According to this Post in Austinist, Austin is at the top of the blog-o-sphere, beating out Portland, San Francisco and Seattle.
Check out the article for more info and links to the reports that prove this new title.
Guess we can now be called the "Blogging Capitol Of The World" as well.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
blogging as a weapon
After reading Chapter 9 of "The New Influences" the wheels in my mind starting turning.
If blogging can be so influential would it be possible to turn public opinion intentionally. Now I'm not saying you like a product and then happen to talk about it, but a calculated Internet attack on something. Perhaps the opposite of this is already happening with PR firms where things are being positively reflected.
But I'm thinking in more anarchy-laden ways, perhaps to topple a business or whathaveyou, someone could set up a " Internet task-force" of a handful of people and they could spend a whole day negatively searching and negatively commenting and tagging things until there was a plethora of negative information that would seep its way on the Internet and eventually....the public opinion.
However I would not be surprised if this hasn't already happened.
If blogging can be so influential would it be possible to turn public opinion intentionally. Now I'm not saying you like a product and then happen to talk about it, but a calculated Internet attack on something. Perhaps the opposite of this is already happening with PR firms where things are being positively reflected.
But I'm thinking in more anarchy-laden ways, perhaps to topple a business or whathaveyou, someone could set up a " Internet task-force" of a handful of people and they could spend a whole day negatively searching and negatively commenting and tagging things until there was a plethora of negative information that would seep its way on the Internet and eventually....the public opinion.
However I would not be surprised if this hasn't already happened.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Eat Local In Austin For Sustainable Change
Riding the wave of the “Eat Local” movement, two books "The 100 Mile Diet and “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” hit the selves earlier this year (including those at good ol’ Scarborough Philips) where the authors underwent yearlong efforts to only eat food sourced locally or grown themselves.
This may seem like a bit drastic for the average person who has no idea where all their food comes from. However as more and more evidence comes around that a local diet is the most sustainable one, more and more people will want to incorporate more local foods into their daily diet. Luckily for those residing in Austin it is not too hard to increase your locally produced sustenance.
One of the easiest ways is to begin frequenting some of the local Farmers Markets. Farmers markets allow you to consult directly with those who grow the food, which is picked the night before market. Most food that is available in grocery stores has been sitting for at least a week meaning that when you buy fresh picked produce it will not only taste fresher, but last longer as well.
For those that are interested in organically grown food, most farmers at farmers markets use organic practices and are more than happy to answer any queries you might have about their growing practices.
Austin has two close-by farmers market-both of which are open practically year round. Held every Saturday 9AM- 1PM at the Toney Burger Center, The Sunset Valley Farmers Market was recently awarded the 2007 Best Farmers Market and for good reason too. The festive market features many local growers along with artists, kombucha brewers, massage therapists and many activities for children. Within the past few weeks’ uber-seasonal produce such as supple and sweet persimmons could be obtained from smiling farmers.
The Austin Farmers Market, located in the heart of downtown (4th and Guadalupe) is also held Saturday’s morning. Although not quite as expansive as Sunset Valley, the market is a nice alternative and can easily be used to pick up many items before hopping the block over to While Foods to complete your grocery shopping.
Another great option is to become a member of a local CSA or community supported agriculture such as Scott Arbor or Green Gate farms. A CSA shareholder pays a sum of money for a whole season (such as summer or winter) and then a portion of the food grown on the land is reserved for them at several drop off points throughout the city. If you have more free time than money than most farms offer a work-food exchange program for as little as four hours a week.
For those that simply don’t have the time or will to go out and gather their own local food, Greenling Organic Delivery system offers will do all the brunt work for you. On a bi-weekly or weekly basics the company offers a box filled with all organic and local food to be delivered directly to your doorstop-all for reasonable prices.
To some eating locally may seem rather restricting, but it will more than likely turn one’s diet more eclectic as they discover the tastes of the season instead of relying on the same old standards each week. Besides where else can you get a whole bag of organic pears for three dollars
The experience of "In Rainbows"
Just up front- not this entry is not about the experience of listening to "In Rainbows", but rather the process of obtaining it.
As we are all aware Radiohead has forgone their record company and chose to make their new album available for download through their own website with the cost up to the consumer. I thought that this was a very innovative idea and fitting for a band known for its innovative music.
I found that choosing how to much pay for the album a very interesting and exciting experience- sorta like haggling at a garage sale. I ended up paying around 5 (well 2.45 british pounds acutally) dollars for the album (and that includes the service charge.) The morning of the 10th I got an email with a link to the download and had the album within a minute or two.
Overall I was very pleased with this process, especially since most bands make very little money off of their cd sales. However as I hear about other big bands doing similar things (NIN etc) I wonder if small bands will follow suit and still be succesful in getting thier music out without the usage/distributing of a label.
Assuming the band had a publicist and a good working knowdlege of basic marketing I believe that they could still operate on this type of system-with the aim of having people come to their shows and buy merch/physical CD/Vinyl only if they wish.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Web 2.0 =Early Modern bourgeois public sphere
I am writing an article for the newspaper about web 2.0 in the classroom and asked a few professors on their thoughts about this topic.
English Literature professor Chris Flynn impressed me with his response and how he connects 18th century britian literature to Web 2.0.
I thouhght it would be interesting for others to read his full text that won't appear in the newspaper article.
Dr. Flynn writes;
"My major field of research is 18th-century British literature. During this period, what historians and critics call the "Early Modern bourgeois public sphere" came into being. This is what now know as "public opinion," and it was the result of men of many economic and social classes - and a few women - engaging in informed, open debate. This debate took place in physical locations new to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The main one was the coffee shop. This debate arose from common readership of periodicals and newspapers, which, like the coffee shop, were also fairly new in England during this period. The first English newspaper appeared in the last third of the 17th century, and the first periodicals appeared in the early 18th century. So, the combination of the coffee shop and periodical led to the first open, informed debate across class lines, developing ideas that found their way into public policy, business and much contemporary writing.
What does this have to do with the web? Well, the web, when used well, reproduces some of the characteristics of public debate in the Early Modern public sphere. Like the early 18th-century printing press, the early 21st-century web is very democratic in terms of access. 15 years ago people could not communicate directly with large numbers of people about public events, literature, life in the city, sports, etc., the way they can now, because the later stages of capitalism made print so undemocratic that you needed to own a newspaper or television station or radio station in order to communicate to large numbers. Daniel Defoe would finish his Review, take it to the printer, have it printed off, then have someone drop it off at the booksellers to distribute, and it would find its way into the coffee shops. People would talk, laugh and yell about the things they read there with each other in public places. This dialectic exchange developed ideas. A current reader of the New Yorker - or one before there were comments sections online - would read alone, share a chuckle or deep thought with one or two intimates, and there the interchange of ideas would stop. The internet has radically changed that, mostly for the better."
I found this really interesting and hope some others did as well!
English Literature professor Chris Flynn impressed me with his response and how he connects 18th century britian literature to Web 2.0.
I thouhght it would be interesting for others to read his full text that won't appear in the newspaper article.
Dr. Flynn writes;
"My major field of research is 18th-century British literature. During this period, what historians and critics call the "Early Modern bourgeois public sphere" came into being. This is what now know as "public opinion," and it was the result of men of many economic and social classes - and a few women - engaging in informed, open debate. This debate took place in physical locations new to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The main one was the coffee shop. This debate arose from common readership of periodicals and newspapers, which, like the coffee shop, were also fairly new in England during this period. The first English newspaper appeared in the last third of the 17th century, and the first periodicals appeared in the early 18th century. So, the combination of the coffee shop and periodical led to the first open, informed debate across class lines, developing ideas that found their way into public policy, business and much contemporary writing.
What does this have to do with the web? Well, the web, when used well, reproduces some of the characteristics of public debate in the Early Modern public sphere. Like the early 18th-century printing press, the early 21st-century web is very democratic in terms of access. 15 years ago people could not communicate directly with large numbers of people about public events, literature, life in the city, sports, etc., the way they can now, because the later stages of capitalism made print so undemocratic that you needed to own a newspaper or television station or radio station in order to communicate to large numbers. Daniel Defoe would finish his Review, take it to the printer, have it printed off, then have someone drop it off at the booksellers to distribute, and it would find its way into the coffee shops. People would talk, laugh and yell about the things they read there with each other in public places. This dialectic exchange developed ideas. A current reader of the New Yorker - or one before there were comments sections online - would read alone, share a chuckle or deep thought with one or two intimates, and there the interchange of ideas would stop. The internet has radically changed that, mostly for the better."
I found this really interesting and hope some others did as well!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
The Mohwak Starts Blog
In our class we have often touched on how blogging would be a great asset to any business small, large, local, national etc and I recently stumbled across a great example.
The Mohawk is a great (newish)venue here in Austin. After being open for a little over a year they finally have a proper website up and running now and on the front page is (you guessed it!) a blog!
It has recaps from past shows, youtube videos of upcoming bands to peak interest and other venue related stuff.
Whats funny is that I was thinking about getting (applying for) an internship there and suggesting they start up a blog.
Maker Faire Youtube How-to
In case anyone wasn't planning on going to the awesome Maker Faire here might be another reason.
The fair which is put on by the equally awesome Make Magazine is an expo featuring tons of DIY, cool, nifty, wacky, zany stuff.
I was clicking around the site and apparently one of the "makers" will be an Youtube expert who will "answer any questions new users have, help solve issues existing users may be experiencing, and showcase great DIY videos created by Make Magazine and the many other great gurus on YouTube."
Sounds pretty nifty and I might stop and ask her about social media implications etc. by when I go to the faire.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Huba-balo
As we all know, our textbook author Jackie Huba came and chatted with our class recently.
I know that alot of us have already blogged about this experience and most people would consider it old news to read about but I'd like to put out my own reaction.
I was most titilated by the idea that blogging and our knowdlege of web 2.0 would be a very strong lever once we enter the job market. That would could enter a job interview and bring up our blog as a valid experience and more than likely that would reflect strongly on us getting the job or not. It is exciting that some of our classmates have already gotten interest from major PR firms based soley on their blogging and web 2.0 interaction.
For someone who has never had a super strong direction-job wise, having skills like this will (hopefully) enable me even more flexability as I would (hopefully!) be an assest to any compnay large or small.
I know that alot of us have already blogged about this experience and most people would consider it old news to read about but I'd like to put out my own reaction.
I was most titilated by the idea that blogging and our knowdlege of web 2.0 would be a very strong lever once we enter the job market. That would could enter a job interview and bring up our blog as a valid experience and more than likely that would reflect strongly on us getting the job or not. It is exciting that some of our classmates have already gotten interest from major PR firms based soley on their blogging and web 2.0 interaction.
For someone who has never had a super strong direction-job wise, having skills like this will (hopefully) enable me even more flexability as I would (hopefully!) be an assest to any compnay large or small.
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