Blog on a Blog on Blogging

The blog I am commenting (blogging) on is called BlogOnBlogs a weblog review by the RSC (Richard Stockton College, New Jersey) Intro to New Media Studies Class, Fall 2003. This blog was a project that was conducted in conjunction with a visit from Jill Walker, who is a digital culture scholar and Associate Professor of Humanistic Informatics at the University of Bergen. I have followed some of Dr. Walker's work during my thesis research into blogging.

One of the focuses of this class was on reviewing blogs and determining possible genres In writing reviews, the following criteria were used:

• Identity -- Who is behind the blog? Is the author an individual or a group of people? Is the weblog a personal or professional project? Is its presentation formal or informal?
• Design -- What does the visual design of the blog establish about its purpose and intent? Is the site more about information of aesthetic appeal? Is the site easy to navigate?
• Content -- Is this a topic-focused blog? What genre of blog is it? Is the content informative, educational, entertaining?
• Time -- How long has the site been in operation? How often is it updated? What does searching through the archives, from the first post forward, reveal? Has the blog changed over time?
• Linking -- Are there many links with comments in the posts? Does the blogger appear to mainly link to a particular type of resource, "authorative" sites, etc.? Does the main purpose of the weblog seem to be link to other sites on the Web, or is the blog more of a journal/forum for local content?
• Blog Roll -- What other types of sites does the blogroll link to? Does the blogroll indicate what type of community the blogger is trying to identify him or herself with?
• Inbound links -- Using Google, determine what sites link to this blog. What community of readers links to the site?
• Discussion/comments -- Is this a discussion-oriented blog? If so, how active are the comments on the blog? Do many of the same people comment often? How would you describe the types of comments made? Likewise, are there any trackbacks from other sites?
• Audience analysis -- Taking into account all of the above, how would you describe the blog's target audience?

As a result of the reviews, it was determined that classifying blogs according to content is difficult at best because blog content is so varied. Instead, it might be more feasible to classify blogs "as 'formal' genre -- the majority of blogs share certain technical characteristics (regularly updated, posted in reverse chronological order, various types of engagement with the larger network as detailed in Dr. Walker's weblog definition) -- and perhaps these technical commonalities define blogs as a genre in the same way that 5/7/5 syllables define haiku."

This is of extreme importance to my research as my initial intention was to attempt to classify according to content. I am now in the process of reevaluating my research goal in light of this information. Stay tuned!

Corporate Brainstorming

I'm blue! I'm blue! I'm blue!

I recently found out that I am part of the blue team. I have no idea who else is on the blue team, but I don't mind being blue. At any rate, I am flying by the seat of my pants, because I missed class due to illness. If anyone tells me that attending class is not important, I will laugh in their face. HaHaHaHaHaHa. So anyway...I really am not sure what to write about. I guess I will do my best, but it is difficult when you weren't part of the "conversation."

As for what I can discern from the information on the course Blackboard site, the team has decided that this course (Resources and Research in Technical Writing) exists for gaining knowledge and experience about/with research, laying the foundation for thesis work, meeting graduation requirements, learning information about the professional world in regard to resources and research, and gaining information about practical application.

In addition, in relation to the English Department, the course exists for academic research reasons, meeting governmental and accreditation guidelines/requirements, and providing well-trained, knowledgeable and skilled information distributors.

Finally, in relation to the instructor, the course exists for distributing information, fulfilling academic responsibilities, promoting an ideology, pursuing a vested interest, and enjoying the pleasure of teaching such a talented group of students!

The mechanism is made of up the following:

Students

• Degree (I am assuming this refers to the required classes a student must take)
• Professional status (???)
• Professional experience (???)
• Money
• Instructor's shared experience
• Course material
• Work ethic-effort
• Interest
• Professional demand

In looking these over, I am not sure how all of these fit into the "mechanism" as it relates to students. Certainly, the money that students provide and the work ethic they put in as well as their interest and the experience each brings to the classroom seem to apply. But the degree, status, instructor's shared experience, course material, and professional demand all seem external.

English Department Administration

• Paying students
• Material means
• Professional need-something outside of the University
• Professional demand

Teacher

• Positive learning environment
• Interested/participating students
• Money
• Classroom
• Materials
• Requirements for course
• Professional demand

Similarly, a few of the items listed under the department and teacher seem to be external to their mechanism as well. I am hoping that this all comes together after class tomorrow.

In reflecting on the relationship between the Telos and mechanism, it seems to me that there is an ongoing process at work. Students seek information, enroll, pay their money, are advised, schedule class, put in the effort (to varying degrees), receive a return on their investment, rinse, and repeat. The machine turns. From a corporate standpoint, it is much like the relationship developed between a business and (hopefully) repeat customers. A series of exchanges takes place, the buyer reflects upon the decision (is there buyer's remorse?) and either comes back for more or breaks off relations.

Articula-ula-ulation

the process of articulation - how does articulation operate

Okay. Here we go. In Datacloud articulation is defined as "...the form of the connection that can be made between two different elements, under certain conditions. It is a linkage that is not necessary, determined, absolute and essential for all time" (9).

That made absolutely no sense to me the first time I read it. Please write in English! Actually that definition isn't too bad, but there has to be more, and better. With that thought in mind, I went on a search for knowledge.

At first I had a difficult time with this concept. For that matter, I have a difficult time wrapping my head around a lot of theory. As a result of my shortcomings, I decided to investigate my esteemed classmate's blogs. I checked out Chelsea's first and got nowhere. Sorry Chelsea, but it sounded too much like more theory :). So I looked at Meghan's and Lisa's and those helped a bit more. At least I know I am not the only one having trouble with this.

After my blog tour I decide to check out Wikipedia wik (author's spelling) said, "Articulating principles 'operate by combining existing elements into new patterns or by attaching new connotations to them'" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articulation_(sociology)). This definition, combined with the information from the rest of my search, helped me to start formulating the beginnings of a new understanding. Alas, a new dawn!

I would suggest that the way multimedia software mimics the buttons used on VCRs and DVD players is an example of articulation and the process. The Play (triangle), Pause (double vertical lines), and Stop (square) buttons look the same and make it easier for computer users to assimilate the new technology. Now if they could just program in a flashing clock for my parents! What is it and how does it operate? In a way, I think that the quote from Wikipedia answers both questions about articulation. Enough said.

Or maybe not...

In thinking about this a bit more, I am not sure if the example I gave is a good one. I was reading from Practices of Looking (by Marita Sturken and Lisa Cartwright) for my Visual Rhetoric class and the authors provided an example of how Madonna used images associated with the Catholic Church such as the crucifix, etc. and combined that with trappings associated with Marilyn Monroe to create a new persona. Perhaps this is a better example of articulation. Madonna took existing patterns and combined them into something new.

Blogging and Podcasting

I read an interesting article today in the Toledo Blade by Matthew Fordahl entitled "'Podcasting' Lets Masses Do Radio Shows" (a different name was used in the Blade). It explains the recent growth of "Podcasting" where individuals can create audio broadcasts on their computers and then make them available for download onto iPods (hence Podcasting). In essence these are audio blogs and in fact, before Podcast became the term to use, they were often called audio blog posts. Part of the attraction is the possibility of participative media, like blogs, where any Joe Schmoe with a computer can voice his or her opinion. In addition, while Podcasting may sound like radio, there is no government oversight. At least not yet. It will be interesting to see where this goes in the coming years.

You can read the article at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A2798-2005Feb6?language=printer.

The site requires registration but is free.

A "Rude" Awakening

And it is an awakening of sorts.

Carolyn Rude's article looking at the issue of reports in public policy debates had some interesting points. I had never really thought about a piece of rhetoric and its completion, or more specifically, whether that piece "ended" once it was submitted, published, spoken, etc. or if it continued to have influence as part of a larger, ongoing conversation. Perhaps it is because of the influence of teaching a composition class where a piece is "completed" once it is submitted. I think I had an inkling in the back of my mind that the influence continued and I certainly have had experience with rhetoric in that respect. Previous research that I have participated in has involved a review of the literature, a conversation that I, in turn, contributed to. It has also been part of the discussion in this course. I had just never really considered it before.

I think that Rude makes interconnections between the original work, in this case Powering the Midwest, and subsequent publications as well as the debate about renewable energy and it cost-effectiveness. In addition, the report is tied into other publications and advocacy events that the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) are affiliated or connected with in some way. One example of the influence of this report and the power of an ongoing conversation is that of how a group of citizens in conjunction with UCS help prevent a repeal of an Iowa law that required utilities to generate some of their power through renewable sources. The end result was the formation of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition which worked to strengthen the law and prevent efforts to weaken or repeal renewable energy law.

These efforts came in many forms: reports, verbal exchanges, legal documents, etc. The point being that all of these rhetorical exchanges worked together, over time, to change public policy on renewable energy. The various forms are simply several facets of the conversation.

Article available http://www.leaonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15427625tcq1303_3?cookieSet=1 .

Usability

Ah! Back to blogging. The questions for today's blog include:

• What makes for a really usable website?
• What are the most useful websites and why?

Usability? I think there are several factors that go into making a website usable. To me, one of the most important factors is simplicity. Too often, websites are so cluttered, they are difficult to use. It is hard to find the information you need because it is lost in the clutter. Needle in the haystack theory of website design. Simple, to me, means that only necessary links are provided and the design is one that has navigation bars at top, left, and possibly bottom for basic information. When additional navigation bars are added, on the right for instance, it just seems to clog things up.

Another factor is workable links. There is nothing more frustrating when navigating a website then to find that part of the links are inoperable. Even if the links are working, if the webpage has the wonderful message "Site Under Construction," I will probably go someplace else for the information I need. To me, it makes much more sense to complete the site before loading it for public access.

What are the most useful websites, and why? The most useful websites (and I am not saying this to be a smarta**) are sites that are usable. They also have to be locatable. If you do a search for information and the site does not show up, then it is useless. The site must also contain information that someone is interested in.

Research Proposal (really, really rough)

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose a classification system for blogs and, in addition, research the feasibility of using such a classification system. In order to do so, bloggers will be surveyed to gain an understanding of how they view their own blogs. This information can then be used to set up various classifications. To begin, however, a matrix that combines two current classifications systems will be used to determine each blog’s form and style.

The blog form is based on Jill Walker’s classification into type of content: textual, photographic, video, and audio. The blog style is taken from Rebecca Blood’s classification according to style, which is based largely on content. According to Gurak, et. al., Blood’s classification can be broken down into two styles: “…an original filter-style, where the blogger is primarily an editor and annotator of links, and a later, more personal ‘blog-style’ weblog, where bloggers engage in ‘an outbreak of self-expression.’” Whereas the first letter in the matrix identifies he form, the second letter identifies the style.

After information is gathered from various bloggers, sub-classification systems will be developed to specifically identify the blogs. It is anticipated that these classifications will include a variety of subclasses such as academic, humor, gaming, adult, business, etc. The end result will be a notation system to aid in classification. Therefore, a blog may be identified as TF-political, meaning the blog is text-based and filter style, where the blogger acts as an editor and annotator of links regarding political issues. Or, a blog might be classified as VP-academic, where the blogger uses personal video to expound on academic issues.

It is my belief that this type of classification system can help by aiding others in making sense of blog contents, searching for information, improving the accuracy of a search, understanding a complex topic, differentiating between different blog topics, and locating similar blogs.

The other part of the research is to determine whether a classification system such as this is feasible. It is acknowledged that some blogs might defy classification, but it is only through examination that this can be determined. Even if some blogs do not fit neatly into any specific classification, the system may still be useful for the reasons mentioned above.

The following is a rough look at several research-related factors.

Cost
None?

Time
This project will be spread out over an eight to ten week period ending mid-April 2005 with data collection proceeding almost immediately.

Audience The audience for this project would include academia, researchers, bloggers, portion of general public that views blogs, government, ISPs, web portals.

Review of the Literature
To be completed

Research Plan
To be completed

Evaluation To be completed