After watching Nick Briz’s video I am left feeling a newfound exposure. I have always had a slew of issues with the Facebook culture, which I will get to below, but now I find myself lurking towards the delete button once again. As Briz states, there are MANY reasons to take issue with the social media mogul, Facebook. It is pushy, nosy, invasive, abusive, offensive, and of course, informative in the most minimal of ways. For the sake of the viewer, Briz sums up his grievances to four general ideas: Filter Bubble, Sponsored Stories, Recycled Likes and the fact the Facebook is using its users for Social Experiments. He also mentions the promotion of advertisers but for the sake of this post I will keep it to the aforementioned points of discussion.

The Filter Bubble: This is simple. Facebook shows you what they want you to see. It is, after all, a system that is reliant on likes, shares and posts, and so they provide users with a helpful nudge in that direction. As Briz states, there is am algorithm that determines what we should see, and it has no bearing on time or recent activity.

Sponsored Stories: Similar to the Filter Bubble, this is exactly what it sounds like. This becomes an invasion of privacy and public perception. Essentially, Briz explains it as such, if a friend who happens to be a Vegan shares a story about the cruelty at the hands of as fast food conglomerate, that friend has now shared content in connection with said food chain, and so others may see that friend “Likes” the fast-food chain. For MANY reasons this is a problem. There is no sensitivity for subject matter or the users.

Recycled Likes: This is one of the more “annoying” traits of the interface. Its the notion that you see, over and over again, the same things that friends have liked. The typical user doesn't want to see over and over again that Sarah, Bobby and Joe all liked a video of a pig wearing a tutu, or something equally ridiculous. And they certainly do not want to be reminded constantly about the current political situation as it pertains to our country :/

Social Experimentation: This. This is THE problem entirely summed up, in my opinion. This is the culmination of the above points and also more of the other issues that were not directly discussed. As Briz states, Facebook is on record as showing positive feed versus negative feed to certain users. This is unreal. It is very much in the guise of “The Truman Show” in a sense. The information they collected was used to help Facebook make decisions about content without the aware consent of the users. This feels like a clear invasion of a public interface and personal boundaries, but as Briz pointed out, we all signed that agreement so there is nothing we can do.

The decision to “leave” Facebook is a difficult one. It is, at its roots, still the same means of connectivity that drew you to it to begin with; the problem is that it has become much more. Briz has apprehensions about leaving, and I have shared the same sentiments before. I have never officially left, but I have deactivated my account, which up until watching that essay/tutorial I thought WAS leaving Facebook. It isn't easy as it becomes an integral part of your day to day routine, and Briz shared that feeling. He obviously had more reservations as much of his professional life is tied into his Facebook as well.  

I personally am a Facebook user, but this is after a year hiatus. I find the content to be maddening, insensitive and blatantly skewed in many ways. I also found that it was seeming like more of a “brag board” for certain people, and while individual success is a wonderful thing, I have a difficult time being an active member of a sensationalist society; and for the record, being an inactive member to said society is even more difficult. I left Facebook when Trump was elected. I know I couldn't be a part of that conversion anymore. It was the most heartbreaking thing Ive dealt with in a while. I made the decision to come back to Facebook after my son was born. I am not great at keeping in touch and this was a way for family and friends in other states to see the occasional post about him. It was also a way for me to see who my nieces were etc. I cannot explain how quickly my feed returned to the anti Trump literature. Just the other day I was talking to my friend about leaving again, and he convinced me to stay. Often times I have thought about leaving but haven't been able to do so just because of how challenging it actually is. Facebook has made it like a puzzle. And once you find it you then have to make sure you click the right things or they will automatically reactivate your account. Its a truly scary thing, once you start to think about it. 

Hello friendo. 

In response to the prompt “Why I Blog…”

This is a fascinating topic of discussion. Blogging seems to have changed the interface by which people communicate grievances, joy and general open conversations to the public. It is an open format with minimal criticism (at times) and seems, to me, like more of a rant in some cases. Blogging seems more protected than some of the other more commonly used digital means of expression; i.e. Facebook and twitter. I have never used Twitter, not do I want to, but I am familiar with the world of Facebook and how it has changed the way we communicate as a whole. In comparison to blogging, I feel that Facebook is entirely unprotected as a means of expression.

pro·tect

/prəˈtekt/

verb

past tense:

protected

; past participle:

protected

keep safe from harm or injury.“he tried to protect Kelly from the attack"synonyms:keep safe, keep from harm, save, safeguard, preserve, defend, shield, cushion, insulate, hedge, shelter, screen, secure, fortify, guard, watch over, look after, take care of, keep;inoculate"they fought to protect their homes and families”

Protection is all but removed from the Facebook interface. I feel like this is in contrast to a blog. I feel like blogging is a means of communicating about products, fashion, art, professional life and more non-confrontational views, whereas Facebook seems like a free-for-all. I also wonder what the differences are between feedback. I have seen first hand the negative criticism and arguing that occurs on Facebook, but in my experience it seems like people are less critical of blogs. I wonder if this is entirely content based or if it is user based. Facebook seems to attract those who are looking to share their often times skewed views and share them behind the guise of the digital mask. Blogging is an invitation to share something with someone real; or so it seems to me.

Criticism is key in keeping conversations and productivity moving froward, but I generally feel that blogs steer in a more positive, constructive light, whereas something like Facebook brings all the nasties. And speaking of the nasties, there are all of the extremes to wearing the digital guise, including the group Anonymous, one of the better known hacktivist groups. There is such a grand platform for this means of expression and as we have seen it can be used for politically charged, faceless activism or destruction in some cases. The articles that I am including go into some of the details of what hacktivism actually is and how it can be used for fun or for larger conversations about humanity and basic human rights. In contrast to blogging, which I feel is a highlight if someone’s life and passions, this is an entirely faceless entity. I find this to be really fascinating and also terrifying. We do not realize how much of ourselves we expose without even trying, let alone what we do choose to share via blogs etc. 

Article links: 

https://turbofuture.com/internet/Most-Powerful-Active-Hacking-Groups

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/may/11/anonymous-behind-the-mask

The idea of digitally altering my body to enhance my ‘performance” is one that I have honestly never considered. I think there are some separate conversations in relation to this topic; performance and life. Let us think back to the Detroit cult hero, Robocop, and his life as a man and a machine ;) Murphy was not given a choice about the altering of his body. He was revived from his dying human body and recreated as a robotic police officer running exclusively from a program created by a corporation. This movie, albeit a topic of humor and a cheeky way for me to discuss the extremes of this topic, really discusses the idea of losing ones psyche or persona in lieu of a new and improved robotic form. I wonder if maybe this has something to do with my thoughts on the topic and it truly formed my opinions of the cyborg idea. On the other hand, I think back to people whom I have loved, one being the former chair of the Art and Art History Department here at OU, and how his digital alterations lengthened his life. He had a pacemaker, and he needed this to regulate his heart.

For me, personally, I cannot say, to respond to the first question, that I would consider it. And to respond to the second, I don’t know that the amount of time that the procedure had been practiced would have any bearing on how I felt about it. It almost seems like people are getting closer to wanting to be first in line for procedures as opposed to waiting for it to pass through a series of tests and trials. I almost wonder if our dependence on the smartphone, which in many ways is an extension ourselves, makes us more likely to want to get in lone for the human augmentations that were for many of us just an idea in science fiction. The article I read on this topic touches on what I mentioned above, the difference between enhancement and restoration, and it raised some interesting points that I think are significant to state. As I stated before, when someone’s heart fails, they have two options, die or try to revive via technology. This can also be the idea behind restorative enhancement such as exoskeletal prosthetics. I am not opposed to those, but I do see some serious concerns with the invitation to add, say, and embedded web access in your brain or some weirdness like that.

Sesame Seed: 4mm Lentil: 1/4”   Blueberry: 1/2” Raspberry: 3/4” Grape: 1” Strawberry: 1.25” Fig: 1.5” Lime: 2” and 1/2 oz Pea pod: 3” almost 1 oz Lemon: 3.5” and 1 1/2 oz Apple: 4” and 2 1/2 oz Avocado: 4 1/2” and 3 1/2 oz Turnip: 5” and 5 oz Artichoke: 5 1/2” and 7 oz Mango: 6” and 8 1/2 oz Banana: 6 1/2” and 10 1/2 oz Endive: 10 1/2”  Spaghetti Squash: 11″ and 1 lb Mango: 11″ and over 1lb   Cantaloupe: 1 1/3 lbs Cauliflower: 13 1/2″ and 1 1/2 lbs  Kale: 14″ and 1 2/3 lbs Lettuce: 14 1/2″ and almost 2 lbs  Eggplant: 14.8″ and 2 1/4 lbs Butternut Squash: 15″ and 2 1/2 lbs  Cabbage: 15.7″ and 3 lbs Coconut: 16″ and 3 1/3 lbs Jicama: 16.7″ and 3 3/4 lbs Pineapple: 17″ and over 4 lbs  Celery: 18″ and 4 3/4 lbs  Honeydew melon: 18″ and 5 1/4 lbs  Papaya: 18 1/2″ and 6 lbs Swiss chard: 19″ and 6 1/3 lbs  Leeks: 19 1/2″ and 6.8 lbs  Watermelon: 20″ and 7 lbs  Pumpkin: 20″ and 7 1/2 lbs 

Today is, in many ways, a portal to personal destruction, in my opinion. I recently read an article discussing the introduction and infiltration of the iPhone and how it has affected our youth. I strongly believe that the accessibility we have now is a blessing and a curse. When I was growing up there was a level of separation. We had to find people to talk to. Actual face to face interaction. This has all but disappeared in today’s culture, especially with youth. In regards to texting specifically, I feel that it is a mask. It allows the sender to say things that they may never say in person. As an educator I have seen first hand the inability of students to have face to face discussions about life, but they have no problem typing words. It is almost a sense of security of them. A safety net, if you will. I have certainly used this mask in my life, but for different reasons. I almost seem to have an inability to actually talk on the phone. I am a naturally impatient person, when it comes to grown ups, and find myself growing irritated on the phone. I have no issue texting, however. I agree that there is a sense of control with texting that is lost in conversation. You cannot stop, delete, reread and decide to send your words in person. You will undoubtedly find yourself in the “foot in the mouth” zone. Granted, some things are also not meant for texting. There is an inference that comes with texting. Readers tend to spin words and apply implications and suggestive tones when really they may not be present. For that reason alone, I reserve my phone call times for more sensitive situations. 

Shipwrecks in the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes have taken the lives of many vessels over the years. I think it could be fascinating to create an infographic documentation of some of the vessels that have been identified as missing and located.

https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/historical-links/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_the_Great_Lakes

Regional Health in the United States

Our country boasts of being the biggest and best. Today being the biggest is an epidemic and falls heavily on the middle of our country. I would like to further investigate the location of the so called healthiest eaters and see if there is an correlation between location and lifestyle.

https://visual.ly/community/interactive-graphic/health/healthiest-regions-united-states

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.today.com/amp/health/healthiest-states-report-ranks-well-being-u-s-regions-t107621

Interconnectedness of Modern Art

The Modern Art World was built on its own back. I have always found it fascinating where there was crossover of style and mission in the Art scene. I would like to create a chart showing influences and borrowings of artists and the movements.

http://the-artists.org/movement/timeline

SELF-ANALYSIS: