A Semesters End

This class didn't teach me about civic action but it did instill in me a sense of Civic Responsibility. For a long time I have wanted to be involved in something bigger than myself, but never turned that desire into action. The first step is the hardest. But I want this class to be the first step. My Communication Ethic's class showed me how easy it was to spread my voice by using the Internet, which is why I have decided to take this lesson and teach it to those who need it. It is the culmination of a great semester, a great idea. My plans for developing a social network for the children i discussed in my Ted Talk are in the works because of the simple directive given in this course. It is the directive to spread your voice, and my hope is to help these children (with much better stories than I do) spread theirs.

I have had a wonderful time learning and growing in class. It has been a wonderfully fulfilling way to end my undergrad.

All Good Things Come To An End

First of all, not to honk my own horn or anything, but I have to admit I am very proud of myself for my presentation. I have been casually working on this project in India all year, but this was the first time I have been able to show off something that I am really passionate about. Plus I made another video! Working on the video in the beginning of the semester was such a challenge, I felt it was only right to re-attack the process for the finale. The only thing I am disappointed about was that I worried too much about the 5 minute time constraint that I ran too quickly through information I feel could use more emphasis. But hopefully my message got across, change and empowerment comes from time and empathy.

Couldn't get my power-point to work on the blog but it did match my outfit ; )
But here is my video! Check out the sound...it took forever to make it work!



The other girls - WONDERFUL JOBS. They were strong, interactive, and knowledable. Snaps for everyone!

Friend Request

Feminist, Ali Fordham, a senior English major from Saint Joseph's University, plans on taking her interest in social justice to the next level on Thursday, April 22. Her TED Talk will engage the audience on the topic of female empowerment through the highly popularized social system of Facebook. Through her year-long attention to the struggles facing women in India, Ali plans of expressing not only the need to empower these women but the need for American women to connect. These women need a voice, and Ali Fordham plans on bring it to them, one post at a time.

Better In Stills or On Screen

BOOK vs MOVIE

It is hard to tell which is easier to capture an audience's persuasion; A book of still shots rendering an action through page after page of dark ominous illustrations, or an action pack visualization of hot robot bods and electric streams of gun fire. Although, Bruce is one hot surrogate, I have to say I preferred the book.

Not only were the illustrations awing but they matched the author's dark intention with the novel. Surrogates is a dark tale about the miss use of technological innovation - best seen in dark tones and shadings. Obviously the movie was easier to get through, but I don't like the idea of the novels artistic integrity being compromised. Flashes of light and eye-catching stunts keep the audience involved but it doesn't deliver the same sour message as the graphic novel does.

Obsessed

Unfortunately, I was unable to participate in my groups EXTRAORDINARY discussion of the final two chapters of Surrogates. I had an interview that morning, in which i must admit i felt a bit like one of Robert Venditti's Surrogates. I think the story of my morning might help a little in understanding a bit of what Venditti is talking about in his comic book adventure...

Monday morning, I received and email from a prospective employer that he would like to formulate a second interview with me, that day, only a few hours later. My once peaceful morning routine was flip-flopped into a disgrace of morning rumblings and googlings. The job I am applying for is in New York City, but obviously there was no way they were gonna ask me to jump in my car and drive two hours on such short notice, so they asked me to "Skype in." First, i must admit, had I not studied abroad, there would be no way on this green earth that i would of been able to figure out this program in such short notice. But like a good surrogate, Alifordham@skype.com, knew exactly what to do. I logged in, and placed the computer on my desk, that way the video would only capture the well dressed half of my body (thus editing out the pj bottoms and matching slippers). At 2 pm the Skype session began.

The reason I bring this story up is because in Surrogates technology is questioned as to whether it is an accessory or the whole thing. In cases such as my Skype interview, technology helped this company not only get immediate contact with a prospective client, but also ensured that they were able to use new technologies (which had been noted on my resume). The problem here is, are you really getting the real interviewee? During the interview i had in an opposite box, Wikipedia "Forex Trading." So a lot of the questions I asked and a lot of the lingo i used, i was reading straight off of the website. Now for all those reading who consider that cheating, is it? Is it cheating to use the technologies that are in front of us? I wasn't being judged in my interview by how much i knew about Forex but i have to think it helped to hear me spitting terms that they might not have expected me to know or understand.

I sat in the comfort of my own home, "Spongebob Square-Pants" slippers secure, and applied to a fortune five hundred company. Times have definitely changed but i wonder if Venditti is on to something here, is our world just being reduced to data feed? Are we lazy, or have we just found a more efficient way to get by.

This is a Youtube of the Trailor for the Surrogates Movie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd054cFpZiw