#nmp 2012

First of all I would like to say this is one of the most enjoyable assignments I’ve ever had, it not only taught me on a topic (HTML 5 and CSS etc) which I knew nothing about previously. But also gave me the ability to share ideas and be creative.

My blog is one of the better ones in the unit in a few ways. The four blogs I have chosen to show my tutor and lecturer give a clear understanding of the quality of the material and a variety of the posts. During the assignment period from week two this semester I have posted approximately ninety- five times, although I have posted short pieces such as Zombie video game links, pictures, and videos or simply re-blogged other material. The majority of my posts are topical, self-created entities varying in length but all created to generate interest and show creativity.

http://cressy1990.tumblr.com/post/19490985381/capital-punishment

http://cressy1990.tumblr.com/post/19115718734/a-short-video-on-how-to-make-realistic-looking

http://cressy1990.tumblr.com/post/20635257727/can-you-review-the-lorax-please

http://cressy1990.tumblr.com/post/20277532052/zombie-tip-5

I have chosen four posts (understanding three were all that was necessary) but I wanted to show not only my lengthy posts but also a short relevant post giving an idea of that mixture I mentioned earlier. (Also these shorter posts produced more Facebook interest.) The four I have chosen display the reason my posts are among the best, they show real creativity especially the short story which I have posted subsequent parts too. The video I created and posted to Youtube not only shows the time and effort I put into my posts but just one integration of a couple into other media. My movie review, once again topical of my blog, well written and lengthy enough to give the audience a lot of information but not too long and dialog is broken up with images.

In the beginning I was only going to review films, but I realised very early on that others were going to do this, and I decided to also blog about one of my pet favourite things, Zombies. This I believe gave me an interesting edge having two focusses; in the hopes it would gain me a wider audience. My first post, which I might add was my first attempt at HTML as well as my about page in well written HTML, CSS gives a short, sharp outline for visitors.

*Myself

*What to expect and when

*Other places to find me (another example of integration)

Also I have another two pages, one dedicated to other places to find me. The other detailing some core sources. Although all pictures are labelled with a source for copyright with many pictures being a link themselves to the source website. I thought also it would be informative to site some of the fantastic Zombie novels I have read as well. All this is in bold on the right hand side in full view of the audience.  Also in that area you’ll find my twitter feed with my latest tweets.

My CSS  is developed however I stopped myself from adding more to my blog. I believe heavily in content over style and when increasing the CSS functions I found similarities between that and learning of the <blink> tag, eye catching but it drew attention away from the content (not to mention annoying). However I ticked all the boxes in my title page and believed my CSS to be of good quality.  I had issues incorporating an RSS as it played havoc with the structure of the blog itself; I have added large visible widgets to all posts. By visiting w3cschools.com and html.net I have taught myself to add images, link, a link within an image, italics, forms, lists, colours, font type, font style etc.

By using only white hat methods I was able to gain a solid all be it small following with 51.34 % of my visitors being return visitors. Also I have interested followers, for example the review of Dr Suess’ The Lorax being at a follower’s request.  I only saw a larger following in the final weeks as through my mistake to only tag my posts with the key assignment tags nmp2012 and wed0830 but once I re-tagged all my previous posts I saw a jump in traffic, a 30% increase in visitors which tipped the scales in terms of new visitors to return visitors, altering the new visitors making up 57.34% being first timers. Also found that with direct mention of my blog on Facebook or Twitter my visits increased by 11%-18% . I found I had a bounce rate of 38% which I admit is disappointing, The 62%  of the ones whom did stay, stayed on average for 6:34 meaning they explored my page and I had content they were watching and reading for long periods. In total I have had 442 visitors with over 300 of them being in the last fortnight. All of my visitors were English speaking with the greater majority being Australian.

From what I can deduct until my alteration in tags the slight majority of my visitors were return visitors, people who visited my blog were likely to return. 1/3 left almost immediately which either was a result of mistaken mouse clicking, however as my methods were white hat this was no fault of my own. I could have made my blog more catching with a possible video or music however I believe this could have turned away repeat visitors. The individuals that did stay, did not for a time and explored the blog.

The Avengers, Good , Not Great

You know what, I won't lie. I don't like comic books never have and never will. (The Walking Dead being the exception) And I am honest enough to admit I have liked very few of the films based on a comic book or graphic novel franchise. I didn't enter the cinema expecting much indeed to the contrary of the mountains (some had similar shapes to a mountain) of fanatics cumming in their pants at the thought of all their 'greatest' heroes coming together in one big super best friends club. It was good however, but GOOD not GREAT.

The individual action was exciting with the one-on-one hero fight sequences done well. And or course with a massive budget you'd expect the CGI to be excellent and it was, but as I have said it doesn't impress and it was no better than TRON, Battleship ot Transformers. What did let the film down was the final 'big battle' which did not raise much excitement for me, after all the aliens were poorly designed, hopeless and did not pose any threat to the heroes which was anticlimactic. Because we all knew that no one important was going to perish the film overdid (SPOILER ALERT) the death of Agent Coulson which seemed out of place considering he has little screen time and little importance in the grand scheme of things. 

It was funny in places with the occasional intelligently written quip being just enough to discount the dozens of poor jokes and out of place lines in an attempt at humor. Iron Man (Robert Downy Jr) being the main star as the Iron Man films grossed the most money and Downy Jr being the most likeable character but the film did balance well the 6 or so different main characters it needed to follow.

What I did enjoy is that the film did not take itself too seriously which Joss Whedon known for his work as a writer and director, is very good at doing.

It was good not great, but this film and all those before will gain some sort of cult status and well deserved.

Joss Whedon

Alex Proyas