Erin's blog

If you’re like me, then while everyone was talking about hypertext over the last few years you were envisaging someone writing super fast. This, is not the case. I know, stop applauding. I am ahead of the times and have the easy to understand definition to the phenomenon that is hypertext, taking the web by storm. See what I did there?

George Landow does this in a lengthy, philosophical extract from Hypertext 3.0: Critical Theory and New Media in an Era of Globalization, if you have a spare half hour I suggest you read it. But for the rest of you, living a fast paced life scanning this on the train on the way to an important meaning about hypertext, desperately trying to find out what it means to impress your boss (your boss needs to raise his/her standards if that will impress them), then read on because I have the definition here.

My impression of hypertext is less sophisticated than Landow’s. The best way I can describe it is through images, perhaps because I learn visually, or maybe I just like to flaunt my skillz.

First of all, the realm in which hypertext is most abundant, is in wikipedia. Let me show you –

See how there are blue words in amongst all of the talk about Hamburgers? These are hypertext links. Hypertext is the way in which we can jump from a topic to other relevant information through a shortcut, or using an efficient route. Vannevar Bush, an influential engineer and innovative thinker alike, came up with this concept in the 1940s, yet the technology didn’t yet exist for him to create a successful example of hypertext. Now, as we have excelled in technology and are on our way to ruining social stature through social media, we can create his dream while discussing hamburgers.

Essentially, hypertext is a network of relatable information and text, so that it is easily and efficiently accessed to allow ultimate information consumption.

It is almost lunchtime, which is why my words are mostly food related.

How acceptable is it to lie in order to get what you want?

Many individuals working in the media industry find it appropriate to mislead people/lie in order to gain information. This is done by journalists, PR liaisons and many other areas.

Is it ethically acceptable to deceive others, if there’s no guarantee that there will be a positive outcome?

Modern media is sitting on the fence, influential figures having differing opinions on what is right and acceptable. Many believe that if the journalist is open about their sources and how the information was gathered then it’s alright, because then the audience has the option to disregard it.

I can’t decide whether it’s more important to have information out in the open, or be honest and have to work harder in order to receive it.

Think about it.

I recently started watching a new tv show. It’s called Orange is the new black. Love it.

Most of the people in my life know that I have an addictive personality; tv shows, book series’ and especially, chicken crimpy shapes. It’s the main reason as to why I’ve never gambled, but it is, unfortunately, a big old chunk of who I am.
I started this great show on Tuesday. I am now up to the 7th episode (it’s thursday morning).

It’s a show about a middle class gal who goes to prison over a crime she committed 10 years ago. Interesting, insightful and incredibly entertaining. In each ep it follows the ‘pre prison’ life of one of her in mates. Here is the trailer – beware, you may get hooked.

The concept of an ‘un-lecture’ doesn’t leave me wanting more. I pat RMIT on the back for taking an alternative stance on teaching. I say ‘good on you, sir,’ to my lecturer who doesn’t label the structure he builds, but leaves it for us to determine it’s place. Perhaps just by posting this, it has achieved it’s purpose by provoking a complexly weaving train of thought on the topic. Tally Ho.

Though, I do not leave the lecture theatre with a strong sense of self and motivation to explore the depths of the world. I often leave, bemused, wondering if I have enough coins for a killer python for the walk home. This time in the windowless room is interesting, don’t get me wrong, but I am more captivated by other students’ responses, than the words spoken from below.

Perhaps I am supposed to study people, not theories. Or maybe I just need to eat more lunch pre un-lecture.

More food for thought.

Mum, 1971

This is a photo of my mum when she was 12 years old (she’d just been to queensland). Everyone’s so obsessed with the idea of vintage and ‘old school’ these days that this style of photograph could well be preferred in my group of friends to that of a brand new Canon 7D. Or whatever they’re called.

There is a constant theme within people that we always want what we can’t have. I bet mum’s class mates would have killed for her Cairns coloured cheeks if they’d spent September in the unpredictable Geelong spring. Her eyes would have been the envy of all of the brown eyed girls she knew, yet, as confessed by mum, she’s always wanted to be a blond (and has since made this a reality).

Potentially it’s social stature that drew humanity to jealousy, or potentially just a longing for the unknown, that the grass may in fact be greener on the other side. I’ve known girls who have been single for years, date a boy solely because she wanted a boyfriend, not because she liked the guy; and friends who are constantly changing their habits because of what others are doing.

I wonder whether it’s even socially acceptable anymore to be perfectly happy with things just as you have them. I am by no means saying that I am, only that it’s been a very long time since I asked someone how they were going, and have them say, ‘perfectly’.

I don’t appreciate good health until I fall sick. Thank you Joni Mitchell for Big Yellow Taxi.

Probably not natural for someone to sing that high, but there’s a nice little message in there.

Happy listening.

Yesterday, while fishing around in old boxes and drawers for my Sims 2 disc, I came across a collection of old software, riddled with dust and coffee mug stains.

Floppy discs, on top of having an ironic name (they are in fact, very rigid), were a temporary software storage/transport technique. I don’t know if they knew that when they were invented, or if it was later established when they realised how impractical they were, but floppy discs were just a stepping stone in the development of  technology. When was the last time you heard someone say, ‘hey, can you put the new ep of Suits that you downloaded onto my floppy disc?’. Never happened.

I read an extract of Literary Machines by Theodor Nelson who discusses all of the elements that go into hypertext as a concept, and he included all sorts of technology that is no longer used. Which prompts me to think about whether these complex theories would have come about if the now seemingly useless stepping stones were skipped through. Long shot, I know. But go ahead and ponder.

This is an inspirational photo blog published by my friend Mitchell.

Whenever I’m bored or simply having a flat day, I scroll for his new posts.

Highly recommended –

http://hechoamanoco.com

Bruce Sterling has won a Hugo Award for his science-fiction writing. In an interview by an online journalist he discusses the fascinating concept of design fiction. The best example given of this, is in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the whole ship is controlled by a tablet like creation, almost exactly that of the modern day iPad. How is it that people can create of these seemingly absurd ideas of technology and then have it exist 50 years later?

This got me thinking on the subject in general. How in movies set in the future, made only 15 years ago contain cards with an individuals complete set of information on them, used to swipe into buildings, trains and homes. These things exist today, with buttons to start a car, cards on public transport (though I bet they thought it would run smoother than Mykis), and cards used as employee keys, and even at RMIT for room access. The fictional ideas projected by people in the past, are reality today.

Does this then mean that things that I casually dream up will be invented for public use in a couple of decades? How unrealistic are our dreams, if others have done the same in the past, only to see it achieved half a century later?

I would like a cure for cancer, and maybe even famine if I dare to dream. I would like to have a green public transport system, that ran on time, flawlessly computerised and safe. I would like lipstick that stayed on until you wanted it to be wiped clean.

Who knows what’s possible, given enough time in a futuristic mind.
READ ME

Globalisation and social media is punching you in the face. You may not have actually felt it, but it’s happening. Everything that happens online today is immediate and final, like accidentally using a permanent marker on a white board. As soon as it’s uploaded onto the internet, that’s it. See you later privacy, it’s up there for life.

I created my own Instagram account three weeks ago. Woah, Erin, slow down, a blog and Instagram account initiated within the same month? Get out of town.

But it’s true, and I am, like millions of others, absolutely hooked on this frivolous expansion to the function of my iPhone. Why do I insist on needing to see photographic evidence of the activities carried out by my friends, the minute that it happens? Because it’s what I’ve become accustomed to. I feel disconnected, even uncomfortable, if I don’t know what’s going on in their lives exactly when it happens. Boom. Social media. It’s horrific that we can’t manage to exist in a world where all aspects aren’t linked into a central network being, your community. Your own little space in which everything is connected and you’re aware of all aspects of change and disturbance as soon as they happen.

Insta-example.

This is my aunt’s cat, Colin.

If someone needs to contact me they can do it via three different email addresses, mobile phone, home phone (haven’t used it in over 3 years..), Facebook, Instagram, my blog, mail, or if it’s a special circumstance, face to face. I have all of these separate types of media accounts so that I am contactable by everyone in the different circles of my life. I have a specific group on facebook, and in my phone for school friends, university friends and college friends. I have three different email addresses, for university, work and a personal address. This is all so that people can be in contact with me 24/7 for any purpose you can think of.

For an hour I took note of how many times I checked my phone. It was 17 times. That’s almost once every three minutes. To be fair, my watch was broken and I was using it to keep track of the time. Even so, once every three minutes was astounding to me, I needed to know what was happening in the world around me and desperately checked for updates. Pow. Globalisation.

My life is very heavily influenced, and even controlled by technology. KO (I used to play tekken III on my playstation).

My favourite Melbourne restaurant is an Indian spot on Sydney Rd. They’re friendly, super cheap, delicious, and even though they recently changed their butter chicken recipe I’m a loyal take away consumer. Recently, I’ve given up lactose for health purposes (it’s a huge fad to have some sort of intolerance these days, but mine is, regrettably, legitimate), and so I’ve been unable to eat my favourite food, which spurred a huge amount of bitterness. Naturally, I started a blog.

Just kidding; I have to do this as an assessment for my course at uni. I eat lactose freely.

Blogging has a somewhat tainted reputation within generation y. To many it’s just a canvas on which tweens can pour their emotions and problems and expect the world to listen. To others, they’re purely factorial containing a realm of information exclusive to those who can be bothered to find it. To me, it’s a combination of these things, when someone says, ‘oh i started a blog,’ I usually expect it to be a history of their sexual experiences with a few links thrown in, but there are some blogs out there that I subscribe to and love for their unique perspectives and opinions on music, fashion and lifestyle. So I am, for now, undecided.

Because of these ideas surrounding blogs, I am determined to steer clear of the path that so many of my friends have taken, which lead to constant cringes and broken friendships. I’ll leave my relationships out of this space, and in stead I’ll try and use it to reflect on strange occurrences, the work I do at university and anything interesting that I come across and feel like I can contribute to. Basically I’ll post about things that provoke questions, and then I’ll answer my own rhetorical questions and end with a vague comment (this is a very popular theme amongst unspecific bloggers).

Blogs are an evolved form of a journal or diary, in the sense that they still have the ability to contain personal thoughts and consideration about day to day activities, but they also enable us to link to youtube videos, articles, other blogs, and so it becomes a network in itself. To many people, this is old news, but I’m just now beginning to explore these ideas in my first post, so it’s your own fault if you’re bored because you’re choosing to read this.

I’m not expecting to have followers or inspire people to do what I’ve done, or even believe what I write; like most individuals from my generation, I’m doing this for me.