"Three New Music Services to Try in the New Year " - NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2008/12/23/23readwriteweb-new_year_new_music_services.html

[video] WARNING! The Feds Can Listen to Cellphones Even when Turned Off

Presentations

I was really happy with the presentations from both days. I was glad to see a variety of different topics that all connected back to topics we have discussed in class. I was glad to see that for the most part no two groups did the same project. One of the projects I found most relative to the class and the Professor's push for creativity was Corey's "The Bishop's Ear" website/blog. That really surprised me when I found out that he was the brains behind the operation. I thought that was a great project that may get overlooked because he didn't have the final presentation most of the class had. I am very pleased with the reactions the groups/presenter have gotten from the rest of the class, and what has happened once the classes have ended. I am glad to see that the groups that have done videos have been able to put their videos on YouTube for others to see; also, I think it is very interesting how the beer Mike Sam and Jeff's group presented on has sold out at Wegman's. It just goes to show that they did a good job marketing the product they presented on. That also entails that people aren't just thinking of the information that gets presented in class but outside as well. I too went to Wegman's to see if I could get ahold of some Flying Dog but was unsuccessful. I do wish I had at least gotten a quick summary of what the other members of the class did their final presentations on just to get a basic idea of what they did and how it could relate to the class. Nothing special but just a quick, "I did this and found that..."

Overall I think the final presentations were a great ending to the class because not only did they relate to the class but they concluded our findings from class readings and discussions.

Risk or Fear? What about both?

I thought last Thursday's class was a great class because the constructive criticism we received really helped to push us in a way we should have realized a couple of weeks ago. I think if we had a couple more weeks left in the semester and weren't seeing final presentations tomorrow, I think the class responses to the readings as well as the class as a whole would have changed significantly. It was important to have that negative feedback because that's what way we learn, or me at least. If I do something right the first time, great, wonderful, but if I do something wrong and am criticized for it, then in the end I think I will come away with more of an understanding than if I had just gotten it wrong the first time. We learn from our mistakes. To quote a quote from National Treasure on Thomas Edison and the creation of the light bulb, "I didn't fail. I found 2000 ways not to create a light bulb; I only need to find one way to make it work."

What about this risk, fear thing? Going off on my comment to the post "Hell yeah I'm scared," in class for example, I don't think it is necessarily the risk that makes people not talk, I think it is the fear of rejection. I think people are afraid, myself included, about voicing their opinion sometimes in fear of being heavily criticized. Once Professor started criticizing the groups about their lack of creativity on their group discussions, I think a lot of people were scared to speak their opinion in fear of being criticized even further. That is also why I think people are hesitant to speak for their group, because they are afraid of being criticized. When that persons speaks for their group, as listeners we associate that's groups outcome with that person and not the group. If a group gets heavily criticized I think it is easy for the members other than the spokesperson to kind of sink down in their chairs as if it wasn't their mistake or their view.

Clue Train Manifesto/Article conversation

Group Conclusion:
Agree with the NY Times article. does absolutely appeal to millenians. Exxagerated a little bit. formula for how a good idea gets brought up through the ranks. less of a work ethic today. people used to getting things handed to them. no appreciation for goods. Work ethic has changed. not just internet but values, set of rewards. Parenting and society. No more winner and loser, now winner and second winner. positive reinforcement. no more black and white. don't take the article or as an insult.

Class Response:
C.T. use social networking to communicate. Have internet restrictions. Some Top down authority. Depends on how loose it is. Give some freedoms.