Tommy Figel

Blogs

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Final Take

coding

I feel that the process in making the final project has honestly had some interesting effects that I wouldn't have guessed prior to working on it. I've come to realize that many things on the internet are deemed valid simply because of their design. However, at the end of the day, it is the content itself that is most important. Unfortunately, that isn't how a majority of online users read into information these days. Design seems to over power the importance of integrity. With this, I fear for the reliability and trustworthiness of news in the coming future. Our opinions are going to be influenced in inaccurate ways. So, as I finish up this final project, I find it most important to keep in mind the integrity and accuracy of my work. Not just for this project, but for all future work to come.

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Changing the Medium

coding

One major difference when it comes to writing online is that it requires more creativity. The traditional paper offers structure and literary competentacny, and so does online writing. However, writing for say a website is much more contigent on design - literacy comes second. I think the major problem with this is that today, its much harder to seperate fact from ficiton because business, companies, and independents have clever ways at designing their work so it comes off as legitimate and trustworthy. All too often I find myself reading online articles and websites only to find one thing that is inaccurate, which leads to delegitamizing everything that came before and there after. Typically, printed, hard copies seem to be more trusted simply because it reuiqres more review prior to printing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of paper (depending on what it is). This editorial gap must be reevaluated otherwise inaccurate information could be tainting the minds of thousands of individuals daily.

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Why We Need to Relocate the Student Life Archive

coding

Though, as of now, I live much closer to the Student Life Archive compared to may other students, It's safe to ask, why the hell does it gotta be placed all the way off the map! The Student Life Archive offers some great resources, and when it comes time to take a trip down memory lane, well, it's more like a 3 week vacation. Located a 35 minute walk from main quad, the Archive is just too damn far. What happens when students visit for a class and then have to bolt back to campus for their next lecture in ten minutes. Not to mention the buses that go out there are obselete. You ever heard of the 9 Brown?! Because I sure haven't. Now I find myself either having to haul ass across 2 miles in ten minutes, or just straight up missing class. Such a predicament shouldn't be conceivable when I am dropping bands to live ON campus!

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Distrupting Education One Code at a Time

coding

As I continue to work out project after project, I've come to realize coding isn't so bad. In fact, I've enjoyed most of the process and have learned quite alot! So far, having the creative freedom of making my own homepage has been the most interesting but also hardest task yet. I really have gained a sense of appreciation for coding, as it really is like learning a new language. However, I'm looking most forward to the podcast project. Also on the side, for the honors project, I have been creating a personal website for my portfolio and using the concepts I'm learning in class to create a website I will use in the future.

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What Makes Us, Us.

Social Media

After hearing and seeing it all day, we begin to wonder, are phones really disrupting our lives in a negative way. Its easy to argue for, as in my case, I more often than not see so many opportunities to spark conversation being halted because the person is distracted and uninterested. It becomes our cheat sheet. We think we need it, but in reality it only hinders our strength to live without it - negative reinforcement. But, what if I told you it wasn't the phones that were so bad, it was the social media. In this day and age, we need our phones to communicate with eachother. However, I strongly believe social media is the root of addiciton and the result of so many missed interactions. Yes, positive comes out of social media, such as connecting with distant friends, but the negative seems to out weigh it. I challenge you to live with your phone, but without your social media and see how little it becomes a necessity in life. Social media is designed to make us believe we need it. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can all said aside our devices and be more open - more ourselves, more of what makes us, us!