Trevor’s Blog

Baron’s Summarized Stages
Stage 1- Limited access
Stage 2 – Gradually mediating the technology for the general public
Stage 3 – Make the product adaptable “to familiar functions often associated with an older, accepted form of communication.”(Baron)
Stage 4 – “As costs decrease and technology becomes better able to mimic more ordinary or familiar communications, a new literacy spreads across a population.” (Baron)
Stage 5 – “The new technology begins to affect older technology.” (Baron)

The computer

Stage 1: The computer at first introduction was not only granted use by only the highest up, but it was also very hard to relocate, making it less accessible to everyone.

Stage 2 – As time went on computer began to be smaller, less expensive and were able to do work that is specific to the day to day routines of people.

Stage 3 – Computers were able to be used for writing documents, doing spreadsheets and could save time as well. Instead of writing by hand or typing on a typewriter, people were able to use the computer to write and print.

Stage 4 – The computer is now fairly affordable depending on your standards. A large majority of the population are now able to run programs such as Microsoft Word, Power Point, The internet, mostly because they have too.

Stage 5 – As computer were integrated in to society the general public no longer had a need for typewriters or a need to even written letters by hand anymore.

The community project was a success for our group and for me in several ways.
For our group I believe we really worked well together, delegated the projects evenly and produced some nice work.
Our cooperation with the FMILA was done professionally I felt and it was a good experience learning how to meet the needs of another group. Being able to throw ideas off them, asking questions, it was all a new experience for me and I had a blast.

One reason I write is for the windows it opens for me. Had I not been in this class I would not have found this group, and I would not have been introduced to the Celtic Festival, to the FMILA. Basically to a lot of things that I had no idea was actually taking place in Fargo.
I am able to meet tons of new people, make good friendships and I know it sounds cheesy but being a writer/journalist has given me great opportunities and I’ve really just started in my writing conquest.
The project itself has very well and planned out guide lines. I also appreciated the flexibility of it. One thing I disagreed with were the time constraints. Although we were given a lot of time to work on it, I could see in the future maybe a longer timeline for it. Sometimes stuff just doesn’t work out and an extension is needed. But with that being said, there is a lot of flexibility with the project and I’m sure given a good reason, more time would be granted in the future.

At 2:30 pm March 18th I was introduced to the 4 million plus world of Second Life. Developed at first as a place with no limiatations, except maybe your computre programming skills, it has now moved into the realm of education.

Basically Second Life is kind of like Sims in some concepts like the day to day life but like it is also very realistic to an actual world of people in another sense. You buy property, rent property, build your house from nothing, make friends, watch movies, go to events, it is literally a Second Life.

One the most ineresting concepts of Second Life is the money aspect. People can rent property, sell programs they wrote for the Second Life currency ($L). But the cool thing is, is that you can actually cash out these L dollars for actual money in real life. This is definitely not the main point of Second Life but it can be a nice benefit.

In the educational realm there were still a lot of ideas to be worked out. There are age limitations and also it is hard to get people to the same place at the same time for events. Second life reaches world wide and it would be beneficial for educators I suppose to be able to introduce their students to people across the planet in a simulated world.

I dont know, Im not so sure this will really be allowed in schools, I dont think the benefits outweigh the large amount of problems that would occur from this sort of educational venture. Unless kids are taken a large amount of computer programming classes I dont see it being a lot of fun for them. Then does the school give them money to invest in properties? Clothes? other things in the program? And how to they convince the tax payers to pay for this sort of venture?

A lot of questions need to be figured out, but I it is admirable that they are trying to benefit society with this program and not merely create another world for people to escape the real one.

Trevor Fortin
Jan. 24th
Intro to Writing
Fagles

This is my own add on to Fagles Iliad

Up on the sandy shores the men stood.
Attired in the scars and tears of the monstrous seas.
Each swallowed deeply through their rigged throats
As they saw the feast which awaits their gurgling stomachs.

Several saintly sacrifices have led them to this point.
Led by a journeyman, led by desire, they moved on with pride.
The juices of the feast rang down their throats and quenched
Their tormented hunger. They men salivated at the site of wines,
Breads and the worlds most exotic spices and meals

Jan. 22nd
February 6th, 2008 by Trevor Fortin
Trevor and Leah
Phaedrus
Dr. Mara
1/22/08

Scene 1: Walking to his “poetry slam” Pha-Real unintentionally meets Socrates in the streets.

Soc.: Sup Pha-Real, Where you headin?
Pha: Sup man, I’m just headin down to my poetry “slam.” I just came from my main lyricist SnowWhites house and I was listening to some of his stuff.
Soc.: Word? What’s he got to say these days?
Pha: Quite a bit actually, me and him been workin on some tight lyrics the last few weeks. What do you have goin on right now?
Soc: Not shit.
Pha: Well, if you please, you should come down to my coffee house and listen to my slam.
Soc: Your coffee house?
Pha: Nah, just playin, but it will be when I get done tearin the roof off.
Soc: Ha, lets hope so. Yea I got time, lets do it.

Scene 2: After meeting they walk to the coffee house and Socrates is now going to listen to Pha-Reals “Slam.” He takes his seat and an announcer comes on stage to begin the show.

Announcer: Evening everyone, tonight we have a local “Slammer” comin up to sizzle you with some new ideas. So let’s turn the cell phones off, the ears and hearts on, and we should all have a nice time. (Announcer leaves the stage, lights dim, highlighting a stool in the center stage where Pha-Real will now come out and speak.)

(Insert Pha-Reals Speech)

(Crowd claps after he is finished and Pha-Real goes to sit by Socrates at his table)

Pha: Sup man, I think I killed it up there, it felt great, what did you think?
Soc: Well, I definitely liked your enthusiasm up on stage but you left much to be desired.
Pha: How so?
Soc: Well, I can’t say with distinct knowledge because I lack your great grasp on what is happening, for this being my only slam ever. But I did feel like you missed the point.
Pha: Why you gotta be so harsh man?
Soc: I’m not trying to tear you down, your words were as good as any gangsta on the street but that is precisely my point, and it leaves me wondering a few things.
Pha: Go.
Soc: OK, Now tell me if what I’m thinkin is right. First, it feels to me that a “slam” is a bit different from a regular rap on MTV.
Pha: Correct
Soc: Then second, being that there is a difference, shouldn’t the words you choose have a certain aspect of originality in them as opposed to the old rapper clichés?
Pha: I suppose that makes sense
Soc: Of course it makes sense, let me show you what you had goin on up there.
(At this moment Socrates goes up on stage and request to be put on next.)

(Insert Second Speech)

(After the speech Socrates goes back and sits down)

Pha: That was a nice show you put on up there. (said slightly sarcastic)
Soc: Don’t be offended man, if you don’t want to be ridiculed, then bring some real shit next time and tell it for all its worth.
Pha: At least what I had was real. All you did was go up there and made a joke of me. I’d like to see you do it on your own. It’s not easy to be good at this, it takes time.
Soc: It does and it doesn’t. If you have the gift then you can do it anytime and if you don’t, it takes a little work. Now listen, I didn’t mean to bring you down, but if you’re going to be doing this for a while then you should probably start to do it the correct way, right?
Pha: I guess
Soc: Now I’m gonna go up there and you listen. Listen hard to my meanings, listen hard to the heart and soul I give. Im gonna light this up in an honest way, nothing cliché, just me and my words here today.

(Again Socrates makes his way up on stage and asks to be put on promising a better performance.)

Soc:
Now listen everybody because I have some things to share.
They’re slightly honest, powerful, but there not meant to scare.
Everything I say tonight comes from the deep ends of my heart. Now turn up your souls because I’m about to start.
(Socrates pause, looks over the crowd and begins.)
Soc:

Forever deeply, my love and lust come from within.
Like a trance they consume me, manifesting thoughts of pleasure, power and sin.
One’s a stranglehold only released by your lust, and giving in means it’s your heart you forgot to trust.

Because it’s not about the numbers, it’s about the quality. It’s not whose a model, but it’s about whose right me.

There’s a miracle out there. And I’m silently waiting my time. Because I want love for real not some temporary kind.
It’s the difference in the lust and love that make many go blind. Shackin’ up with ladies who are only tryin to get a dime.

So listen fellas, don’t fall into these traps, don’t let the media fill you with crap, it’s the long term you should shoot for, not some silicone infested tramp.

Because experience reigns and I’ve heard many tales of shame. Of many who gave up on the good ones, for the ones who only played the games, and trust me when I say, that regret soon followed, leaving a brittle silhouette of all men whose life is now hollowed.

So for all the young ones out there, rappin about the honeys, rappin about the money, take what I say for real. Watch out for the Devil, because it’s the end of the road that makes life hard to deal.

(End Scene)

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to add more here or not. There is still time to add more dialogue but I don’t know if I want any more.

Jan. 17th
February 6th, 2008 by Trevor Fortin
Trevor Fortin
Jan. 17th
Klogging
Mara

What is Phaedrus’ position regarding writing? Rhetoric? On what basis does he believe this?

Socrates’ position on writing? Rhetoric? His reasons for believing this?

Phaedrus: To me Phaedrus is a guy who kind of just goes with the flow. If someone has an idea with some validity then he will most likely accept it as his own for the time being. So for time being Lysias’s views are the same as Phaedrus.

Lysias see’s writing and rhetoric for a chance to show everyone how good he is, personally, at writing. Not writing to sound good but writing to sound smart. He goes to great lengths to speak plainly about his topics. This has immediately rubbed of on Phaedrus who almost sees writing as something to be un-respected.

Socrates on the other hand see’s nothing good in rhetoric. Rhetoric to him is way of persuading people to do what you want them to. Saying the right thing instead of the more honest, truthful thing. Socrates is man who speaks from the heart, speaks with truth.

Check it.
Jan. 15th
February 6th, 2008 by Trevor Fortin
Trevor Fortin
Jan. 15th
Klogging
Mara
“A poet is a penguin- his wings are to swim with.” E.E. Cummings
I mostly picked this quotation because I really like E.E. Cummings. The way his mind works is inspiring to me. I appreciate the chaos his writings can sometimes present. Also it’s a swell way to look at poets.
“A hunter is someone who listens
So hard to his prey it pulls the weapon
Out of his hand and impels
Itself.” Anne Carson
This is a beautiful way to describe a hunter. I personally am not a hunter and I think this is the most pure way hunting could be interpreted. It gives it some sort of beauty and it points to the intense love a hunter has for what he is doing. I would argue that this was written with hunters from an older time in mind but who knows maybe there are some out there like this today.

This blog was created roughly August 07′

Check it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-J30S6hkiyU