kathywolf

I found the class discussion today on David Weinberger's book "Small Pieces Loosely Joined" to be very interesting. Check out the web site at http://www.smallpieces.com/. This is a topic that evokes deep feelings. I must admit that I didn't fully understand the scope of the class before I signed up to take it. I have always been intimidated by technology and if I had realized the extent I would have to use weblogs, power point and movie editing I may not have taken the class. I'm glad I didn't know. I have down more web searching and googling in the last few weeks than I have ever done in my life and I must admit I'm really enjoying it. However, one aspect of the class I find difficult is this web log. I don't know if it is my personality type or what but, I have never been into journaling. It is not, I have decided because I fear the technology. I successfully set up my blog, I inserted URL's into my posts and I have read and commented on my colleagues sites. I am amazed at the posts of many of my fellow students and will continue to enjoy reading them.

I watched "Requiem For A Dream" and I have been thinking about it now for about a week. This is probably one of the best movies I NEVER want to see again. This is a powerful film on addiction, all kinds of addiction. It is easy to sit back and say, this film doesn't apply to me. After all, I'm a 50 something middle class American. I somehow managed to live through the late 60's & 70's without so much as a whiff of anything illegal. Yet, I know if I am honest there are indeed areas in my life that have much more importance to me than they should. As I thought about this film, I wondered, did anyone find redemption? I fear Sara (Ellen Burstyn)appears trapped in her mind. As I observed Marion(Jennifer Connelly)at the end of the film after her experience at the party I watched a subtle smile appear. Does Tyrone(Marlon Wayons)have a chance? Maybe, but I don't believe his life will last long in the jail. What about Harry (Jared Leto)? I think his chances are the best. In my mind, (I tend to "happy ever after end things -- a difficult task in this movie)I would like to believe his tears are tears of repentance. That even though he has lost his arm he has not lost his spirit.

The subject of blogging and Christian blogging, in particular, has been discussed in our e-mails now for a bit. I read the blog from the Pastor's wife that Mary e-mailed to our class. I found her complaints with merit, however, as she stated blogging is a VERY PUBLIC FORUM. If you really need to unload for cathartic reasons, I would suggest a very personal forum such as an old fashion (not web site)journal or diary. They used to even come with little locks on them. I thought I would try to google the topic of Christian blogging and I found this web site http://www.martinrothonline.com/blogs.htm and thought it was interesting.

After watching Koyaanisqatsi, I contemplated the ideas of what was, what is and could be. I thought this movie was a good analogy of human life. What was: a creation good, clean, and beautiful, unmarred by sin. What is: a life slowly over come by bad choices and sin. A creation destroying itself. What could could be (and is ) a life cleansed and made clean by the power of God through Christ.

I found class to be very interesting today. I must say, I was surprised by the broad concept of media used as we participated in the exercise on where media was found in our homes. I had never thought about food or clothing labels, etc as a form of media.

Our assignment for the week was to successfully set up a web-log account. I did it!