Now Praying.....

For an awesome grade in this class!! :)

Blogs - Final

Blogs: How Have Blogs Changed The Way In Which We Share Information?

            Today, there are many ways in which we can share information.  The most popular method in which we share information is by verbal communication.  We verbally share information face to face and over the phone.  There are now newer ways in which we can share information verbally by video chatting online and by voice chatting online.  With the advances of technology and the World Wide Web, we can also share information virtually.  One of the most popular virtual methods in which we share information is by email.  Through email, we can write messages to each other, and share documents and pictures as well.  In the late 1990s/early 2000s, another other virtual method of sharing information became popular.  This method is called blogs.   Blogs are a method of communication in which individuals, groups, organizations, political groups and others share information.  By sharing information via blogs, the information is provided for those interested in the topic and allows readers to make comments on the blog instantaneously for others to view.  As anyone can post to blogs, blogs make it possible for people all over the world to connect and share their ideas in thoughts in one space.  It allows people to come together to discuss issues and build relationships through communication.

            When blogs were created, they were used as online diaries.  With the online diaries, users would write about their lives and share their life experiences with the world.  Some online diaries became very popular on the World Wide Web which promoted the creation of blog communities.  In a blog community, readers can comment on the other writers’ blog entries which create a line of communication with the blog writers and readers.  The first blog community was Open Diary.  Open Diary was one of the first forms of online social networking as it allowed people to share their personal stories and relate to others within a special community of people.  Open Diary is still exist today and is full of personal testimonies of many.  I find that this form of blogging has changed the way in we share information as it freely allows people to express themselves.  I just looked on Open Diary and on the homepage there is an entry that states “I hate that I let people make me angry…” (Open Diary, 2012).  From this statement, I can assume that this individual is angry, hurting and obviously does not have anyone to talk to about their issues or scared to talk to someone face to face about their issues.  From this community, the individual is able to express themselves and seek the advice of others without the intimidation of a personal encounter. 

            Blogs allow people express themselves in ways that they would not in front of a crowd or an individual.  I do believe that blogs are a great form of communication, but it also can hinder how individuals communicate with others verbally and on a personal level.  From blogs, the numerous social networks and other ways to communicate virtually, many people have become introverts.  I find this to be a problem as it makes people shy away from building relationships with others.  I honestly cannot understand how people are supposed to build meaningful friendships and relationships with others when most of their time is taken by their computers and smart phones.  I also believe that text messages are making people distance themselves from others.  Nowadays we do not pick up a phone to call others as we communicate via text message the majority of the time. Can meaningful relationships with others be built virtually?  Or is this the new norm of building relationships? 

I also find that blogging can be a form of indirect communication.  In indirect communication, a writer can provide an extent of information in which the reader will have to assume the meaning from contextual clues.  Depending on the issues that is being discussed in a blog, the writer may not want to truly reveal their personal feelings or seem directly biased about an issue as they do not want their readers to view them in a different light.  Indirect communication can ignite more communication on an issue and make readers look below the surface for the deeper meaning.  I personally appreciate blogs and other communication that make you think outside of the box.  With blogs, one simple subject that one person may indirectly discuss can open the door for others to more share more information about the subject at hand. 

One form of indirect communication is photographs.  Blogs also allow writers and readers to share pictures and links to sites that allow readers to view pictures.  There are some blogs that cater to photography only.  I had no idea!  While viewing a picture Flickr Blog, I saw many great pictures that displayed the artistry of photographers and; I saw so many stories behind the pictures that gave readers the opportunity think about what the artist is communicating. 

Since I use the internet for general purposes, I was truly unaware of how blogs were used to share information.  From the class and readings, I have learned how information can be added on to blogs.  One form in which information can be added to blogs is RSS (Really Simple Syndication).  Through RSS feeds, blogs can display a variety of new information through the feeds.  For example, if someone has a travel blog, they could add RSS feeds for airline tickets, hotel rates, destination excursions, restaurants, car rentals and more.  The RSS feed enhances the amount of information provided in the blog and complements the overall look of the blog.  Along with RSS feeds, websites can be posted to blogs.  When a writer wants to share more information on their blog, they can direct their reader to the information via a website.  Overall, a blog can potentially be a one stop shop for information. 

I have learned that blogs are now being used for educational purposes, used in business organizations and greatly used for political discussions.  I believe blogs have expanded from one use to multiple uses as others found how blogs can reach many people with their numerous functions and inspire them to comment on discussions.  How do blogs enhance education?  Livingston writes “The use of blogs in the learning space promotes critical and analytical thinking.  The structure of a blog affords writers a chance to take creative risks and apply that thinking to their business environment” (Livingston, 2011).  In education, I find that it is important for learners to have freedoms and choices in how they learn as it will help them to expand their knowledge and not keep them held to a standard format.  For myself, working with a blog this semester allowed me to learn so much about blogs and the Web.  Working with the blog for class I did not feel any pressures like the pressure I am feeling at this very moment to finish this paper.  I personally like assignments that are hands on that challenge me to think beyond what I have learned in a text book or assignment.  Being a general internet user, I was not too familiar with using blogs.  I enjoy reading all of the gossip blogs and foodie blogs, but I never had the experience in building one and maintaining one.  Taking what I learned from class, I plan to create a blog for my business to help promote it and allow my potential customers to learn about me and my brainchild!  Many businesses use blogs to gage how their customers are feeling about the products and services they sell and to communicate within the business.  According to Rembrandt, business blogs are useful, but business owners should not have blogs unless they have good information to share and make weekly updates to the blog.  Without the constant flow of information, the blog will lose the interest of its readers which could make the business lose customers.  To have a successful blog, Rembrandt also states that you should “Study your audience and figure out what they want and how they like to receive information.  Then, set goals based upon this information and your overall, marketing plan” (Rembrandt, 2012).  In the United States, blog are highly used for political campaigning.  Since politics are a very touchy situation, blogs can allow writers to post blogs entries behind a pen name and allow readers to do the same.  With politics, there is so much information that people do not know and there is a lot of false information out as well.  Through the blogs, readers and writers are allowed to form an opinion of their political views and write about them.  Political information is just about everywhere.  For some reason it has become extremely popular over the last few years.  I’m personally glad about the change in politics!

I believe the hardest part of this class and with the blogs was to come up with exciting things to write about on my blog.  I have also found that depending on the audience of your blog, little writing may be enough to satisfy readers or they might be in need of a book at times.  I have learned that full figured fashion is almost like a secret society.  There are so many mainstream views on plus fashion and the underground life of full figured fashion is where is thrives.  In hindsight, one thing I should have done to enhance my blog was research other bloggers that are posting about full figured fashion and what communication tools are popular in sharing information about full figured fashion.  When I decide to create a blog for my business, I believe I have the right tools to get started to share the information about my business via blog.  What I need to do is step out of the box with the information I post and not be scared of the reactions. 

Works Cited

Rembrandt, Melanie.  5 Reasons You Should Not Write a Blog. Retrieved from  

     http://www.startupnation.com/business-blogs/index.php/2012/ 04/25/write-a-blog/

Livingston, Becky.  2011.  Harnessing blogs for learning.  T+D American Society for Training

     and Development.

Wikipedia “Definition of RSS.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS

Wikipedia “Definition of Blog.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

Full Figured & Healthy

Do you believe that one can be full figured and healthy?  I surely do!  For the most part, full figured people carry the stigma that they are automatically unhealthy...not true.  Just as one can be skinny and healthy, a person can be full figured and healthy too.  However, one can be skinny or full figured and unhealthy.

Regardless of the build of the body, everyone should be healthy.  As we all enjoy the experience of life one time, we should enjoy it as healthy beings.

As a full figured woman myself, I am striving to be healthy.  This week I was diagnosed with hypertension and the beginning stages of sleep apnea.  This week has been a slight roller coaster of emotions for me, but I have completely turned my life around in a matter of days and feeling good about it.  I believe that recognizing all of the consequences of these two conditions immediately changed my priorities in life.  I am now more focused on myself and focused on a future of being healthy. I am choosing to live and live healthily.  I believe I was placed on earth for a reason and I must carry out the task God has sent me here to do!!

If anyone is feeling ill or not too comfortable with their current state of health, please see a physician at your earliest convenience.

RSS Feed

What is an RSS?

An RSS (Real Simple Syndication) is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works such as blogs, news, and videos.  This is a simplistic method to keep up with information that is important to you.  An RSS helps you avoid browsing or searching for the information on the World Wide Web. 

What is the history of RSS?

In 1997, the first version of RSS, Resource Description Framework Site Summary, was created by Netscape employees Dan Libby and Ramanathan Guha.  The RDF was used to store metadata which is information about information.  In 1999, Netscape created a standard name for the tool, RSS version 0.90.  Later on, Dan Libby improved the 0.90 version of the RSS and released RSS version 0.91.  As the tool was gaining the interest of others, Dave Winer of Userland also created a RSS and called it RSS version 0.91.  Eventually, Netscape abandoned the development of RSS as it became too complicated for the goal they were looking to achieve.  Rael Dornfest then created RSS version 1.0.  This version of RSS was incompatible with the previous versions of RSS.  To lessen confusion of the versions, Userland created RSS version 2.0.  This version is compatible with the 0.9 series and incompatible with the 1.0 version.  In 2003, Harvard Law School accepted the responsibility for the RSS specification.

What are the uses of RSS?

RSS can be used in many ways to provide information.  RSS can display news in a certain city to keep readers updated throughout the day.  RSS can provide daily updates on favorite blogs.  For a retailer, RSS can provide updates on sales and special events which could draw more consumers to the store.  For academia, RSS can update scholarly articles and book titles for reading.

How important are they as a means of disseminating information?

These uses of RSS are very important as a means of disseminating information.  I believe having local news is important to have on a RSS as it allows the residence to know what is going on in their community.  For me, a RSS feed would be useful in viewing traffic updates.  I travel at least twenty miles each way to work and having updates on the status of the highways I travel is needed.  For retail stores, RSS could help increase sales as more information is being given to customers and future customers on a regular basis.

How are they used as a business tool?

As a business tool, RSS can be used as a form of communication to provide status updates.  At my job, the RSS feeds could be used to provide status updates on proposals.  Creating a proposal is a lengthy task with several persons submitting a variety of reports and the RSS could provide status updates.  For example, if I were responsible for a portion of the proposal, I would make an update through our intranet that would feed through the RSS to update the other proposal team members.  In the update, I could also include an attachment of my documents.  For meetings, the RSS can provide links for meeting notes or Powerpoint presentations.  Instead of carrying a notebook or a laptop to a meeting, all of the information for the meeting can be obtained through the RSS.

Fashion Awards MD

On Saturday, June 9, 2012, the Fashion Awards MD will take place!  I believe that this event is a way to honor ALL that are involved in the field of fashion in Maryland.  Not only are models recognized, but artist are recognized as well such as make-up artist, accessory designers and photographers.  Via the Fashion Awards MD site, viewers can nominate models and artist to receive an award.  I believe this is awesome as it allows those that are directly in touch with the model or artist to cast a vote...then the vote really means something!

In all actuality, fashion is a form of art just like music or painting.  In fashion, one can display their talents as well as express themselves.  Looking on the site, there is numerous expressions of art!!  Some of the photographers that have been nominated have outstanding work.  This goes to show that fashion does not only reside in New York and Los Angeles, but it resides in Maryland as well.

Sticking with my theme of full figured fashion, there are a few categories for the awards that are specifically honor full figured models!  These ladies look beautiful!!  I know there is a saying "size matters," but apparently in fashion it does NOT!!

Congratulations to all the nominees!!!

Easter Sunday - The Most Important Day for Fashion in the African American Church

Where do I begin...

As a child, my mother raised me to make sure I was properly dressed when entering church.  The one Sunday of the year that she ensured that all of my attire was pressed with NO wrinkles, shoes shined, and hair done with NO hair out of place was Easter Sunday.  When I became older, this tradition stayed with me and it is a tradition for African Americans.  When Easter Sunday comes everyone must be in their Sunday Best attire!!

For myself, today I had on a beautiful dress and hair accessory that was a true show stopper!  LOL! Not to shed bad light on the church, but African Americans take great pride in making sure they are giving God their best on Sunday for worship.  We only want to give God our best!!

Besides Easter, church fashion has had an impact on the world of fashion.  Church fashion is unique, classy and in a category of its own.  I love it...from the past to the present!!

Past

Present

The biggest accessory for Easter is the church hats!  The bigger the better!!


I believe Easter is very exciting for the children! My godchildren looked so cute in their little suits and ties today!








Easter is a big event in the African American church.  It is a day the resurrection of Christ is celebrated, a day to praise God in your best attire and a day to worship with family!  I love Easter and I am glad to be apart of a culture that celebrates it in such a dynamic way.