A useful library trip

On our trip to the library today, we learned something that would definitely come in handy on our papers for this workshop and later on the long run of our college journey. We were able to experience how to look for sources and database on our research topic. I learned how to use the New York Public Library website, which lead to my understanding of how to use EBSCO Host. This is a resource tool that allows me to search articles and database based on any topic of my choice.

Today I was able to have some knowledge on how I am could research evidence and supporting details to include in my assignment. I found an article on cyber bully that consists of surveys to prove some points on statics. One also cool thing that I was able to do today was to subscribe to a New York Public Library card. Now, I not only have one library card, but two cards

"The Kitchen meaning" -My understanding

Arrows, definitions, question marks and my own remarks fill the sheets of this essay, considering that I have read it 4 times already. Even after reading it this much I am still not perfectly clear about what’s going on in the essay. My general and obvious understanding of the essay is that different signs have different meaning behind them and we frequently have to “read between the lines”, as the essay states. Based on the content of a word or sign, we build a picture of what may be portrayed. As for examples, the once Roland Barthes uses in the second paragraph.

In the content of this essay I saw reading as an understanding and interpretation. The “he” from the essay, interpret the status of the owner of the vehicle with the little visible information that was available to him-which was the car. We know reading as the ability to utter or say something that is written. To semiologist reading is to apprehend the connoted meaning of signs. I also understood that to fully comprehend, we need not to look much into the content of the word but the “making”. This means the root/origin of the word. Everything is expanding and changing, especially the way we use words, the way we interpret them. Does this mean that we are only paying attention to the significance of the word rather than the fact of what it is and where it came from?       

Reviews on cyberbully

Below are some links that takes you to the website where you'll find reviews from cyberbully (the movie) viewers:
 http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/cyberbully/blogs-details/digital-drama-comes-life/820260
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STQDj9TZeBQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYK8xkXoSEk
http://joevitomoubry.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/cyberbully-movie-review/

My thoughts on "The Machine is Us/ing Us"

At first, I completely did not understand the title to this video. I didn’t even read it properly. I read it straight through-the machine is using us. Soon after seeing the video twice I understood what the meaning behind the title was. I went back to it and realized the point was to say the machine is us. Michael Wesch is right when he states we are the machine. We create, we post, we blog, we rebuild, we edit. It is because of us the websites such as Facebook exist, because we are constantly using it and inviting more people to join. Yes the “machine” keeps us together. As the video showed we not only communicate in digital writing but also through videos on web-sites like YouTube.

Before, it wasn’t as easy as it is now to write on a computer. As Wesch informs, websites were written on HTML format, it used codes for simple things that are now a simple one click away for us. Of course it’s more flexible, comfortable, and easy. Every day the web’s techniques becomes easier making us more attracted to it, allowing us to have more control over it and the people involved. What I do not clearly understand is the point that Wesch makes when he says we “teach the machine”. Does he mean we manipulate the machine to act on our orders?

Final research topic: Cyberbully

After watching the movie Cyberbully on ABC Family, I thought to myself, this would be a great movie to write my final project assignment on. The reason for this being was, because of the epidemic going on between web users. Cyberbullying is an act and felony that happens frequently worldwide. Awareness wasn’t brought up until recently. I also encounter an article on a magazine I subscribe talking about cyberbully and the results on the victims. It is a serious thing, considering that we spend half of our time on the internet. This topic involves social life, cultural and political significance.  

Library Branch

Two of the closest Brooklyn public library for me are the Washington Irving Library located on 360 Irving Ave. Brooklyn, N.Y and Dekalb Library on 790 Bushwick Ave. The most convenient CUNY library-apart from City College's library- would be the Brooklyn College library on 2900 Bedfors Ave.