technology and religion reflection

The true religion for most people these days is technology. Not Christianity not Islam not Buddhism. Most people show much more devotion to their iphones than the God they say they worship. And it makes sense. while religion plays a important role in ones life, technology is such a versatile tool. The internet lets one have access to so much and makes life so much easier. Maybe We are losing touch with our spiritual side, but our practical life'd are strengthen quite nicely with APple and Microsoft products in the world. If its wrong or right only time will tell

final paper: Spirit in Technological Noise

AGF FInal Forrest jackson

The decision

Of course, this book isn't popular (at least in the eyes of our class) but Lanier does raise one point that is certainly worth noting, even if you don't like most of his ideas. Its in the very beginning of the book too: the reason why the internet is starting to control our lives is due to our indecision to choose between the real or ideal computer. As a result, we become locked-in, a term Lanier uses to describe how indecisive we are when it come to programming. New, ideal programs try to fit into the old real ones, trapping us in a sort of cyber jail. Now, of course some of the ideas in this book rub people the wrong way, but consider the aforementioned information. As there been any real strides in online progress. Sure a cool new social media website comes along every now and again, but one starts to feel like the internet is only limited to ads and whatever other time wasters. Everyone is too afraid to try and revolutionize old ways of programming, so they hesitate to make new things. Its quite a shame in in an era of technological flourish.

James Blake

A frequent leader in sonic innovation, James Blake has created electronic music from the soul. Using smooth edits, crazy bass lines and a mastery of electronic keys, the British artist's music has been described as a pioneer in post-dubstep, while still holding on to the core root of soul in his singing. With a soulful blend of music and electronic, Blake proves that technology and music certainly go well together. In this song "Why Dont You Call Me?", Blake emphatically pleads that the listener calls him what he deserves, a plea that sounds like he's in the middle of a bitter argument. The vocal delivery and light Piano keys in the beginning really give this song a somber touch. But high pitched voice edits, jarring cuts and sparse drums at the end give the song even more power, and throws the listener into the turmoil he feels

HTML project

Here it is, my attempt at a website http://mastafoo227.neocities.org/index.html

The Fake life of Facebook

The dominating social media platform Facebook makes the bold claim that the lives of our generation can be successfully represented and shared by means of Facebook. Zuckerberg's goal (and he's just about achieved it) is to make everyone's lives connected via the internet, and have that a normal part of human life. But is it genuine? Writer Zadie Smith doesn't think so. She clarifies herself though. It's not that Zuckerberg is some evil person too unconcerned to care about how our lives are captured online. That's only the sensational representation that hollywood has to shape out of his life in The Social Network. She realizes that he was only a kid who wanted to create something cool for people to freely represent themselves. But in making this website of freedom, he forgot to actually give us control, a core concept to allow freedom to exist. Facebook is too formulaic, and pushes people to only share certain things about themselves, or rather, the way in which we can express ourselves is very limited. This results in a seemingly wholesome, but limited representation of ourselves on the internet. And I think its true. My Facebook profile is only a sliver of Forrest Jackson: Just a slice of what I do, where I've been etc. But do to internet social repercussions and the websites own limitations, you can't see my true feelings, my thought processes, none of that. But will I delete it? Probably not.Facebook he created a "community" that has such a strong hold socially, that if my double life on the internet were to die, I would be missing a part of me, even it is fake... But perhaps, I'm just being a baby. Or maybe just part of a generation who can't handle the real.

Information or damnation?

http://youtu.be/corY-FZAZog Probably out of any other rapper, hip hop artist Lil B has used technology extensively to promote his music and connect with his fans. Throughout his solo career, he has put out thousands upon thousands (and i mean thousands) using multiple myspace pages and Youtube. His style and tone varies, sometimes its lazy and party-going (but mostly for satirical reasons, other times its hard hitting and poignant. either way, the "BasedGod" primarily uses the internet to get his quirky messages out. so its interesting that he released this song "Age of Information". Here, he questions how much technology really advances the human race, citing the prevalent hold of racism and hate throughout the world.But, despite these issues he voices, Lil B still certainly uses technology as his primary tool. I wonder if he truley sees the value in the technology he uses...

Google: The Search for Self

Google is more than a simple search engine,or a speedy highway to websites we want to get to. It is a tool steeped in self exploration, and, when used in the correct way, a guide to wisdom that can make us more spiritual, and guide us to better understand ourselves. Knowledge as a moral tool as been evident for years throughout religious history. Recall the tale of Solomon from the Old Testament in the bible. God gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted. He didn't choose power, or the continuation of his family, which God gives to many important figures in the bible. Instead, Solomon asked for wisdom. From then on, Solomon solved many great moral puzzles and lived a devote life. Clearly, wisdom brought Solomon to a higher tier of spirituality. Likewise, Google gives us wisdom to live better lives. The search engine can answer all most any question, from how to prepare a certain recipe to actual, deeply religious queries. But most importantly, Google is able to show us facets about the world and ourselves that we wouldn't otherwise notice. Because of the way the algorithms on Google are set up, the user is able to search for just about anything, but at the same time, the website shows the best answers for you, specifically. In this way, the wisdom is more tailor made and useful, giving us the best answers. As a result, by having access to such broad yet personalized information, it better connects us not only to the world, but what shapes us as a people. Knowledge these days connects us as a people, and knowing more about what we want to know also points to where we are in life. You can clearly see this just by looking at your search history: you can see a lot about yourself. Overall, the Google experience gives was to knowledge that betters our community and individualism at the same time.

The Ever Quirky Google

Of course, our class has look at a number of communities, but the most interesting one seems to be the Google team. It's unorganized and relatively friendly-- characteristics not usually synonymous with companies trying to make it big. However, Google's beginnings were kept alive by one binding factor:innovation. Normally, communities, especially ones formed in the context of business, stay afloat because of strict organization. Google, however, used their drive and imagination flowing to keep the community within the business, and therefore the business itself, strong and in working order. Even through the chaos of the actual workplace, Edwards even sees that innovation keeps the operation going. From marketing the company via philanthropic means to brainstorming the layout of the website, innovation has been the key tool to make google truly thrive.

Newgrounds Slideshow

Newgrounds from Forrest Jackson

The People of Newgrounds

The Newgrounds home page

The internet has always been a place for games and animation, but Newgrounds can be credited as a place where the fun parts of the web come to thrive. Since 1999, Newgrounds has accept all ranges of user-submitted flash animations and games. And it didn't just stop there either, now the site accepts still art, as well as music submissions, broadening the diversity of the site's content and appeal. Users are also heavily encouraged to use the forums provided to connect with people, and discuss content. Mainly, the site garners a huge following from stereotypical nerd group; gamers, geeks and anime fans. As result, much of the site's content caters to that type of audience. However, the site prides itself on being a place for people to connect via its niche of user submitted content, comparable to YouTube or Wikipedia. And it does a great job. This website, although lacking in the level of recognition youtube or Facebook gets, is a true community.

The website gets to have this title, mainly because users can post just about anything. Additonally, feedback and discussion is encouraged about posts, allowing viewers a voice in the popularity and opinion about a post. Both of these features of the site help Newgrounds fully live up to its name. Of course, it is dominated by a certain type of person as mentioned before, but that has not stopped people form taking on other ventures on the site that have nothing to do with "nerdiness". After all, the site slogan is "Everything, by Everyone," and refuses to shun its users.

Compter love: love digitally personafied

while taking this course, i happily remembered this classic tune by Zapp & Roger. In 1985, the hit "Computer Love" came to be a smash hit within an era obsessed with technology and electronics. Riddled with computer bleeps and robotic vocals, "Computer Love" is futuristic groove concerned with the futuristic, "digital feelings of love. But how can the concept of love, a feeling so tied to the soul and to human emotion, be quantified in a technological context? Well, the song actually does a very good job of doing such a thing. In one song abandons the typical obsession with astrology pertaining to love, and instead thanks "modern technology" in finding companionship. This is just one instance in which a human feeling is molded into a technological essence. As such, technology becomes the basis for which many important aspects of the human condition are molded into.

Harsh truths in America

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-harsh-truths-that-will-make-you-better-person/

Describing these truths as simply "harsh" just doesn't cut it. The tone of this article is pretty mean spirited, condescending at times, and overall pretty offensive to everyday reader who more than likely does not have their whole life in order. But its over the top preaching is supposed to function as a very important tool for us: it tries to incite us to push towards success by shoving harsh realities down our throats. And much of the article does carry weight. Most of the article is concerned with the fact that the world that we live on requires action. Not only that, but action that actually does a service for people. by extension, it bashes the most notions on what a "good" person is. Bottom line-- If you aren't striving to hone your skills and contribute, your life is a waste. Of course, while this piece can be quite coarse, at its base it echoes the key concern voiced by people's morality within Habits of the Heart. No matter what one's ideology was, at its core, it was all a means to better the self. Although this article is an extreme example, it voices concerns that pertain to most of America's ideas of success.

Technological dependency

Just yesterday, right at a point of extreme determination to get my homework done, my computer completely died. It shut down unexpectedly at 80%, and wouldn't even light up at the push of the power button. I immediately scrambled to find the nearest computer repair shop, putting  aside all my other obligations to school. But it was imperative to fix my computer though. It held everything on it for me-- a chunk of social life, musical works i had composed and, ironically,  much of the homework i needed to get done. It's just amazing how much technology is a part of each us without even truely realizing its great ties to each individual.

Whole Earth Catalog

At its surface, the Whole Earth Catalog simply appears to fit its name: A book that sells products that pertain to living in various places on earth. But its contents contain deep, spiritual undertones that uplift the self and applaud independence. Without even focusing on the detail in some of its products descriptions, the Whole Earth Catalog's humor runs rampant throughout its publications. This trait breaks the mold from the more serious, business like tone of most other mainstream catalogs. The Whole Earth Catalog's ability to make jokes makes it more personal to the reader, making its humor an undeniable part of its message of self growth and preservation. Besides this small token of reliability, the products it offers are extremely unconventional, but are useful for humans in a varied amount of situations. From dessert moccasins to technological convenience , the catalog provides one common product: the product of freedom. As such, these products preserve a genuine uplifting of self by assisting humans in dealing with the earth on their own, mixing nature-based hippie culture as well as the rebellious hacker spirit of the time.

Steve Jobs and Religion

Jobs's speech contains many elements that fit well into the vein of religion and spirituality. Throughout his speech, Jobs has a strong focus on the concept of dying and dealing with impending death. He recalls his battle with pancreatic cancer, which ultimately led him to a new philosophy on life: To live life as if it were your last day on earth. Similarly, His earlier life findings led him to believe settling into life and being "comfortable" hurt the quality of life, leading to life's eventual decay. With these two tenants, Jobs gives both a model on how to live life correctly, and how to deal with one's own death. He clearly points out the "correct" way to live, with a correct outlook on death, while shaming other, less driven outlooks on life. In this way, Jobs's words share strong elements with the teachings in most religions. In most religions, a "correct" or "righteous" way of living is present that has dire consequences that follow, much like Jobs life advice. Additionally, religion also helps explain the mystery and fear surrounding death, promising paradise or reincarnation, while Jobs promises comfort in death as long as life was promising.