Preparing Your File-Response

In Chapter 9 of Podcast Solutions Geoghegan and Klass describe how to encode podcasts and import them to iTunes. This chapter also discusses formatting video for iPod or Apple TV. I found this part of the chapter very interesting due to the fact that I am a Mac user. Sometime in the future when I have some free time, I plan on playing around with the ideas presented in this chapter and see how the process works. Since we have been working with audio podcasts and not video podcasts I think it would be a good idea to play around with this process.

"Tables: Tools for Organizing Data"-Response

Ian Lloyd, the author of Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HRML & CSS discuss the importance of using tables as a tool of organization when creating websites. Throughout Chapter 6, Lloyd provides a number of steps that are to be taken when creating tables to organize essential information. For example, Lloyd provides images of event calendars from the very beginning to the final product, and provides HTML code to help website creators along their way of creating tables.

When creating my digital portfolio, I hope to be able to incorporate some sort of table to not only organize my information and projects, but also apply an aesthetically pleasing look to my portfolio. I plan on utilizing this textbook to help me through this process and apply the information in this chapter to my creation of my digital portfolio.

"Video Podcast Production"-Response

In Chapter 8 of Podcast Solutions, video podcasts are discussed. Throughout this chapter Geoghegan and Klass suggest a number of good techniques to use when creating a video podcasts such as three-point lighting and the rule of thirds. Not to mention the whole process of how to organize and produce a video podcast such as equipment needed, preproduction procedures, production, post-production, and video editing.

Interestingly enough, I was not aware that video podcasts existed until this course when we were to find podcast that interested us. I knew that audio podcasts existed, but video podcasts were new to me. I found this chapter very interesting because it was kind of like a play by play on how to produce a video podcast. Although I am not familiar with video making some of the suggested techniques were very familiar such rule of thirds. I was aware that pictures, screen shots, etc. are more aesthetically pleasing to the viewers' eyes when they are set to either side of the frame using the rule of thirds.

All in all, there was a lot of information throughout this chapter to take in, but I do find it interesting and do have some interest in playing around with the techniques and production process of creating a video podcast.

"Spare the Paperwork: The Quick Rise of Flash Causes"-Response

After reading Chapter 7, "Spare the Paperwork: The Quick Rise of Flash Causes" in Causewired, I related everything discussed to my own personal experiences with Facebook and the types of groups and causes they provide. Throughout this chapter, flash causes were discussed, which are causes that produce an instant activity in community. Some examples of flash causes on Facebook that I have come across or have been invited to are Early Christmas Cards for Noah, Missing Person-Toni Lee Sharpless, Feed a Child With Just a Click, Prevent the "Artistic" Death of an Innocent Animal-SIGN THE PETITION, and Movement to Help All Poor Children Around the World. Although all of these groups and causes have great ideas and purposes, sometimes the goals may seem unreachable. However, the whole purpose of flash causes as previously discussed is to gain recognition and promote activism for those particular groups or causes.

The most recent group that I joined on Facebook was Early Christmas Cards for Noah. This group was created by a friend of someone who has a 5 year old son named Noah. He is in the final stages of a two and half year battle with a terminal form of cancer called Neuroblastoma. The doctors said that he will not make it to see this Christmas and, therefore, his family is celebrating Christmas for him early. Noah’s only request for presents is to get a lot of Christmas cards. As soon as I read this I knew that I wanted to participate in this group/cause and be a part of Noah's Christmas wish. I am sure that there are other groups and causes out there that also cause immediate community activism not only through Facebook, but other similar Internet sources as well.

"Recording an Audio Podcast"-Response

In Chapter 6 of Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Audio and Video Podcasting, recording of audio podcasts are discussed. The chapter gives an introduction of a waveform, which is the technique used in the creation of podcasts in the program Audacity. Waveforms give a visual representation of sounds that are being recorded over time. This chapter also addresses the importance of recording levels. It is important to have consistent levels of sound, yet allow for dynamic range as well. However, you are advised not to clip, which is when you go above the 1.0 scale. If clipping occurs there is too much noise occurring and can come across quite irritating.

After reading this chapter it was very helpful and provided a lot of insight about recording audio podcast using the software Audacity. Seeing as we are using this program to record our podcasts, the information discussed in this chapter was extremely helpful and I will keep it in mind while recording podcasts for this course.

Internet Lingo as a Possible Research Topic

After contemplating a number of topics for my final research project, I came up with the topic of Internet Lingo. Being an English major I have a great interest in the English language. With the advancement and growth of technology throughout the past decade or so, it is no wonder that the English language is undergoing some interesting changes.

Nowadays almost everywhere you look someone is on their cell phone texting, or if they have access to the internet on their phone, emailing or chatting with a friend. Most likely they are not using full "words" in their text. Due to certain limitations such as SMS cell phone users abbreviate and use acronyms or initialisms to save space and shorten messages. Not only are these changes taking place via text messages, emails, and other forms of Internet chatting (AOL Instant Messaging, Facebook Chat, etc.), but they are also making their way into our everyday conversations as well.

With this idea in mind, I plan on researching this topic in more detail and composing my final research project on the changes of the English language due to the growth and popularity of technology.