J109 has introduced me to a different way of seeing science-directed blogs. I used to think they were highfaluting articles full of jargon to baffle simple minds like mine. Now, I see the entries no longer as articles but as blogs—no longer homogenized academic pieces, but impassioned, opinion-tainted stories.
The Scienceblogs.com fiasco is a great example of this. From the first article we read to the latest article by GrrlScientist, we are shown these writers speaking to their readers, telling them what’s on their minds while saying heartfelt goodbyes.
Seeing grammatical and formal mistakes have also served to humanize the articles we’ve been reading. The National Geographic Society has always been iconic to me, growing up with their colored magazines, but even in this week’s readings, their grammatical and formal mistakes allow me to think that these were written by humans too. Tired, drained writers paired with equally tired editors letting a mistake or two slip through.
Yes, to err is human, and being human, these writers and their endeavors must have had beginnings too, and inevitably will have their own ends. Therefore, we must not be afraid to make our own beginnings, not just to start our own blog, but to follow any dream of ours. Just because someone has been doing something for longer than you have, or is churning out better results than you, does not mean that you should give up. If we once survived as the single sperm to fertilize an egg and start life, then we may very well have the chance to survive the net’s overwhelming odds and gain an audience—maybe even spark a revolution.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Mental Adobo
There are as many versions of Adobo in the Philippines as there are households. Alright, that maybe an exaggeration, but we cannot discount the fact that this popular dish is cooked in as many ways as there are people who enjoy it. Some cook it with coconut milk, some don’t; some use peppercorns, while some use chili peppers; some add boiled eggs, potatoes, and even pineapple bits, while some like it made plain and simple with pork. We each have our tastes, and this goes beyond food.
My daily reads can be likened to status updates--multiple short bursts of lead-ins about so many things. My daily reads can be likened to status updates--multiple short bursts of lead-ins about so many things. I read the usuals like daily news, and photography tips, but I also take time out to find anecdotes, inspirational stories, and even top ten lists. But that’s me, that’s my style; my adobo. My friend on the other hand has a blogroll of reads on political issues, things about the constitution, rights, et al. He reads novel after novel, and writes a lot of both news and fiction. Then again, that’s him; his taste.
My point is that we are all just looking for a niche, a target, a palette which agrees with our own. There is no point in us abandoning blogging about science and technology or any other endeavor for that matter just because someone bigger or better is already doing it. We are all cooking up these ideas with the same ingredients—our words, the facts. What makes the difference is how we combine things; our ratio of fact, opinion, humor, culture, and science.
Please also check out my post Change We Must-- a differently written version of this article.
My daily reads can be likened to status updates--multiple short bursts of lead-ins about so many things. My daily reads can be likened to status updates--multiple short bursts of lead-ins about so many things. I read the usuals like daily news, and photography tips, but I also take time out to find anecdotes, inspirational stories, and even top ten lists. But that’s me, that’s my style; my adobo. My friend on the other hand has a blogroll of reads on political issues, things about the constitution, rights, et al. He reads novel after novel, and writes a lot of both news and fiction. Then again, that’s him; his taste.
My point is that we are all just looking for a niche, a target, a palette which agrees with our own. There is no point in us abandoning blogging about science and technology or any other endeavor for that matter just because someone bigger or better is already doing it. We are all cooking up these ideas with the same ingredients—our words, the facts. What makes the difference is how we combine things; our ratio of fact, opinion, humor, culture, and science.
Please also check out my post Change We Must-- a differently written version of this article.
Meet Bekimon, Jejemon's new friend
By Alexander Villafania, loQal.ph
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA — Wititit, Carmi Martin, noselift, anekwabum. Say these to a “bekimon” and he’ll translate these to “no,” “karma,” “I know,” and “whatever.”
Social gay groups have taken the cue from the growing ubiquity of the jejemon phenomena, this time adapting the word “Bekimon.”
Most terms in “bekimon” are in fact from the original gay lingo that has been popular for years. However, the fast evolution of gay lingo has led to the creation of many new terms or expansions of existing ones.
Stolen from:
Researchers discover fossil of human older than Tabon Man
Move over, Tabon Man. Callao Man is here.
Evidence has emerged that the islands comprising the Philippines could have been inhabited by humans more than a dozen millennia before the so-called Tabon Man of Palawan, long thought to be the archipelago’s earliest human remains.
A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Armand Mijares of the University of the Philippines-Diliman has confirmed that a foot bone they discovered in Callao Cave in Cagayan province was at least 67,000 years old. Tabon Man’s remains were a relatively young 50,000 years old.
--stolen from http://www.pinoytumblr.com/
Read More at:http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100801/tph-researchers-discover-fossil-of-human-d6cd5cf.html
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Beyond Words
“The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows whether or not to say it.”-F.M. Garafola
Reading has no other end than learning. That may very well be arguable, but I stand my ground. In the case of reading for entertainment: we are entertained when we learn of events that have occurred elsewhere, fates that have befallen others, ideas from others’ minds. Reading to merely pass the time also still allows one to learn, although passively.
Through reading too, we get to augment what we know, and also learn how much we really don’t know. Much like standing on the highest peak of a certain place—we see a lot; further our horizon, and yet, we know that beyond that horizon, there is more to discover, more to learn.
Reading also gives one a better command of a language—allowing you to say more with fewer words. This lends better direction to what you think, what you say, and eventually what you write. Simply put, it simplifies life.
Let me end with the reminder that the best readings of a work are done between its lines but not all lines are of words, on books, on paper. Sometimes, the best stories are told by the lines of a furrowed brow, streaks left by fallen tears, lips parted in silence—the lines of a weathered life.
Reading has no other end than learning. That may very well be arguable, but I stand my ground. In the case of reading for entertainment: we are entertained when we learn of events that have occurred elsewhere, fates that have befallen others, ideas from others’ minds. Reading to merely pass the time also still allows one to learn, although passively.
Through reading too, we get to augment what we know, and also learn how much we really don’t know. Much like standing on the highest peak of a certain place—we see a lot; further our horizon, and yet, we know that beyond that horizon, there is more to discover, more to learn.
Reading also gives one a better command of a language—allowing you to say more with fewer words. This lends better direction to what you think, what you say, and eventually what you write. Simply put, it simplifies life.
Let me end with the reminder that the best readings of a work are done between its lines but not all lines are of words, on books, on paper. Sometimes, the best stories are told by the lines of a furrowed brow, streaks left by fallen tears, lips parted in silence—the lines of a weathered life.
Friday, July 16, 2010
iDunno
The iDunno; Apple's largest influence in my life.
Alright, alright-- it's all in my head. Lately, more than ever, I've been pondering whether or not to purchase an iPod Touch or an iPad of my own. Everyone around me seems to have either one of those, or at least even an older iPod. I know of some who've owned practically all the versions of the iPod, and yet I haven't owned one. Not even one.
Don't get me wrong. I've had plenty of experience with Apple Products. I've played with iPods and iPhones; iPads, both original and spin-offs; and even MacBooks. They've just never been mine. The closest I've come to owning my own Apple Product are the different versions of iTunes that I've had-- once for my Moto Razr, and my current one is the version I downloaded to keep track of the clips we used for our radio productions.
So, why don't I get an i-Something of my own?
Well, iDunno. Well, actually I kind of do.
First off, I don't like Apple's proprietary accessories. Just the PC cable irritates me enough, though the player I use now is guilty of this too, my player was just a gift, and not a purchase willfully made by myself. There are also some accessories such as speakers which work for only the newer products. This is practically discriminatory.
I've also kind of been back on computers. My family just doesn't understand the use of buying newer, better ones when the old ones still work. So, iTunes has almost always been a problem for me. It made my computer lag like crazy-- all for what?
And please don't get me started on the iTunes interface. My current player allows me to drag and drop my files into it via Windows Explorer, create folders, etc. Much like a regular flash drive. iTunes won't even let me use my Windows Playlists. Not that I have much, I just don't want to redo things I've already done before. I've also have numerous iTunes crashes. Misspelled names also make the program create new entries. Meh.
Also, at the rate that Apple comes out with new products, before I saved up enough money to buy my own product, mp3 players went from black and white disk based ones to touchscreen ones and tiny tiny, paperclip-sized ones. Not to mention the sometimes lack-luster updates.
As for the iPad, for its price, I'd rather get a new laptop with GOOD wi-fi. Wi-fi that doesn't freeze my webpages et al.
Still, iDunno what to get. Maybe I should start with a bigger bank account first.
Alright, alright-- it's all in my head. Lately, more than ever, I've been pondering whether or not to purchase an iPod Touch or an iPad of my own. Everyone around me seems to have either one of those, or at least even an older iPod. I know of some who've owned practically all the versions of the iPod, and yet I haven't owned one. Not even one.
Don't get me wrong. I've had plenty of experience with Apple Products. I've played with iPods and iPhones; iPads, both original and spin-offs; and even MacBooks. They've just never been mine. The closest I've come to owning my own Apple Product are the different versions of iTunes that I've had-- once for my Moto Razr, and my current one is the version I downloaded to keep track of the clips we used for our radio productions.
So, why don't I get an i-Something of my own?
Well, iDunno. Well, actually I kind of do.
First off, I don't like Apple's proprietary accessories. Just the PC cable irritates me enough, though the player I use now is guilty of this too, my player was just a gift, and not a purchase willfully made by myself. There are also some accessories such as speakers which work for only the newer products. This is practically discriminatory.
I've also kind of been back on computers. My family just doesn't understand the use of buying newer, better ones when the old ones still work. So, iTunes has almost always been a problem for me. It made my computer lag like crazy-- all for what?
And please don't get me started on the iTunes interface. My current player allows me to drag and drop my files into it via Windows Explorer, create folders, etc. Much like a regular flash drive. iTunes won't even let me use my Windows Playlists. Not that I have much, I just don't want to redo things I've already done before. I've also have numerous iTunes crashes. Misspelled names also make the program create new entries. Meh.
Also, at the rate that Apple comes out with new products, before I saved up enough money to buy my own product, mp3 players went from black and white disk based ones to touchscreen ones and tiny tiny, paperclip-sized ones. Not to mention the sometimes lack-luster updates.
As for the iPad, for its price, I'd rather get a new laptop with GOOD wi-fi. Wi-fi that doesn't freeze my webpages et al.
Still, iDunno what to get. Maybe I should start with a bigger bank account first.
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