I really liked the creative things people came up with for our assignment. My favorite was the iPumpkin :)

However, I think I need to clear some things up because people took what I presented the wrong way. Our assignment was to create something. Yea, something is kind of a broad term. My something was a beginning, a starting point. It was the thought process behind a decision I have been dealing with over the past year and a half. NOT the image I created. That's why at first I didn't want to share it with the class because it's not as important as my decision I came to; the thought process behind it. That was created simply as a visual representation of that decision. I was not ready at that point to start designing the look and feel of it yet. Yes it sucks! I know that! But to me that doesn't matter because that's not my assignment. It's a validation to me on the end result of my problem solving.

I call this My Start because I finally have one - a place to start. I committed on where to go from here and I have no regrets looking back. This is the choice I've been deciding over the past year and a half and I have finally taken it. All starts start pretty small, and this is no exception but I have big plans for this. After all, this is what I want to get hired to do!

Yea, OK, I broke a rule of class today. No stereotypes. I should have said "Those men on the video can't dance." It is a silly stereotype, but the ones meant by the rules were the ones that hurt and breed hate. I am pleasantly surprised the class went so smoothly as it did. There was a lot of honest thoughts and opinions on such a touchy and personal subject such as faith, and why it matters most in so many people's lives.

Next week we present something we've created to express what matters the most to us. What matters the most, what drives us in our every day lives also drives what we're doing here, in New Media. I have thought about and observed this very question. What people hold value in is a strong indication in what they reach for in their careers.

Yea, I know, I forgot to post last week's response. This week brought to you by Distraction Kibby and Distraction Snake. Thanks Beth and John.

The quote of this blog pretty much sums up our class. We finished up our fears presentations, talked a bit more about fears and created some hilarious quotes.Props to Justin for sharing a very personal and emotional journey with us. It's very inspiring to hear someone finding the strength to become a better person.

I'm really loving this class. This is such a unique atmosphere between everyone that I honestly wish there was more of in our every day lives. We have people from different backgrounds, ages and beliefs but every week we come together like old friends and are able to express ourselves without the reservations we have in a normal environment.

I can't wait for next week and see people's answers to the question "what matters to you the most".

I think I got the most out of  Kathryn's box project.


The only reaction I got from our fear presentations was when some one lit the corner of a box on fire... with a person inside it. I actually got that feeling and thoughts racing though my mind: What if it don't go out? Will the smell attract someone from outside? What if we catch something else on fire (including the guy inside!).

Of course, it wouldn't catch like kindling, but I've used cardboard to start bonfires before so I know it's not 100% fire proof. It still gave me a little rush though.

I was amazed how the experiment went from just putting a guy in a box to an array of tests thought up by the class. It showed that even though you might design something to go a certain way, it can easily take on a life of it's own though user interaction and collaboration.

Since I was a nub and thought presentations were this week, I don't have the luxury to process the class reactions in this blog. However, I will go over why I think most will have some sort of discomforting reaction.

Fear comes in two parts. One fear we can't control, it's a physical reaction. The other side to fear is one that we create ourselves, in our minds from irrationalities. For example, when confronted by a lion face to face, your fight or flight (fear) kicks in. If you're in the middle of class and think about getting attacked by a lion because you heard one escaped from the Zoo, you will have some anxiety that can lead to fear taking over (even though there's no real threat).

disturbed