Angry at Ticketmaster!

So my first experience about a month ago was a pretty good one for the most part, I had no problems and everything went smoothly. Well one of the bands (the main band) that we saw at the last concert (Fall Out Boy) is also performing in another concert along with Blink 182 and also Panic! At the Disco and a couple of other bands. We thought we'd try to get tickets for this up coming concert in August and they were supposed to go on sale today at like 10:00 a.m. and so my friend calls me at like 10:30 a.m. and she mentioned that we couldn't get any good seats. So I go online and check it out. To my dismay, the set-up of the site and accessibility to get tickets at all isn't even set up like the first time I got tickets on Ticketmaster. I click on the area near us to get the tickets and all of a sudden, it takes me to another site entitled "LiveNation" and I could not access anything quickly or easily and it was redirecting me all these places and wouldn't let me even look at tickets. It was very frustrating! I have little experience with these types of sites, and so that doesn't help. I remember last term, Winter term, having talked about issues regarding Ticketmaster and its sister-sites that you are directed to to buy tickets and pay more. Honestly, it was a while ago, but we talked about how there have been many lawsuits and legality issues involving such ticketing sites that you are redirected to from Ticketmaster. I just wanted to express my anger at the ridiculousness of these sites. Seriously, is that really necessary? All I want is to see some great bands. Sorry I would like to get out. It's sad that people are lame.

"Grassroots Citizen Journalism" and 6/1 Class

Today in class we talked about sites like Chicago Indy Media, First Monday, and Oh My News and the whole idea of "amateur" journalists. There have been several sites, according to Professor Macek, like these who had been started across the country and around the world that were found to contain falsely reported news. These sites often develop from activist groups that want to post their message and have their ideas read and known. It is amazing to me that people would do anything to put out what they believe. I can easily see how different groups have attached themselves to the internet as their source to reach others who may stumble upon it or be looking for it. There are so many different "topics" out there that have activists out writing and posting and in of course, in some cases, caused problems with false or over-opinionated material.

I think that this is an interesting use of the internet. I also think that everyone is entitled to their opinion. This type of reporting is good for "entertainment" I think, but tells me little about real problems in the corruption of government and the juicy stuff I would rather read about. Maybe this is also a huge part of the future of news and the way it is ditributed. I would just hope that we can still find truth and have a stable place for our news still existent.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 and "Reality" Entertainment

I feel bad that I have not blogged in a while. I have been really busy and basically couldn't find anything good to blog about. But ah ha! Tonight I watched something on TV that might be somewhat new age tech-related. I watched the new season premiere of Jon and Kate Plus 8 and was frankly disappointed. I guess I didn't know what to expect after all the crap that has been going on. I am kind of looking at "reality" TV shows as a whole as with anybody who is famous or chose to be a celebrity. They chose to be in the public eye. I have little sympathy for what happens to them and don't care to hear about how annoyed they are at the paparazzi. They're the ones who want to be famous and flaunt.

As for most reality series that are contained on the TLC network, these people are usually large or unusual families just wanting to give the public an insight on what their lives are like. Too bad Jon Gosselin was an idiot and cheated on his wife. The series Jon and Kate Plus 8 has been popular for the past few years and has been entertaining to the eye with its sextuplets and crazy yet organized lifestyle that is presented. I am so amazed that not only shows on VH1 that are considered reality shows are popular in today's culture but also that families have allowed their lives to be exposed. It is a neat idea, but like anything else in the public eye, when drama happens, things can crumble. I guess its the reoccurring thought I have at the end of almost every one of my posts; what is this world coming to? I loved that show, but now I don't enjoy watching it knowing that something bad broke them, they are not the cute show they once were and things will never be the same. This season seems as though both Jon and Kate will be interviewed alone on certain things and that a divorce might be in the future. It is so sad. But today, it seems like this type of television programming has become highly popular entertainment. All I have to say is wow.

Cell Sense

Ever feel like you have a 6th or, perhaps a 7th sense? (If you believe in that one 6th sense, I'm not hating, we'll call it the 7th) Well this sense is different from the others. It is kind of similar to the other 5 senses that we have, it could include touch and hearing. But I believe that it is really its own weird sense. I call it "cell sense." It's basically when you are quite possibly so addicted to your cell phone that you can sense it before it goes off, either ringing or an incoming text message. I usually have my phone on silent, mainly because I hate when other people's phones go off blaring and so I hate when mine goes off blaring too. But due to being addicted to checking my phone, I get this feeling. It's like a queesy-stomach feeling and I feel myself slightly overheating, especially when I'm expecting a message or a call. I start to imagine the phone lighting up, and the message or phone symbol blinking, alerting me that I have a need to pick it up or check it. It's the worst feeling in the world. I have driven myself to the point where I'm scared when it's on sound or loud because I am so intent on it going off, getting that burst of energy when I know it's going to off that I'm scared of it.

I just can't help but wonder if I'm the only one. I'm not like this with Facebook, or even email. Just with my cell phone. Is this weird to anyone else?

PEnguinS rOck

YouTube and All It's Shenanigans

I just thought, along with today's class discussion about today's youth and digital generation, that there is a lot on Youtube that I have I come across and I found a great example of what kids are often subjected to view. On Youtube. Check this out if you have a few minutes. There are all kinds of things like this out on the Youtube, and even the internet. So what are your kids watching today? Here's a laugh.



Until later,
PengUins on ParadE

Generation Digital; Not Just A Generation, But A Fad

Today is class we talked about "Generation Digital." I discovered, through random questions in class about our texting habits and also our "addictions" to cell phones, and instant communication with our peers and the link with technology, that I am just barely past that generation. I have barely touched the surface of having such addictions, and those started later in high school and continue up to now. I don't think I actually got texting until like sophomore year, and even though I had a phone in 7th/8th grade, I didn't use it the way I have adapted to using it now. By adapting, I mean that I have become one of "generation digital" members, I was not always this way. In college, it's such a good excuse because, "I'm far away from home" and
"My friends...blah blah blah..." but things like Facebook are really useful tools to talk to people who I can't reach through the phone (yes, including texting) and that is the easiest way to contact them, such as family.

So what is this digital generation? Its a generation that is highly dependent, even more highly dependent by the day on such electronic devices that either keep them occupied, or communication tools that will help them constantly keep contact and be informed of their peers whereabouts. Today, Professor Macek brought a few points to the table that I had not really thought about. The amazing number of teens, especially tweens, that are wanting to have cell phones in 5th and 6th grade is really increasing. The need in adolescent years for constant communication has always kind of been there, but seems to become more evident with this digital generation. I thought it was interesting that there is a link between how tweens and teens have the need to be accepted with their peers and everything and technology is giving them just that in a nutshell. But are kids becoming like this? Are they even wanting to be like this? Or is it just a fad that is catching on like any other fad? I know that I did not ask to be addicted to reading Facebook, nor did I hope that one day I wouldn't be able to breathe or let alone function without my cell phone. Is it advertising that is having an effect on this kids or is it simply a catching trend?

Ticketmaster-The New Box Office

This week, I had a bit of an epiphany, sort of. First off, as of yesterday, my laptop most likely has a virus and I can not actually access or completely load any type of web page that I bring up on it. I have had all of these errors come up and my desktop icons, when clicked, prompt me to move them into the recycle bin. Then there is a fuzzy black line around that window, and I have to exit out it like 25 times for it to go away. Then, when I turn off or restart the computer, it makes a long, loud beeping noise. I hate the campus Sophos thingy because it has obviously not been protecting my computer and my internet is messing up now too. It's true; I can't live without my laptop and my instant access to the world.

Though yesterday has been quite horrific, after having gone 2 days without being able to use it at all due to a band trip, I have managed to come out a little bit ahead for once in a completely new way. I have always cherished the beloved band Fall Out Boy. Though they have only been popular since about 2001, I have survived by there music ever since. They got me through lame-o high school and difficult times, they are so amazing. I love the weird sounds they play, and how their lyrics kind of make sense, but you have to think about them, and they are very clever ones, too. I just recently purchased their latest CD of "Folie a Deux" about 3 months ago, and I was thrilled. I'm not so quick to rip a CD out of the package and blasting it on the radio instantly, but slowly warming up to its melodies, I quickly discovered that it is quite possibly their best album yet! I have yet to even begin to get sick of it. I love it! I can't stop listening to it; I compare things to it, I hum the tunes...well I think you get the point. Anyway, I decided to take a stab at getting tickets to their upcoming tour in which they will be having concerts at multiple places in the U.S. So...long story short, I got tickets!

I have never ventured into using anything like Ticketmaster before, and once or twice I have attempted to use eBay, but that always makes me scared that people are going to somehow attack my computer or get my address, or even randomly charge me money on my credit card. Well earlier this week, I decided to give it a go since I wanted those tickets so bad! And I was just amazed at the ease of purchasing tickets, and especially the availability of being able to study the stadium in which I could view seats right their onthe screen. There was also an option to view the street of the arena's location via satelite. Wow. I can not believe this is what our world has become. I don't even have to get off my butt to do anything! But I amm glad that Ticketmaster is available because I got tickets!!!!! (Still, is this what the future holds?)

chicka chicka My ReSpoNse to a 'Lesser Kind' Prompt

While I read this article, I thought, wow, I agree with that. Or in other words, I can totally relate to what Mark Bauerlin's saying. The facts he stated appear true to me, I fit that description of an average teen who skims pages and that searches for things that stand out and appeal to me. I have done searches for various things in the past, and even now, in which I had to do even more searching than just by topic. I don't like to waste time. I want to type of what ever I have to, get the information I need immediately, and just find and read what ever I need. I absolutely dislike having to read long things, though this can often pose a problem, much like in English class when you are finding articles and the title says one thing when the actual reading is that of another, or you have read it uncorrectly but fail to catch it until after you have printed it out spur of the moment and actually have to read it. I scan the bejeebies out of web pages, regardless of what I'm looking for. If I don't find it, I'm done.

Bauerlin expresses how in the studies conducted by the Nielsen Norman Group are so, well, obvious. To quote what Nielsen wrote, he states: "Teens have a short attention span and want to be stimulated. That's also why they leave sites that are difficult to figure out." For them, the Web isn't a place for reading and study and knowledge. It spells the opposite. "Teenagers don't like to read a lot on the Web. They get enough of that at school." As a student, I couldn't agree more. I highly dislike the fact that I have to read online; not only do I feel completely restricted to my laptop screen and I actually have to read it, but the stress of feeling that I have to read it makes my eyes wonder just to stop a moment and check my amazing Facebook page. Just a moment, I tell myself. But I wind up behind what ever I was supposed to be doing and I get more frustrated than I was before when I simply had to read the excerpt. I do think the goals of college education are definitely "anathema" and I am such a victim to the whole concept. I could be reading a lot more. In all honesty, it is sometimes difficult to read the articles for this media class. Its very easy and accessible to be online and simply be "doing my homework" while multitasking, but its almost the same to me as sitting with the packet in hand trying to read it and stay away from the computer. With technology as an issue, it always wins, at least for me. It bugs me so much, but this is our here and now, and our future. I can almost fear for what else is to come next in the future.

I like to Facebook; now why can't I read an article for me grade? Am I missing something? Is my laziness back? Is Facebook somewhat to blame? Or is the concept of a site like Facebook to blame?

Family on Facebook. The Generation Gap. Is It Bad?

Just recently, my Grandpa got a Facebook. This, of course, is thanks to me myself. Grandpa asked me if I could set up a Facebook page for him to talk to one of his few-remaining cousins and some other family members as well as anyboy he could find anyone (still alive, he joked) from his high school of college that might be on there. I thought, sure, I'll do it. It posed some instant risks that my "internet world" might be a little 'invaded' but Grandpa is pretty harmless. I set it up and walked him thtough many of the obvious Facebook procedures and explained the basics to him. He was fairly content with this new gold mine of technology and communication. I thought it was a bit weird, but I didn't mind since he could now easily get ahold of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and great aunts and uncles and second cousins. This would become a useful tool for him and he would actually use it to its potential, unlike me or any of my friends do now. This was interesting to me because I thought that with the age gap between my grandpa and I, though he is really into e-mail and internet and funny political e-mails he receives and all that jazz and always has been, he was interested in trying something fairly new.

On Easter Sunday, my step-mom asked me to fix her Facebook page. I almost fainted but then wondered how she'd managed to get one at all, and how in the world I was supposed to "fix it" anyway. She explained to me that some old friends from college that she has told her she needs to get on it and check out all the old pictures and whatnot and I'm assuming that unlike Grandpa, she had managed to set it up herself and I would just need to tweak it for her. I helped her edit her displeyed information and added a picture for her on there, too. I was kind of happy that she had Facebook now for a few moments because she texts me from her phone all the time, and heck, Facebook can actually be really fun in so many ways. Though my excitement for Grandpa and my step-mom getting on and involved in these forms of communcation was really overwhelming, I began to think if I was disguising my fear for them doing something like this that has been mine for so long. Is that bad?

I do not fear them spying on me because I have nothing to hide. Why does it ever-so-slightly bug me that my family is kind of...well..Facebook Stalking me?! It is so weird that this world is becoming so...interconnected. I can't help but notice just how common it is these days to browse people's profiles on there and see that their mom commented on their status! How bizarre! I just can't get past this feeling that now my "other life" is no longer sacred. My parents have never seen me the way I see me or the way my friends do. So now, the internet life I have built on my "online community" has been discovered by my family. I don't think they will destroy it or anything or by any means mock me for it, but it is odd. I wonder what other think of this topic. Would you feel invaded? Or would you accept that it is just a simple gesture to communicate in a very popular way?

Laziness attacks again. Peace, Love, Hate, And Hannah Montana!

It seems to me that the reason I failed to keep up with my blog before, was because I simply got lazy! It has only gotten worse since I got this amazing sideways phone at Christmas for extra-fun texting! It is simply horrible. I have been getting worse at blogging as I continue to "blog". I'd rather text and sit on my behind watching TV then expressing myself or my thoughts on this wonderful blog. I text and I text and I text. Its absolutely horrible! Now, my reason for not blogging obsessively like I used to is not because it's a homework-type of assignment and I know that I have to do it, nor is it because I have nothing to write about, I just have trouble wording it how I want it. And yes, it takes more thought than my viscious rambling cycles on Xanga. But I truely think that I am a perfectionist even with my writing. I want to stop being lazy and get on here and let it go! Not vent of course, but get my brain thinking! Darned Spring Break, making me lazier and all! Well anyway, today I started thinking about something kind of odd, it's rally about TV and the technology that has been incorporated into it. Disney's Hannah Montana (I absolutely can't stand Miley lame Cyrus!) and the infamous Zoey 101 Nickolodeon show have seemed to add a bit more lameness to their shows. If I am annoyed with such shows, you may ask why I watch them?

No, I do not watch them. I hear them blaring from our TV speakers at home; my sisters are 7 and 9 and they love these shows. How times have changed. I feel old, (and I should not!) that these new shows include cell phones, iPod-like devices, and my personal favorite, the Pear Computer! Yes, that's right, it exists. I was watching TV on Saturday and I noticed that Zoey from Zoey 101 was on her hot-pink laptop. It was not an Apple, it was a "Pear." Where the logo for an illuminated apple silhouette should be, was a white, glowing pear shape! This was at first glance, very lame indeed. I have noticed on various occasions, every scene it seems, as I pass by the TV show playing, I see that darned Pear computer! As for the whole Hannah Montana rant, that's just for fun, I don't think I should blog about that, it could get ugly! But my point is that by putting such items for use on TV, it becomes 2nd-nature for kids who see it in every episode, it becomes repetitive. And it's only a matter of time before every kid feels they should be cool with their "little laptops" and cellular devices and not to mention the webcam usage found on that show as well! What ideas are being planted into childrens' and young adults' heads? Mommy and daddy have one, you can too! Be a mindless teenage zombie before you're actually 13! Wow. I have just began to notice how much the little things like that bug me. My inner struggles with my horrible disease of text-messaging and how things will be different for my siblings when they become my age, in about 10 years.

When I was younger, I didn't expect to ever truely own my own phone, or cell phone. Heck, I didn't even start texting until my freshman/sophomore years in high school! It just amazes me how dependent I am on my cell phone now. I didn't have media pushing down my throat the thought of having a phone or being mindless. Today, the exposure is immense; its on TV, and kid TV shows, commercials, special phones for tots with limiting, parental-controlled restrictions on them, and all sorts of doo-dads for youngsters to "play" with. I am ever-so-slightly appalled. What is this world coming to? I can't even begin to imagine the future of technology with the rate it's at right now. My poor sisters and their love-hate obsession with Miley Cyrus's fictional pop star icon.

peace, love, and No More Hannah Montana!!!

~penguins party~

Too Much Snow. And TV.

It seems that snow is never-ending in Chicagoland. This "snow" problem continues to make people angry and mean. College students can barely tollerate to go out into it. It is April, and though the weather is unpredictable, this is simply ridiculous. Snow is falling all over Naperville at this very moment, and there isn't a darn thing anyone can do about it. What is most annoying is wind and rain; with the snow. There is nothing to do but sip hot tea and kick back, do homework, and watch the endless marathon of silly Scary Movies (1,2,3, and 4) and the continuous playing of Mean Girls on ABC Family. I, myself, am not much for TV, never really have been. Movies, I can watch movies. But TV shows seem to be the current addiction of various college students I know. I did get into a couple of shows a term or two ago. But when all else fails, and there is nothing better to do, what the heck.

Movies are often easy to watch, fun to watch with friends, and 45% of the time are fiction; then again, 95% of statistics are made up on the spot. The point I am trying to make is that TV and movie are commonly the easiest thing to do, especially on a dreary day such as today. Why is it that we as people in this world today make it so impossible to play a game with someone or get out, or even keep ourselves away from the internet for any given amount of time? I can't get away. As I sit here, TV on, typing away at this blog post, and occasionally yet obsessively check my facebook, and also the messages on my cell phone, I can't help but think how it used to be so different. I can actually remember living in a time, at a particular stage in my life, where I had real things to do. Going to a friends' house was the best experience ever. Now, I can text my friend who is miles away at college. The relationship has sinced changed, partially due to our age, but the communication level has changed for the worst with technology, which was originally supposed to help with ease and convenience. As with that example, many of my relationships with friends and even a few family members, have been altered and forced to communicate and stay in touch with by technology. My question? Is technology actually making people lazy?

Megan Reardon-Bloggers on Blogging

While reading Megan Reardon's interview with Rebecca Blood, I discovered that I am much like her as a blogger. I have not "blogged" in quite some time, but I found that she bascially used to blogging, I believe, as a personal tool and it became popular. I wasn't much for writing papers in high school either, but I used to get bursts of inspiration about anything and still do now but do not write nearly as much. I have to have a personal incentive and after a couple of incidents where my privacy with a diary was violated many years ago, I have drifted off writing about anything to personal. That has given me a fear of truly writing what I feel. It was interesting to read that Megan Reardon is just your average female who blogs. She seems very down to earth with her passion and ability to write. I can learn how to be a better writer with some of her suggestions and tips and also focus on being a good writer myself, and try to avoid "diary entries."

I enjoy writing and it appears that with blogging, what I understood from Megan, blogging has been more of a gateway to her for many other things. She has experienced publishing books and writings and has even experienced more of the world and more of what's out there. I would compare that to college and the experiences and even somewhat purposes there. Writing can let you into the world in another way or light and can let you meet new people and gather more knowledge about broader experiences in the rest of the world. She talks about how she mainly blogs for personal use, but is "thrilled about the attention it brings." She has a life outside of blogging, of course, and appears to consider writing or blogging a hobby as well. This article and interview with Megan Reardon gave me some good insight and ideas about "blogging 101."

Until Later,

~Penguins on Parade at The Eiffel Tower~

Intro First Blog

Welcome to my blog!

I'm super excited about blogging!

I used to blog at xanga.com, but that was a few years ago. It seems that was a a pre-facebook, pre-myspace cool thing to do at that time. Now, my poor xanga is left floating in space and now i finally get to start over!

This is going to be a really cool class and its fun to be able to do something I already like (to write) and get graded for it! Hopefully I will be encouraged to get back into blogging and be able to start writing again.

North Central College is cool..so far..so...here is my blog...Enjoy!

~Penguins looking up at the Eiffel Tower~