themselves and their camels. Rooms are still what they used to be like centuries ago (except now with plumbing) and therefore gives the visitor a sense of what it was like in ages past.
Another landmark is the Maiden's Tower. There are many legends of the origin of the tower but my favorite is the following: A beautiful maiden whose evil stepfather forbade her to marry a poor man flung herself from the tower she was locked in to prevent herself from being forced to marry her step parent. In truth the tower stood at the edge of the water as a lookout over the ocean. The coast has now receded and the tower is now around 50 meters from the Caspian.
A boulevard was also built along the coast where couples are always seen on benches sharing romantic moments. Though I always flinched at the thought as kissing two meters of lipstick.... amusement rides fill the walkway and so do 'repairmen' armed with scotch tape ready to spring the moment a ride looked creaky... I never really did feel safe on those rides.
Azeri cuisine is also uhmm... interesting. My personal favorite was the 'kebab' made by the specialist cook the 'kebabsheeks'. Restaurants always served this, along with a sprinkling of some foreign particle. nah, Im just joking, the food was great; very Turkish. Tea and fruits are also popular. I think this is why Azeri have the longest average life span. I think it was in the very high nineties.
Azeri music is also unique. It is hard to describe... it involves a lot of rythms and long vocals. They even have a special way of dancing to it. If you ever are a freind of an Azeri, await the day when you are invited to a wedding, it is one of the best parites you'll ever attend. The food is great, and also present in great amounts, the vodka is also present in great amounts and people seem to socialize more than usual during these festivities. people are dancing in ther own Azeri style and professional dancers perform.
Being a muslim country Azerbaijan celebrated Novruz Bayram (New Year) and Gurbam Bayram (a religious holiday). In Gurbam Bayram a family goes out and buys a sheep which is killed ant butchere on the spot (right in front of you blood and everything) and the meant is given as gifts to relatives and freinds.
Azer baijan is called the land of fire because of its oil and also becasue it was the birthplace of 'Zoroastronism' the religion of fire ( though i dont think its practised anymore). And even though it is a very poor place i think the fire of hope and decency still burns brightly among them.
About Baku (the capital) where i lived
World Vision
My School
travel site
another travel site...
Some of us never leave our lands of birth. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to travel. What I'm about to write is a short story, if you may, of my experiences there in a land called Azerbaijan.
When I first heard of "Azerbaijan" from my father, I thought he made the word up. I mean, really, who's heard of Azerbaijan? But surely enough, when I looked at my atlas closely, lying next to the Caspian sea, bordering with countries such as Turkey and Russia, was a little eagle shaped land called Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan lies on vital passes of various ancient and present trade routes, in including what was the Silk Trade Route. Because of this, various forces have fought to control it, including Russia, Ghengis Khan, Turkey, the Arab Nomads and the Romans. The lists goes on and on so if you would like to take a look at Azerbaijan's history see one of the links listed. The land is also valued for its abundant resource of oil. It was the main oil-producing nation that fueled the Russians in world War II.
Azerbaijan is a Muslim country with a culture tied with Turkish influence. The people(referred to as 'Azeri's) speak Azeri as their national language but Russian is also spoken. The people are very closely tied to their gender. Men are extremely masculine and strength and courage is deeply praise. Not meaning offence to the population but women are not highly valued in society. But they sure know how to apply make-up... in thick layers... very feminine, I'm sure.
I would love to tell you that Azerbaijan people (called Azeri's) were very happy and living comfortably, but the truth is that Azerbaijan has been in Economic woes for most of the nineties and eighties. My father was sent there to manage a development programs aimed at bettering urban communities. Azerbaijan has also just been in a war with neighboring Armenia. In the conflict Armenia occupied (and is still occupying) twenty percent of azeri lands. As I have said oil is abundant in Azerbaijan. That is the main source of income for the country. But with all this oil the population is till plagued with poverty. Most say the money generated from the oil is used to fuel the presidents armada of M.Benzs and Jaguars.
The country side is a very beautiful thing, with big green forests and the Caucaus's in the background. There are many forts and other historical landmarks. One of these is the 'Caravan Sarai', an old inn where merchants used to rest themselves and their camels. Rooms are still what they used to be like centuries ago (except now with plumbing) and therefore gives the visitor a sense of what it was like in ages past.
Another landmark is the Maiden's Tower. There are many legends of the origin of the tower but my favorite is the following: A beautiful maiden whose evil stepfather forbade her to marry a poor man flung herself from the tower she was locked in to prevent herself from being forced to marry her step parent. In truth the tower stood at the edge of the water as a lookout over the ocean. The coast has now receded and the tower is now around 50 meters from the Caspian.
A boulevard was also built along the coast where couples are always seen on benches sharing romantic moments. Though I always flinched at the thought as kissing two meters of lipstick.... amusement rides fill the walkway and so do 'repairmen' armed with scotch tape ready to spring the moment a ride looked creaky... I never really did feel safe on those rides.
Azeri cuisine is also uhmm... interesting. My personal favorite was the 'kebab' made by the specialist cook the 'kebabsheeks'. Restaurants always served this, along with a sprinkling of some foreign particle. nah, Im just joking, the food was great; very Turkish. Tea and fruits are also popular. I think this is why Azeri have the longest average life span. I think it was in the very high nineties.
Azeri music is also unique. It is hard to describe... it involves a lot of rythms and long vocals. They even have a special way of dancing to it. If you ever are a freind of an Azeri, await the day when you are invited to a wedding, it is one of the best parites you'll ever attend. The food is great, and also present in great amounts, the vodka is also present in great amounts and people seem to socialize more than usual during these festivities. people are dancing in ther own Azeri style and professional dancers perform.
Being a muslim country Azerbaijan celebrated Novruz Bayram (New Year) and Gurbam Bayram (a religious holiday). In Gurbam Bayram a family goes out and buys a sheep which is killed ant butchere on the spot (right in front of you blood and everything) and the meant is given as gifts to relatives and freinds.
Azer baijan is called the land of fire because of its oil and also becasue it was the birthplace of 'Zoroastronism' the religion of fire ( though i dont think its practised anymore). And even though it is a very poor place i think the fire of hope and decency still burns brightly among them.
About Baku (the capital) where i lived
World Vision
My School
travel site
another travel site...
