Week 7 Assignment – NO WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: reading e-poetry. (Written 6/11/08).
Well funny: http://c6.org/toogle/
Crazy: http://www.yhchang.com/DAKOTA.html
View the full collection of e-poetry by Chris Joseph at: http://www.chrisjoseph.org/epoetry/
This is everything I am about: http://www.wefeelfine.org/wefeelfine_pc.html
Week 6 Assignment – HYPERTEXT: hypertext writing/photo story (‘flash fiction’ approach). (Written 4/11/08).
Yellow. Blue. Green
It had started with that.
It had then changed to dark blue, bright green, pale yellow, then to olive green, vintage yellow, boat race blue.
He told me to give it some meaning.
‘Like sun, grass, sky?’ I asked.
‘No, like courage, fear, forgiveness,’ he replied.
I thought he was losing it big time.
He thought it was then that I understood.
‘You see the black and white,’ he said, ‘whereas I see all the shades of grey in between’.
Week 5 Assignment – COLLABORATIVE WRITING (MANIFESTO): group writing exercise on writing a Manifesto – discussion of manifesto (arwebwriting.wetpaint.com). (Written 30/10/08).
· Paper
Walk into the office of any business and you will almost immediately spot letterheads, envelopes, copier paper, post-it notes and writing pads. All different variations of paper, some of which may be necessary, others of which may not. Now, notice the overflowing wastepaper baskets, the huge shredders crammed with redundant documents and the packed recycling boxes and ask yourself whether this is sufficient. Recycling paper is good but surely reducing the amount of paper you use to begin with is even better, right?
However, in a world where digital technology is ripe, we are now finally beginning to recognise a slight change. This is particularly apparent in banks. The introduction of both ‘green’ accounts and internet banking means that you can actually now opt out of receiving monthly statements, in the paper form and instead look up your statement online, as and when you need. This is further supported by the decision to only print and send any paper statement on a quarterly basis, as opposed to the previous monthly ones.
Some businesses now even insert captions at the bottom of their emails asking the recipient to think about waste disposal before printing the contents. They see it as their corporate responsibility.
So, if some businesses can make such valuable changes, why can’t they all?
View the full manifesto at: http://arwebwriting.wetpaint.com/page/MANIFESTO+-+group+2?t=anon
Week 4 Assignment – CRITIQUE/INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Finishing ‘Op-Ed’ web opinion piece; reading and critique on article by Bernstein (as a blog entry); ‘How to’ instructional web page materials (choice of serious or ‘tongue in cheek’ approach). (Written 28/10/08).
When writing for the living web, Mark Bernstein suggests using the following tips:
1. Write for a reason: Write with passion and honesty. Write for yourself.
2. Write often: Be consistent. Write often, even if it’s not much. Inconsistent writers are seen as untrustworthy.
3. Write tight: Consider the craft of your writing. Use rich, clear, precise vocabularly and omit unnecessary words.
4. Make good friends: Read widely, give useful feedback and share ideas.
5. Find good enemies: State your opinions firmly and clearly but don’t be seen to be a bully. Make good friends with good enemies.
6. Let the story unfold: Keep your writing exciting. Change subject to alter the pace and tone of your writing. Intrigue your reader.
7. Stand up, speak out: Know the facts and then state you opinion confidently. Don’t lie.
8. Be sexy: Be honest and intimate with your reader. The more of yourself you put into your writing, the more engaging and real it will be.
9. Use your archives: Archive all your previous posts.
10. Relax: Find your voice and embrace it. Be yourself.
View the full article 10 Tips on Writing the Living Web by Mark Bernstein at: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/writeliving
Week 4 Assignment – CRITIQUE/INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Finishing ‘Op-Ed’ web opinion piece; reading and critique on article by Bernstein (as a blog entry); ‘How to’ instructional web page materials (choice of serious or ‘tongue in cheek’ approach). (Written 28/10/08).
MUST HAVE TOOLS:
Tweezerman Slant Tweezers
Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Liner in Jet Black
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black
Maybelline COLOSSAL Volum’ Express Mascara in Glam Black
HOW TO:
1. To achieve that overall refined look, prepare the eyes by tweezing your eyebrows into shape. (Use a pair of Tweezerman Slant Tweezers, £15 to pluck even the most stubborn of stray hairs). Groomed eyebrows not only enhance the eyes but also frame the face, highlighting the cheekbones and the brow bone.
2. Next pull your eye taut from the outer corner and using a pencil liner (I love Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Liner in Jet Black, £2.99) trace a light feathery line that you can later follow with your liquid liner.
3. Repeat this process on the other eye.
4. Then apply the liquid liner over the top of the light pencil line. It is easier to do this in three short strokes as opposed to in just one continuous line (Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black, £7.99 is great for precision and ease of application). So beginning from the inner corner of the eye, paint a line a third of the way along the lash line. Then extend this line another third of the way along and continue along the final third to the outer corner of the eye. You may find that resting you elbow on a table helps to keep your hand more steady whilst applying the liquid liner.
5. Repeat this process on the other eye.
6. For added definition you can gradually build up this initial line by painting out from the middle of the lash line towards the outer corner, forming a thin to thicker type line. This creates the illusion of big, bold eyes. You can also extend the line just past the outer corner of your eyelid if you wish.
7. Complete the look by lining the inner rims of both eyes with pencil liner and adding copious lashings of mascara (try Maybelline COLOSSAL Volum’ Express Mascara in Glam Black, £6.99 for maximum impact).
REMEMBER: Mastering the art of liquid eyeliner takes practice and mistakes are pretty much a guarantee, so ensure that you always have a bottle of gentle eye make-up remover and a cotton bud nearby, to carefully wipe away any faux pas…and no one will ever even guess!!
Week 3 Assignment – OP-ED (EDITORIAL WRITING FOR THE WEB): 1.Preparatory thinking for an ‘op-ed’ piece; 2. Comparing three writing approaches: print, ‘conversion’ to web writing; ‘born digital’ web work – discussion in class followed. (Posted this or next week). (Written 21/10/08).
Today there are more than 9000 people in need of a transplant in the UK, however only 3000 transplants are carried out each year. This is due to a significant shortage of available organs.
I made the decision to become an after death organ donor on October 13 2004. It was a Wednesday. It was instinctive, natural and overwhelmingly real. At the time I was trapped, horrifically injured but fully conscious in my best friend’s crashed Renault Clio, certain that I was dying.
I think the decision initially derived from selfishness. I was scared. Scared about what was happening to me, scared that I didn’t know why and scared that it was all for nothing. If I WAS about to die I wanted to know that it wouldn’t be in vain, that it wouldn’t all be for nothing. The idea that MY heart and MY liver and MY kidneys could help to save someone else, gave me a calming sense of comfort. A selfish comfort. A comfort that would get me through the fear, I guess.
If I’m honest, until this defining moment in my life, I had never really given much thought to organ donation or even death for that matter. I was young, healthy and 18. Sorted as far as I was concerned. Carefree I used to call it. Nowadays the term would be naive.
However, this experience really put things into perspective for me. It made me not only realise and appreciate the value of life but also highlighted the importance of being prepared-in life and in death. We shouldn’t shy away from discussing sensitive subjects, such as organ donation with our friends and family. It is paramount that they are aware of our feelings and wishes.
There are currently over 15.1 million people on the NHS Organ Donation Register. This works out at 25% of the population. I am proud to say that I am one of them, along with every member of my family. Yet, despite this impressive number, there are still millions more that support organ donation, who just haven’t got round to signing up yet. I would urge the remaining 75% to turn good intention into action and register to donate now.
In addition to telephoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or logging on to www.uktransplant.org.uk, you can now also join the Organ Donation Register when applying for a driving licence or a new passport, when registering with a new GP or for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or when registering for a Boots Advantage Card. There is even discussion regarding a new text message registration service. So, as you can tell, there really is no excuse.
Don’t waste a life. Be selfless.
Week 1 Assignment – BLOGS AND BIOGS: autobiography (introduction); ‘celebrity biography’ designed for web fanzine or similar, or a web biography of a fictional character from literature or media. (Written 7/10/08).
Rahzel M. Brown is the hottest hiphop MC of today. Specialising in vocal percussion, he has expanded the art of beatboxing in a truly exceptional way, creating vocal backing beats whilst singing lyrics simultaneously. His only accompaniment is his own instrumentation, a skill that is boasted in his famous acapella ‘If Your Mother Only Knew’ (an interpretation of Aaliyah’s song ‘If Your Girl Only Knew’). A song which is featured as an interlude on his debut album Make The Music 2000. It is this ability to recreate full songs independently that has hailed him The Godfather of Noyze.
Growing up in the Bronx, Rahzel attended Grandmaster Flash’s shows regularly and later became a roadie of the Ultramagnetic MCs. Such early inspiration along with other musical influences like Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, Bobby McFerrin, Buffy of the Fat Boys and Al Jarreau, have shaped his obvious appreciation for the art of making music. This is reflected hugely on Make The Music 2000. The album demonstrates a musical charisma of pure, unblemished versatility and boasts a raw and unique talent. It quite simply rejects genre categorisation.
However, despite his massive solo success, Rahzel is probably most recognised as one sixth of The Roots. The Roots are an influential Philadelphia based hiphop group renowned for their innovative lyrics and live instrumentation. Famed for their eclectic approach to music, they take the basic fundamentals of hiphop and inject it with elements of jazz, funk and rock. They are hiphop at its finest.
Rahzel is currently touring the UK with The Roots.
Week 1 Assignment – BLOGS AND BIOGS: autobiography (introduction); ‘celebrity biography’ designed for web fanzine or similar, or a web biography of a fictional character from literature or media. (Written 7/10/08).
Anxious. Exposed. Overwhelmed.
A world of discreet anonymity appeals massively right about now…
Basics: Laura, 22, York.
I like to believe that true friends are forever, despite how things may appear.
I love the fact that whatever doesn’t kill you, definately makes you stronger.
Randomness is easily the way forward.
Bitchy people make me blue.
Guna get me a big phat BMW X5 for all the right reasons.
Laughing is how I intend to spend my lifetime.
Creativity is sexy.
I love how crazy, shot thru dreams can make you think for hours.
Sentiment is what it’s all about.
Interest is questioning everything.
Summer is surf, winter is ski.
Yowksha’s post.
