[An] important reason to read weblogs is the state of the media today – corporate behemoths own the major outlets of our news and opinion and entertainment. The nanopublishing revolution of weblogging allows individuals an inexpensive and simple way to reach millions of readers. --- Anton Zuiker, Blogging 101

I thought it would be appropriate to begin this semester's blogging experience with a diary on blogging itself, since it is new to many of you.

Blogging is still in its infancy, but if you notice I've categorized this "diary" under Democracy and Media. The reason being that blogging allows someone like me to write about issues and interests I hold dear and share it with a global audience. It is truly a democratic means of expression.

It also facilitates a sense of community by enabling comments from others to share their thoughts on those issues and interests, whether they agree with them or not. It provides a means for dialogue and complex viewpoints on a range of discussions. It is the one area that mainstream media cannot capture in a bottle and just repackage. The blog must have integrity whereby the subjects discussed have a focused relevance for readers and writers of the blog. What gives a blog its integrity is the sincerity of the author(s) and the comments their diaries generate. And, this can all be accomplished without owning a television or radio station, newspaper, or film studio.

It is a form of communication where artists and media producers, such as yourselves, are using blogs to create journals or portfolios of work, to critique the current state of media, and to communicate with others who have similar interests.

Zuiker has a great site that gives an in depth overview to the history and nature of blogging.

Blogs: A Short History
Blogs: An Anatomy
Blogs: Why Read, Why Write?
Blogs: Create One

The site also lists some great examples of the most popular types of blogs as well as an interesting reading list.

To get this discussion going, my questions to you are:

1. Based on what you know of blogging, why do you think it might be important for the future?
Some examples to consider in the future development of the blog...
- as a form of communication
- as a form of media analysis
- as a form of film/video distribution
- as a form of expression
- as a business
- as a form of rebellion

2. If you follow the Save the Internet link on this page and read up on Net Neutrality and what it means to the current state of the Internet, communication, and people- or citizen-powered media, how do you think losing net neutrality will affect the role of the blog?

Discuss!

(This has nothin to do with my topic, but it's a funny
photo)... (Germany 1, England 0.. ha ha);
Photo via Yahoo Link
This is not for the faint hearted...
If you are sensitive, You can still comment on the topic
without having to watch the clips...
The first clip is 100 times easier to watch than the second...
Both are about the beheadings of american/english
prisoners... the Iraq war was responisble...
1st clip= Old English guy, gets a "mercy execution"...
FIRST CLIP
2nd guy is american.. Gets the worse death ever imagined
SECOND CLIP

1. Is it possible to rationalize this behaviour in the
21st century???? Why couldn't they have just shot him??
2. Do events like this change the American perception
on the war in Iraq... for better or worse???????
3.Should events like this be shown on the 11pm news????
4. To counter point myself... (nomad style)
To what extent should the U.S. TV NEWS report about
the events that went on in the Iraqi prisons...
IRAQI PRISONS= Sexual humiliation, torture, etc etc
Is there a double standard going on...

Any other opinions are most welcome... hence the purpose
of a blogging site...